Tips for Protecting and Storing Old Film Reels
If you collect vintage films or happen to inherit your relative’s collection as a gift, you get to have the beautiful experience of witnessing their memories of times long past. It can feel surprising to see how different life used to be and how simple it once was. However, the more you watch and interact with the old films, the more they deteriorate.
Film is one of the most sensitive forms of media, and it requires expert handling and protection. So, you have to preserve film in the best way possible. There are plenty of tips for protecting and storing old film reels that you can try to better preserve the memories of loved ones.
Keep the Environment Clean
The last problem you want is your old film reels becoming damaged, further deteriorating their quality. When a film reel has been stored incorrectly for too long, smaller pieces of film—such as photo negatives—become stripped and worn out. So, one of the best tips for protecting and storing old film reels is to keep both the film and storage area clean and cool.
Ideally, you want to keep your old film reels in a solid container that sees little interaction from external environments. Keep dust and debris away from the sensitive film reels while maintaining a temperature around 40 degrees Fahrenheit with 40 to 50 percent humidity.
Keep Away From Sunlight and Moisture
Over time, film and photographs that have become overly exposed to light will wear down, and the quality of the film will deteriorate. Unfortunately, light can cause damage that cannot be reversed. So, it would help if you stored your old film reels in a dark area to prevent light exposure.
Furthermore, old film reels can get stored in freezers and refrigerators to preserve their quality. If you have complete control over the temperature and humidity, you won’t have to worry.
Make Back-Up Copies
If you don’t have the resources for proper storage and safety for your film reels, you can always find ways to transfer your films digitally. Converting your film reels into a digital format can further extend their life and make them easier to share with others.
On the other hand, if you don’t have the experience or other means of transferring yourself, you can find a professional film digitizing service near you. It’s usually best to leave the transferring process to an expert to prevent further damage.
If you’re looking for a way to transfer your old film reels into a digital format, let DiJiFi help you. We take any photographs, vintage tapes, audio recordings, and more and transfer them to any digital format you like. Our high end equipment, years of experience, and expert technicians will produce superior digital files from all of your analog media.