Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints  (Read 3861 times)

seekinglight

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4
Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« on: August 17, 2019, 07:58:59 am »

I have over 5,000 color slides from my late father, as well as many black and white negatives, and small photos. Some of the slides already have some minor mold or mildew.

I want to store this work as best I can. I thought the best way was refrigerate to 40F, then read archives store at 0F. The info about preventing condensation was confusing since it said to bag the boxes of slides -but that would trap warm, moist air, before cooling in refrigerator.

Any tips on how to cool and avoid condensation? Anyone use a freezer for this with freezer set to 40F or set to 0F? I need to stop (slow) additional decay while I get started making copies.
Logged

saiguy

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 236
Re: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2019, 08:52:28 am »

I can't answer your question, but you might try posting in Digital Image Processing/scanning section.
Logged

BobShaw

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2218
    • Aspiration Images
Re: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2019, 05:38:13 pm »

I have many slides from the 70s that I thought would have deteriorated, but they were fine. The biggest issues is high humidity. If you have that problem then a sealed container with desiccant may be all that you need.

A quick solution to copy them is just to set up the projector next to the camera and photograph them one by one, with a remote in each hand. I did several hundred a night.
Then you can decide which ones need a better solution.
Logged
Website - http://AspirationImages.com
Studio and Commercial Photography

Shoperok

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4
Re: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2019, 12:30:36 pm »

About photography - good advice, But I recommend some absorbent things, such as fabrics and lay them.
Logged

saiguy

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 236
Re: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2019, 08:17:53 am »

Comprehensive info here.  http://wilhelm-research.com
Logged

Bulbe

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5
Re: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2019, 01:01:35 am »

If you do not mind, I will advise http://fixthephoto.com, there is what you are talking about. I’m also a new photographer, but to be honest, I’m just delighted that there are presets and retouching. I really think that it’s too much, but in general, I sit here for hours)
Logged

MHMG

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1285
Re: Preserving color slides, B&W negatives, and prints
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2019, 07:48:22 pm »

I invented a moisture content regulating package design for freezer storage of smaller volume slide, negative, and print collections when I was the senior research photographic scientist at the Smithsonian Institution. The design concept is open source (paid for by US tax payers), and was later offered as a complete kit by a conservation materials supply company. You can find it here:

https://www.hollingermetaledge.com/modules/store/index.html?dept=21&cat=48&searchname=freezer&searchid=&searchtype=C&cart=157377807129112277

I've been caring of my own father's slides, negatives, and various prints as well as my own for over a quarter of a century using this simple packaging method and an auto defrost freezer purchased at a home appliance store. I'm just about out of space and will soon acquire a second freezer, also replace the original freezer (still running fine) because new ones are more energy efficient, but all materials in the freezer, especially the slides, negs, and RC prints I freezer stored when they were freshly made, are in the same condition they were some 25 years ago. The method works.  Contact me on my website if you want to learn more about it.

kind regards,
Mark
http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up