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Author
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Topic: How do you keep a Super8 film?
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Jeroen van Ooijen
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 823
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Mar 2008
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posted July 29, 2009 07:34 AM
Hello everybody,i was thinking,i want to enjoy my movies for a liftime,and i think you people too.
I wonder how can i keep the quality from my movies in good shape.
I use filmguard but is that enough?I love my movies like a child(oh i'am terrible ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif) )and i want they are over 20 years like new.
My question is what are you doing to give your movies the best there is.
Example,beware it in a dark closet,make it clean every year,throw it in the bath or give it a kiss every night ![[Wink]](wink.gif) ,i think everyone has a good reason to keep his super8 film for a lifetime!
And where can you buy all the conserving stuff.
Tell me your stories,i'am very curious.
Greets Jeroen ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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Super8 that's the greatest hobby in my life,i was 9 to have my first viewer from GAF.
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted July 29, 2009 09:12 AM
It all depends on the film in question.
I agree with Paul Spinks in that you should only clean your films with a proper cleaner if they need it, (or you feel that they need it).
Proper storage is an absolute must!
Earlier commercial home films from the forties and fifties tend to have color that was made to last forever, or nearly forever, (kodrachrome, ansco-color, cinecolor), but the later film stock, that dreaded Eastman, is highly suseptible (mis-spelled that!) to fading, even in the best circumstances. After all, who knew that Eastman would have such quick fade properties to it?
The key to proper storage is ...
A cool dry place!
Both moisture and heat can do incredible damage to films, even better film stocks like Fuji. I have a number of Eastman optical sound film prints, and I always store them in an old functional refridgerator, at the lowest energy use, (which keeps the fridge at a nice 45 degrees), and with each film, I place them in freezer bags, with a couple of packets of selica gel.
Why selica gel? It is designed to keep moisture off of things.
After all, it would make no sense to store them in a cool place, if the moisture will wreck the films. The fridge I use is a frost free kind, which also helps keep moisture from my precious prints.
That's my "archival" advice. I've never known film prints to do poorly is stored in a cool dry place. A perfect example of this is most photography stores. At least in our area, (hot arrid) the photography stores have a little freezer unit for all thier unprocessed rolls of film. Betcha they knew what they were doing, eh?
You can't keep Eastman prints from fading eventually, but you can keep them looking pretty darn good for a very long time. I have Eastman film stock prints from 1970, and while they're the slightest Eastman shift, they still look quite nice.
That's my advice. Personally, I see no reason to clean your films every time you watch them. Besides, the less cleaners applied to your precious prints the better. The only time you would need to clean a print everytime you watch it, is if the projector was dirty; but then, someone who cleans they're films would probably clean they're projectors as well.
I hope that this helps.
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Joe Caruso
Film God
Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted July 29, 2009 09:49 AM
As a long-term collector of both Super and Std 8mm, I have found when films are stored in their original boxes (if available), placed vertically, AND importantly maintained with a 68-70 degree temperate climate, not only will they last considerably longer but will also look better in the long-run. If some of your films do not have the accompanying boxes, cans (metal) are acceptable, do not seal or close tight. Leave the can just on the film and allow circulation to inculcate - I air out my collection as it goes twice yearly with cleaner and inspect each one for the most-minor problem - In over forty years, I have never had a film turn due to undesirability in appearance, nor difficulty with projection. Keep a steady supply of splice and leader for any unforseen maintenance. Also extra reels and cans in both plastic and metal. When buying a used or "like-new" film from EBAY for example, I always ask if the film was from a smoke-free environment. Most often, sellers have this disclaimer, which helps the prospective buyer. I feel the tar/nicotine chemical will eventually (with time) de-modify the base. I'm all for metal reels/cans, however, I have discovered that plastic cans aren't too kind to film if the humidity rises. Metal has been fine. Now, this isn't to say I have all the right answers. Perhaps what doesn't work my way will work great for you or anyone. Whatever you do, do not discard the original boxes, as you will find there is a separate market in ephemra (advertising), that makes these "mini-posters" on cardboard of selected value. Temperature is your key,s elect a room with the proper central-air control or conditioner, and keep accordingly. In colder weather, accustomize with even-temperate heat and mixed with a cool stream will keep films crispy-looking, as it were. I'm no scientist, but I ahve purchased very old films in equally as old cardboard and nothing detrimental occured to the film print. Yes, cardboard ages, but even that can be remedied - Well, that's the most I've typed in quite a while - Always like to talk film - Shorty
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted July 29, 2009 11:09 PM
Its a good topic, (no matter how many times it is covered).
After all, not only is this hobby a brilliant waste of time (heehee), it is also a high maintenance hobby. That is, IF you want your collection be there for the "long haul"!
I think one of my worst problems in enjoying this hobby, is pulling out reel after reel, and after unspooling a good minute or more of film, I find myself having to once again clean the film!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted July 30, 2009 02:08 AM
I sometimes get nervous and excited when i read these posts as I both work in one of the largest film archive's in the world, and have tons of film at home...The only storage musts I think have been tapped on here (Cool & dry), the only one I would add would be -If it is on a reel store it vertical / if it is on a core then store it horizontal. That being said I am learning that most collectors do not have their films on cores (I am gauging this by the angry/disappointed emails I get sometimes when I have sent off films to folks). I keep all of my big stuff (16mm & 35mm in our archive on cores and in cold storage (including my nitrate which is stored at 42 degrees in crazy state of the art vaults(I'll have to post some pictures) my small gauge stuff (9.5, Super 8, Reg8, and one reel of 4.75 widescreen ) I keep at home and not always practicing what I preach unfortunately. The IMAGE PERMANENCE INSTITUTE is constantly doing long term testing on all sorts of storage techniques, and have lots of downloadable PDF's with their findings.. I believe there is no "one size fits all" solution, and find that most collectors know their environment best and alter their practices to best suit such..A earlier mentioned it seems it is only when someone passes the collection on to another person, or it fades in importance and they stop caring for it, that the bad stuff begins to happen.
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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"
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