Tinkb

I am working with a historical society to convert some 3000 speed graphic negatives into ditigal format for records and preservation. The negatives were “stored” in metal boxes, in paper envelopes,in an unheated second floor of a local library. Using care in handling most of negatives are producing very good images so here is my question, cost is a factor as this is a non profit, but what would be the best way to preserve these negatives going forward ? Paper sleeves, in plastic bags, just paper, vacuum sealed plastic, paper envelopes in a tupper ware type container ? The newest set is 56 years with the oldest appx 75 years old.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Archival plastic bags?

Paper could very well leach out chemicals over time, possibly damaging the negatives.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

White paper sleeve and keep out of sunlight. Plastic holds and gain moisture. Watch out for humidity too in the storage area. Keep in a cool and dry environment. Hope this helps!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

If they are placed in a sealed container during/in a low humidity environment, they should be okay with regards to humidity. The seal should keep out any excess ambient humidity.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

... or collect moisture. Good luck!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Nobody has mentioned whatever is used should be acid free.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Not explicitly, but chemicals leaching out of paper and the use of archival bags were mentioned.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Acid free, archival quality certified polyester or polypropylene (NOT vinyl) plastic album pages stored in acid-free print storage boxes...

I stored my 35mm film in the 1960s and 1970s in NegaFile glassines. They are still like new. I digitized several thousand of them last year for a slide show at a class reunion.

https://www.printfile.com

https://www.universityproducts.com/photo-products/negative-storage

https://bluemooncamera.com/shop/category/73/storage-and-archiving?page=1&category=73&price-min=1&price-max=0&sort-by=created_at+DESC&in-stock=false

There are plenty of similar sources.

Don't skimp on storage materials. ACID FREE and PLASTICIZER FREE are the qualities you should look for.

rcarol

Glassine envelopes are the preferred method of archival storage of negatives. They are acid free.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Here are some references to preserving negatives and slides from experts in the business of preservation.

National Archives
https://www.archives.gov/preservation/storage/negatives-transparencies.html

Photographic Activity Test
https://photographicpreservation.weebly.com/photographic-activity-test.html

Various archival publications from the Image Permanence Institute
https://www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org/education/publications.html

Hope this helps you find a solution

therwol Loc: USA

I put my 4x5 negatives in these #8 glassine envelopes. If stored individually, it would cost approximately $600 to store them, but I put more than one negative in each envelope.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045JFACU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

roger

You used to be able to buy "archival" glassine sleeves. That and store in a cool dry location.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Numerous archival sleeves, pages, and boxes are still available. Google, Yahoo, and other search engines will find them.

elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

SalvageDiver, in his reply to you, listed 3 reference links for you to further your research on preserving 50 to 75-year-old photographic negatives. If you dive further into the third link of RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) publications, you'll find the most pertinent publication: Photographic Negatives: Nature and Evolution of Processes.
You will learn everything about photographic negatives in this downloadable PDF. As I have had a longtime interest with photo negatives via my former 40-year-old custom lab, I've perused this publication.

Like Burkphoto, I've kept my many 1000s of 35mm, 120 and large-format negatives and transparencies in Negafiles and like his negatives, are as fresh and clean as the day they were processed! Stored in thick archival boxes with proof sheets, they make viewing a pleasurable and a cost-effective way to store your negatives.

Someone suggested glassine envelopes which are good for short-term storage but they do yellow and the adhesives discolor and deteriorate. An alternative is to use clear storage envelopes made with "Mylar." A bit more expensive but handy.

Generally speaking, you want to avoid any material that is not archival: paper, glassine or "flexible" bags. Non-archival paper will yellow; glassine will also yellow and the adhesive will discolor (as mentioned earlier) while "flexible" bags such as sandwich or ziplock bags are flexible because they contain plasticizers which allow them to be flexible. "Mylar" storage products are stiff and rigid and the preferred way to store negatives or documents.

I speak with some experience as I also collect coins, stamps, comic books and men's magazines, all of which require archival storage to maintain their value and condition. Non-Mylar products may outgas and leave a greenish PVC (plasticizer) on the contents or worse. Keeping out air, maintaining proper storage temperatures and humidity are extremely important.

I also have had much experience with film materials and storage with my former 40-year long custom lab business which I retired from in 2008!

I also recommend www.universityproducts.com" as I have buying and using their products since my custom lab days. You can Google other similar sources.

Another thing, you should check your negatives for any that were shot with nitrate film which has been known to physically deteriorate. Many early cinema films were shot on it and have partially or completely disappeared.

Be well all! Happy New Year. Ed

MJPerini

Plenty of good information here , the only thing I would add is if they are going back in the same unconditioned space sealed containers are highly recommended, but those need to be archival as well . One metal fire resistant file cabinet could probably hold 3 k negatives & some desiccant pouches