storing paper for a long time

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This is a question about a paper (Agfa MCP) that was stored for a few years. This paper was given to me by my friend who married and lost time to spend in darkroom.

One package was in original black plastic bag, which was in another bag but not in a box. Another was stored in a paper safe.

The paper in paper safe was totally useless. It was black when developed without exposure. Another one in black bag was severely fogged, especially ones on top (nearer to the bag rather than the center of the stack). These would still be usable for contact prints of non-serious negs.

I have same paper in the size that I rarely use, which was stored for probably about the same period of time. This box is still fine (no detectable fog or highlight contrast drop). I keep them in original plastic bag and box, then further in another cardboard box, stored at room temperature and usual ambient light.

This implies to me that paper keeps much longer if stored with double protection to the ambient light, and at least this particular paper safe is not really safe over years.

What is the recommended condition to store paper for a long time? What do manufacturers recommend?

Did anyone test how safe are paper safes? I would not store paper in them for longer than a few days but it would be nice to know what are well designed ones and what is the absolute limit for paper to stay there.

Most of my paper do not stay that long, but I'm curious because I have a couple of boxes in the size I use only occasionally.

-- Ryuji Suzuki (rsuzuki@rs.cncdsl.com), July 17, 2001

Answers

The only way to keep paper for more than about a year to 18months is to freeze it. It should be stored refrigerated as a matter of course. If kept unfrozen; the first sign of paper ageing is a slight drop in contrast, and a general lack of 'sparkle'. After a couple of years, the paper becomes unsuitable for quality work. Beyond that, it deteriorates to the point where there's a rise in base fog, and continuing loss of contrast. Eventually (maybe 4-5 years) the paper is useless for anything at all, even a quick test print.
Different people have different ideas of what's acceptable, and 'your mileage may vary', as they say.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), July 17, 2001.

I may be telling you something you already know, but benzotriazole is often an effective restrainer for fogged paper. You probably can find Edwal's Liquid Orthazite, a product containing benzotriazole specifically for this purpose, at your camera store.

-- Joe Miller (jmmiller@poka.com), July 17, 2001.

Ruyji, I've got some info that might help you: This comes from an old Silver Print publication

PAPER RESTORER For out of date paper

Solution A Potassium Permanganate 0.25 g Sulphuric Acid, 10% 15.50ml Water 1000.00ml

Solution B Sodiul Sulphite, anhydrous 20.00g Water 1000.00ml

Soak the paper in A for 1 minute and then in B for 1 minute. Rinse the paper and wipe off the surplus water, expose it and develop it normally. Alternatively the paper can be washed for 5-10 minutes, dried and exposed and developed later. Take care not to fog the paper through prolonged safelight exposure.

They also give some formulae for developer additives, like potassium bromide and Benzotriazole.

Potassium Bromide 10%sol 10.00ml Developer 1000.00ml

OR

Benzotriazole 1%sol. 5.00ml Developer 1000.00ml

More advice:

Do not use developer at high temperature (over 20 deg. celcius) or for a prolonged time (they say not to surpass 1 minute (1!!!!)). Too much Bromide will fog the print.

I once used the first fomula for some Really old Portriga paper, but it didn't work (it actually made things worse, the paper lost its sensitivity almost completely...) I hope it will work with your paper...

-- George Papantoniou (papanton@hol.gr), July 25, 2001.


I recently found an opened pack of 'Luminos' Bromide (F2) paper that was in my attic for about 25 years. I live in Michigan, hot summers and frozen winters, this paper was in the worst of conditions but I tried it anyway. It was a bit curled at the edges but still works pefectly! In fact the contrast and colors of gray and black are better than some of the RC paper I have that is new.

You never know till you try some of the old paper!

Jeffrey J.

-- Jeffrey Johnson (aa8ve@juno.com), July 25, 2001.


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