Freezing 4x5 sheetfilm in a holder?

[avatar]

If you loaded some 4x5 holders and then you dont see yourself using

them for a few months... do you shove the holders in the freezer or

what? or is that bad for the plastic? or potentially corossive for

the metal? or bad for the film since its not sealed? should you use a

freezer ziplock bag?

[edward_paulson]

Aaron,

 

1. I would not put in in a freezer. When film comes to you from the manufacturer, it is sealed thus the moisture close to the film won't change. After you have opened and loaded it you may well freeze moisture onto the film - I am only guessing but in my opinion this could be more damaging to the emulsion then just keeping it in a cool place. If you really want to freeze it, get a some silica gel cartridges and leave them in the bag with the film for a couple of days BEFORE freezing.

 

2. Are you really that unlikely to need it for months? If the film is not well past expiry I would be very suprised if any changes occured at all with no cooling (assuming you don't work in a desert). I don't ever keep opened film packets in the fridge (and this is often for months) and I have never had any problems.

 

Don't worry about it. Sheet film is expensive but not that delicate.

[avatar]

What about ziploc in the fridge?

[steve_baggett]

Freezing it in the holder is perfectly OK. The low humidity of the freezer will quickly remove any moisure in the holder as the temperature drops. I keep 20-30 film holders (in ziploc bags) loaded with various films in the freezer and take several of them out, as needed, about 1-2 hours before I plan to use them. I have kept specific holders up to 4 months in the freezer this way without any problems at all. After removing from the freezer, just don't open the ziploc bag until they have sat at least one hour at ambient temperature.

[daniel flather]

Damn u posted this 4 times today! :)

[avatar]

What?

[john lehman, college alask]

I freeze (or refridgerate) the holders in ziplock bags and have never had a condensation

problem. Just let them thaw before opening the bag.

[tedharris]

I agree with John and the same holds for freezing an open box of sheet film or

quickloads. If you can, let them come to room temperature overnight to

INSURE total evaporation of any moisture. You have an additional problem

with quick/readyloads btw and that is that if you don't let them totally defrost

you may find the envelope itself is buckling a teeeeeny bit that could cause

displacemetn of the film in the filmplane ... that is from experience.

[paul moshay]

I have frozen film in the holder for years by using a 3 mil ziplock bag. I store

4x5 and 8x10 films, both color and B&W that way. Be sure to let the unit thaw

out for at least two hours before opening the bag. Also, before sealing the

ziplock bag I try to reduce the air in it by flattening it with my hand, then

zipping the lock, I feel that reduces any entrained moisture inside the bag. I

have not found any problem with film stored that way and my clients are VERY

fussy about the chromes.

Paul Moshay

[peter_cooper]

I have been freezing 35mm films for years with now ill effects, so

I cannot see why its not possible to do it with 5x4. Thanks for the

tip!

[avatar]

35mm is a lot of film with very little air in a small sealed container (hopefully you stor it in its cannister)

4x5 does not have happy little sealing cannisters