How do you store your negatives and slides?

[Songyun]

I put them in print file pages and print file boxes (with 3 rings), I just find out that the box is collecting dusts. Is there a better solution?

[Clement Apffel]

I use PAT paper folders stored in PAT boxes.

Only problem is that they are not easy to review.
So I use a digital index on a computer this way, I can easily find a negative when I need it without pulling all of them out of their folder.

[Vaughn]

I do the same as Clement, using 4-fold envelopes for negs 4x5 to 810. The enveloped go into the boxes -- supposively in some logical arrangement (date and place).

Reviewing can be a bit of a hassle, but one does not slide the negs across any surfaces to pull them out of the envelopes. Going through a box of 8x10 negatives can be sort of fun -- sort of like unwrapping little presents, discovering what is each one at the light table. I write all the taking and developing data on the envelope.

So you might consider a better box -- perhaps ones big enough to keep the neg pages in a simple 3-ring binder...might mean getting an 11x14 box, but you might be able to get one that is deep enough to hold two or more binder.

This is what I use for boxes.
http://www.conservationresources.com/Main/section_5/section5_19.htm

They also have verticlal boxes
http://www.conservationresources.com/Main/section_1/1_3.htm

Vaughn

[Archphoto]

I have my 4x5's in mylar sleeves and store those in plasik boxes with lids.
For each project I have a card in front.
Those boxes can hold CDRoms aswell.

Peter

[jb7]

Sensible replies so far-

ok, so I need somebody to tell me I'm wrong-
I don't have many 8x10 negs so far, but I've been keeping them in ziplock food storage bags-

Bad or what?

[willwilson]

bad, get some of those side locking mylar or ?polyester? sleeves in 8x10 and then either keep them in an archival box or in a 3 Ring Binder in plastic report sheets that you can get from the office store.

[jb7]

I knew I was being bad,
I just needed to be told-

[John Kasaian]

Old three part film boxes---absolutely no issues with dust. I've been getting rid of the glassines and going to printfile sleeves for negs.

[Clement Apffel]

I don't have many 8x10 negs so far, but I've been keeping them in ziplock food storage bags-

bad idea indeed.

confined atmospheres is not good for the conservation of photographic materials.
cause they are releasing chemical emanations as they age. emanations comes either from chemical process (fixator mostly : even if you use accurate fix time and do an adapted wash) or from their own degradation process.
And you don't want to confine your film with those emanations. because they are catalysing the aging process.

The plastic PAT sleeves also have this issue : even though the plastic used (mylar most of the time) passes the photographic activity test, they do confine the negative.

that is why PAT paper folder is the better solution for photographic materials.
because they can "breathe" inside. meaning the emanations are not confined with the negative.

just my 2 cents.

[jb7]

Thanks Clement-

ok, they've been removed-
It's difficult to find anything for large format here-
so more online shopping needed-

never ending...

[ljsegil]

Has anyone actually observed problems with degradation of negatives stored with Print Archive (and their ilk) "archival storage" pages? And is there any reason to keep the negative in the glassine sleeve as well (significant additional hassle factor due to tight fit into page sleeves)?
LJS

[Andrew O'Neill]

Print files for 4x5 and 8x10. Three-ring binders. Locked in a cabinet in my bedroom. No dust issues here.