Re: [photo-3d] Archival Storage

[Herbert C Maxey <bmaxey1@xxxxxxxx>]

>>One of the problems with "plastic" is that several very different
>>materials are all generically called "plastic".  I seem to recall that
>>it was the older storage sleeves that were a problem.  The
>>polyethylene sleeves I am using are (currently) considered safe for
>>long term storage.  Polypropylene is also considered safe.  PVCs are
>>not safe.

Also, rubber bands. storage near many types of chemicals, certain
adhesives, humidity and drastic humidity changes, all can cause problems.
Improper processing causes problems as well. You can never be sure what
shortcuts have been taken by the processor to save money, and
unfortunately, problems show up decades later. That's why I never use
those one-hour labs. I do not trust them.

Personally, I use Mylar for storage. To be absolutely safe, you need to
encapsulate for long term storage. Glassine works well as does brown
Kraft envelopes I use for sheet film. Brown Craft has been proven to my
satisfaction to be a reliable storage method, judging from negatives I
have worked with and stored since 1890 or so.

You also need to be sure of your vendor who proclaims their Archival
Storage products are actually archival. One bothersome observation I have
made is when storing slides that have not been bound in glass.
Occasionally the film will buckle slightly and make contact with the
plastic material. Often a bond forms. This can be an issue as well.

It all depends on how far you want to take it. The proper tools and
materials for properly storing materials according to archival standards
can be expensive. To be absolutely safe and sure, Black and White
separation negatives should be made or rather could be made. Overkill I
agree.

What you need to be concerned with are original negatives and slides, not
prints. I guarantee the technology will change over the coming years that
will allow better quality prints. Therefore, there is no real need to
worry about prints you make or how they are stored, just as long as you
use a little common sense now.

Bob