M
mikel
Hey!
I learned a new thing today and wanted to share it with forum members. Some may already know this, but I personally didn't.
Apparently, when it comes to storage of Ilford films, freezing is not recommended and can be potentially harmful. That was news to me, since I have been using Fuji for a very long time and their long-term storage recommendation for professional film (at least what I'm using - Provia, Velvia, NPS, NPH, NPZ) is to keep unexposed film frozen.
[ NOTE: Reala should never be frozen or refrigerated ]
So, since I started using Ilford films recently, I was trying to find out what are the proper storage conditions for it. I couldn't find out whether freezing is okay with Ilford film from information provided on their website, so I sent inquiry to Ilford in UK. I got a very prompt and courteous response and was told that freezing Ilford film is not recommended.
Below is excerpt from the response I got:
[BEGIN EMAIL]
Thank you for your e-mail.
Ideal storage temperature for film is 10 C at about 50% RH.
If it is frozen there is a possibility that the base may become brittle and the plasticisers leech out. Also it is possible that problems will be experienced with d&ness when they are warmed to ambient temperature.
[END EMAIL]
The latter part about d&ness applies to most film, so usually if I keep Fuji films frozen, I remove them from freezer and put into refrigerator for 24 hours, then take them out of refrigerator and let them reach ambient temperature for 4-8 hours and only then I open the canister and use it. For that reason I always have few rolls in the refrigerator and few in the freezer (Although it so happens that I use rolls of NPS160 very fast, so I usually never put it inside freezer).
Hope it will be useful information for some.
Mike.
I learned a new thing today and wanted to share it with forum members. Some may already know this, but I personally didn't.
Apparently, when it comes to storage of Ilford films, freezing is not recommended and can be potentially harmful. That was news to me, since I have been using Fuji for a very long time and their long-term storage recommendation for professional film (at least what I'm using - Provia, Velvia, NPS, NPH, NPZ) is to keep unexposed film frozen.
[ NOTE: Reala should never be frozen or refrigerated ]
So, since I started using Ilford films recently, I was trying to find out what are the proper storage conditions for it. I couldn't find out whether freezing is okay with Ilford film from information provided on their website, so I sent inquiry to Ilford in UK. I got a very prompt and courteous response and was told that freezing Ilford film is not recommended.
Below is excerpt from the response I got:
[BEGIN EMAIL]
Thank you for your e-mail.
Ideal storage temperature for film is 10 C at about 50% RH.
If it is frozen there is a possibility that the base may become brittle and the plasticisers leech out. Also it is possible that problems will be experienced with d&ness when they are warmed to ambient temperature.
[END EMAIL]
The latter part about d&ness applies to most film, so usually if I keep Fuji films frozen, I remove them from freezer and put into refrigerator for 24 hours, then take them out of refrigerator and let them reach ambient temperature for 4-8 hours and only then I open the canister and use it. For that reason I always have few rolls in the refrigerator and few in the freezer (Although it so happens that I use rolls of NPS160 very fast, so I usually never put it inside freezer).
Hope it will be useful information for some.
Mike.