What product/system do you use to store your "special" or "best" negatives ?

[gphoto120]

Seems like there are lots of different products for general storage of negatives such as Print File pages etc.....however, is there a better method/product to keep the negatives that are used for example in your portfolio for those "special" negatives?

 

[bblhed]

I actually treat all my negatives equally, everything is filed by date with a date on it, and I have digital scans of all my negatives so that if I or someone wants a print I can quickly look at the scans and locate the negative by date. I also mark the back of my prints with the date so I can find them quickly.

The only thing I have that receives "Special" treatment are my Last Kodachrome slides, they are still in the boxes that they came back from Dwain's in, this is not to segregate them, but rather because I need more slide storage boxes. I don't store slides in carousels, but rather I keep them in archival boxes again sorted by date, but not all are scanned. If you want to look for a particular slide in my collection your probably going to have to watch a slide show because it's my photo and you are now my captive *L*.

Mounted Stereo slides are also kept in archival boxes that are labeled by Year/month and subject/occasion because it may take a few days to shoot a roll of stereo. For the most part I do not scan stereo slides unless I really need a stereo card, those get printed inkjet because I make really nice stereo cards. Again, if you want to see a stereo slide you can either sit through a slide show, or I do have handheld viewers. Either way, you are going to end up looking silly for my entertainment.

 

[archer]

I store all my important color negatives in vacuum sealed bags in a 10 degree below freezer and have done so for 46 years. I recently reprinted my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, shot in 1965, on Kodak Vericlolor S and the negatives printed beautifully. The color was not noticeably changed from when I first took them more than four decades ago.
Denise Libby

 

[brian steinberger]

I use the print-file sleeves and store them in the print-file work boxes. They work great cause they keep dust out and they're rather tough.

 

[mgb74]

I store all my important color negatives in vacuum sealed bags in a 10 degree below freezer and have done so for 46 years. I recently reprinted my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, shot in 1965, on Kodak Vericlolor S and the negatives printed beautifully. The color was not noticeably changed from when I first took them more than four decades ago.
Denise Libby

Interesting. I wonder which of the 3 elements (temperature, light, air exposure) has a material impact. Or all 3?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I keep all my negatives regardless of format in clear polyester fold-lock sleeves (I use the ones made by Archival Methods but there are probably other brands). I much prefer these to the typical page systems like Printfile for one basic reason - I don't like having to slide the negatives in and out of the storage material to access them. You never know if some tiny piece of dust or grit will cause even a slight scratch. And particularly with small format negatives like 35mm, every little flaw shows up in the print.

That's what I should be doing, but can't afford... So far I haven't damaged any negs due to storage, though. But the Printfile binder inserts are terrible in my environment, where it's super humid in the summer and bone dry in the winter, with equally varying temperature.
One of these days I'll do the fold-lock sleeves.

 

[Dave in Kansas]

My negatives all get the same treatment. My preference over the years has been glassine sleeves placed in envelopes. The envelopes keeps the sleeves together by date, and I can write the necessary information on the envelopes, such as subject, date, film type and developing information. Perhaps glassine isn't the best, but I haven't had problems with it. I've also used the plastic Print File sleeves, but I'm more concerned about them scratching the negatives when they are inserted or removed, and they don't have the space for writing all the information. I'm also concerned about them not "breathing" and allowing mildew to form if left in a damp location. I've seen a little bit of that with the plastic sleeves, but not with the glassine sleeves.

I've also used strips of acid free paper to separate negatives store loose in envelopes. Cheap, but not as convenient for viewing.

Dave