Take good care of your negatives for perfect prints later.
If you were an avid photographer in the days before digital cameras, you may well have hundreds of negatives that you might not know what to do with. If you are reluctant to part with them, you can at least store them correctly--in case you ever want to have prints made in the future. Negatives should be stored so that they remain in good condition and can be located when needed.
Instructions
1. Mark dates or technical information on archival quality negative sleeves or bags with a soft felt pen, before you place the negatives in the sleeves. Never write on a bag with a negative inside.
2. Hold negatives gently by the sides. Cut negatives into strips of five or six frames (if they are not cut already), according to the length of the negative sleeves or bags.
3. Place the strips in the sleeves or bags to protect them. Once a negative is scratched or dirty, the quality of prints will suffer.
4. Store each sheet of negatives with a contact sheet of images if one exists, in order to provide instant visual identification.
5. Place the negative sleeves or bags in an archival box. Place packets of silica gel in the box to maintain dryness.
6. Store negatives in a dry environment, out of sunlight, and free from noxious gases. An environment with a humidity level between 25% to 40% is ideal, as low humidity is crucial in the proper storage of negatives and prints. Strive to maintain an average temperature of 75 degrees. You can also store on an open bookshelf if possible.
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