Film Storage

Post by **cineandy** » Sat Jan 18, 2003 5:38 pm

Hi, can anyone advise of the correct way of storing film. I have been advised that you stack the reels on top of each other about 10 deep. I have always stored reels in the bookform way..Which is the correct way???? Anyone........thankyou for any replies..

Post by **Old Uncle Barry** » Sun Jan 19, 2003 8:37 pm

8O
With Super8 this is not really an issue as there is no weight in the reels of film.Not even with 800ft spools.The only proviso is that they are kept at a constant cool-ish temperature and they are not in danger of getting damp as they can mildew given the right conditions.
A dark and dust free storage area is also a good idea.Kept in their original packaging/cans they will outlast all of us,and thus far in the history of film,they have-except for nitrate film of course but that was abandoned in 1952.Long before your time I'll bet!!

Post by **Actor** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 10:22 am

Nitrate film was never used for 16mm or 8mm films because it was deemed too hazardous to be used by amateurs, and these gauses were considered to be amateur gauges. That at least is Kodak's story. I don't know about other manufacturers but I'll bet they followed Kodak's lead here. Why the professionals wanted nitrate film I do not know.

Post by **Old Uncle Barry** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 11:24 am

8O
Actor,the answer about nitrate film is simple.It was the only technology they used for film base until the early fifties.I must admit to being rather surprised about this because as you have said,all substandard gauges ie 8mm 9.5mm 16mm 17.5mm were on acetate stock and I think 28mm Pathescope offering was the same.I have been unable to turn up any reasoning for this in my archives either.Maybe someone knows out there?

Post by **mattias** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 11:49 am

Old Uncle Barry wrote:all substandard gauges ie 8mm 9.5mm 16mm 17.5mm were on acetate stock

not single 8 which as far as i know is and was polyester.

/matt

Post by **David M. Leugers** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 3:24 pm

Nitrate film was the only film base available until Kodak came up with acetate based film around 1922. This allowed them to introduce the first "amateur" film gauge = 16mm in 1923. Acetate based film stock was long advertised as "Safety Film". Make no mistake about it, nitrate film was and is far too dangerous for home use. The stuff is like nitro glycerine, easily set on fire and burns out of control. The professional motion picture stocks stayed with nitrate stock until around 1952 because the image quality nitrate base film gave was far superior to acetate based film until then. (Imagine that, film makers more concerned about image quality than convenience or even safety!) A black and white nitrate print is incredible for its silvery image and deep blacks. The worst thing about nitrate stock for the film maker was that it is unstable and will deteriote to powder over time, even when properly stored. Once it turns to powder, it is literally like gun powder. Many, many films of the silent era have been lost forever due to nitrate decomposition. Nasty stuff...

Post by **tim** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 10:34 pm

Not only is nitrate more transparent that acetate, it also much harder. This means more showings per print - important in commercial cinema.

Basstruc · Post by **Basstruc** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 11:01 pm

Be carefull if you got any nitrate based movie, those stuff are very dangerous! For a demonstartion, I saw a guy who burned a little piece of it, put it on a glass full of water & put it off : it was still burning !! Impressive ! I know there's only few facilities allowed to transfer it & there telecinemas are in a bunker.
Matt

Post by **Old Uncle Barry** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 11:21 am

:?
Mattias:
OK so I missed one!Fair play! Universal Studios printed S8 package films on the very same base in the early days however the stock they used has,over time,faded to magenta with loss of colour detail-I know,I have some! I cannot speak for the Fuji stuff for amateur use as I have had no experience of it.Though being reversal I would imagine there would be no problem.If there was,then I am sure you will put me right.
I was generalising on film storage that is a lot older than you to put things into its correct perspective to help younger users such as you to see where it has all come from.

Post by **mattias** » Tue Jan 21, 2003 12:49 pm

Old Uncle Barry wrote:I am sure you will put me right.

come on, you completely misunderstood me. i didn't write what i did because i wanted to correct you but because it's true. don't take things so personal.

would you rather see that somebody in the future started arguing that single 8 has an acetate base, since "old uncle barry said that all 8mm stock does"? ;-)

/matt

Post by **Old Uncle Barry** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:27 pm

Matthias:
Sir,it is you that seems to have got hold of the wrong view.My comment on "putting me right" was a genuine and unconditional request and was meant seriously.I do not know it all and am glad to be 'put right', even more so by the younger generation whom have broader opinions than I.
You obviously have taken the statement as english sarcasm.
You are light years from the truth,two hundred postings or not.
Now thats sarcasm.

Post by **mattias** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 2:29 pm

Old Uncle Barry wrote:You obviously have taken the statement as english sarcasm.

oops. damn. i take everything as sarcasm, since i so often use it myself... :-)

/matt

Post by **Old Uncle Barry** » Thu Jan 23, 2003 7:37 pm

:roll:
Subject closed.

Post by **David M. Leugers** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 4:05 am

Hey, wait a minute Uncle Barney. I think we forgot to answer one of the original questions of this posting.

Kodak recommends and every lab or film vault that I am aware of stores its film in cans stacked horizontally instead of on end. While S-8mm film might not suffer from being placed on end, why take the risk? I store all my films in cans stacked horizontally on shelves but not stacked very high so that the weight on the bottom cans is not a factor. I never store film in paper or cardboard boxes as they do not afford enough protection in my opinion.

Post by **Old Uncle Barry** » Fri Jan 24, 2003 1:39 pm

8O
David:
Yes of course your information is accurate.
Just to clarify my reasoning: I must admit that storing horizontally is the politically correct way to operate.We used to store 1600ft spools of 16mm at a film library I once worked in horizontally because,like 35mm,there is a lot of weight 'sagging' the coils of film and a cause of potential damage due to scuffing/mildew etc.
However I would have thought that due to the sheer lack of mass that with S8 this would not be a problem.It would certainly become a problem though if the coils of film were loosely wound.
Cans: Very good point.If you can get them lightweight alloy ones are ideal.Failing that,some of the better quality plastic ones are a good idea too.I like the Bonum ones as they have a good seal.

Filmshooting

Film Storage

Film Storage

Nitrate film

Nitrate vs acetate

Horizontal