abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I agree because fungi can grow on them because of the moisture.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Aside from storing them in a dry, dark and room temperature environment, nothing may matter. If these are color negatives, what matters is how they were washed. And too late to do anything about that now. Another factor is the age because the older the negative, the less stable the dyes. In other words, they will fade no matter what. I do not know if those special sleeves would even help for color. They may help for black and white whose images are silver salts.

Also important to the longevity of black and white negatives is how they were fixed. A single, partially depleted fixer will lead to stains. A two-bath fix with properly monitored silver content followed by thorough washing is ideal but, again, too late.

bersharbp Loc: Texas

[quote=ROCKY JA][quote=bedgmon]Recently, the photographer for my girl's weddings sold me the negatives and the rights to their wedding photographs. Although I have no real desire for additional photos, (I bought all that I needed right after the wedding), I want to archive the negatives just in case a disaster happens... Do I place them in a airtight plastic container for preservation and then in a fireproof safe or is there a better way? Just want to know your thoughts on the best way to archive negatives. Thanks in advance.[/quote

Dont put them in the frig!!!! You'll ruin them. The make in acid free sleeves that are meant to preserve your favorite negative. you can get them at a Camera store, they aren't expensive.

Rocky[/quote]
Rocky is right on. I have negatives over 50 years old that were stored in acid free sleeves, in an old trunk. Acid free sleeves is important, and I would recommend a small plastic container to protect them physically. Keep them in a dark place if you don't know how they were processed. Slight cold is good; just enough to keep them from drying out, but not COLD.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I disagree. What I forgot to mention that the negs shoul be placed in a container and then carefully covered with plastic wrap. If this is done then a fridge is the best way to store negs. If it good enough foe the Smithsonion it should be good enough for a home owner. But it is correct that all color will fade eventually A small fridge is best if it is not opened often.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Actually a small wine fridge would be best. keep the temp at 60 degrees. Its cool and dry and dark.

Nikonhermit Loc: In This Place

Speaking from personal experience with negatives 50 years old and more recent, I can tell you that storing them dry at room temp. in archival sleeves, enclosed in an airtight bag with a packet of silica gel, keeps them perfect. The bag should also be PVC-free. A print bag will do it. I have also used the translucent white, frosted, very thin, very strong garbage bags generally used by custodians. The fridge is an invitation to disaster.

jgitomer Loc: Skippack Pennsylvania

Two thoughts.

First, once you put the negatives in archival sleeves it would be best to store them in a safe deposit box rather than in your home. This will protect them from floods, tornados, fire, etc.

Second, just to be on the safe side scan the negatives and store them as digital files. Although you say you won't need any more images your grandchildren might appreciate having their own copies at some time in the future.

Jerry

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Mine have been in the plastic sleeves they came from the developer in 30 years ago and then in a light-proof plastic bin. Sometimes in a basement and sometimes in a closet. I've moved about 3 times and they came with me in the box. I scanned a lot of them this year and they were all OK. No special storage.

bedgmon Loc: Burleson, Texas

Well, I believe there is a consenses that a dry, acid free area is what is needed. Thank you all for your interest in helping me.

billgdyoung Loc: Big Bear City, CA

...... I've been using an Epson V600 to scan all my negatives. Many were out for reuse for the first time in 20+ years ...[/quote]


I too recommend that you scan in your negatives and slides... AND protect them as recommended by others. The digital versions can be stored in the Cloud and you would never have to worry about it again. Make sure you scan at the highest resolution that your equipment/pocket book will allow. Also consider taking the negatives/slides to a local professional shop to do the scanning... they will know how to handle the brittle ones, and will use high resolution gear.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

FWIW, I acquired my grandfathers B&W negs from a hundred years ago & they were in envelopes, brown paper bags & dark places. Being negs, rarely if at all taken out & handled. They scanned very well but the materials used back then would be far different to today. I would speculate that negs of today wouldn't be very good in a hundred years. Historical at best but be sure they are named.
Even if digitised, I wonder how long the technology will last.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

There are special sheets/containers/boxes and such especially for archive purposes. You can also scan the negatives and store on disk (preferably on archive gold disk).

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Beware the "fireproof safe". The name-brand one I have - I suspect - has some type of gel within its walls to make it fireproof. I guess this because things inside get damp. I have to keep a container of "Damp-Rid" inside the safe to keep things dry. I have color negatives that I have had for 40 years in sleeves designed for film storage, and they seem to be in perfect condition. I also have 4"x5" Ektachromes in sleeves that have been there for 30 years and they are in as beautiful condition today as they were when they went in. Talk to your neighborhood camera store about storing your negatives and what you need.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I goggled it and it said to freeze them and gave instructions on how to pack them. That said I have B&W glass negatives that over 100 yrs old and have had no special treatment. Just stored in their box in the humidity of Nebraska and are fine, I also have some B&W negatives and proof sheets that I have had in my darkroom for 45 years and they are still fine. But it may be well to store color in the freezer after proper preparation. I can't imagine storing them in OUR refrigerator. We have to through out moldy food periodically. When I goggled their were several sources for storage sleeves. - Dave

bersharbp Loc: Texas

Agreed