2 questions- I use Ilford Multigrade 4 paper, RC and fiber.

Can anyone tell me the shelf life for paper at room temperature? I came across a windfall of free paper and am wondering how quickly I have to use it up.

And...

No one has ever told me why to chill film or paper, just that I should. And some people say that I shouldn't chill the paper. So can someone explain to me the reason (not that it helps prevent fogging, which I know, but WHY it prevents fogging..) to chill paper and film? and whether to freeze or refrigerate?

ps. I just started reading these pages, and they're great. If these have been discussed before, sorry, but I couldn't find the answers.

thanks for your help alison

-- alison (myloverboy@innocent.com), December 09, 1999

Answers

How quickly you should use up the paper depends on its manufacturing date, and how it has been treated afterwards (see also below). It can hardly be generalised. I still have a couple of sheets of MG III which are quite old. I use one of them every now and then, and I haven't seen any sign of deterioration in print quality.

Why refrigerate? The unprocessed emulsion is subject to chemical deterioration in the course of time. Any chemical reaction can be slowed down be lowering the temperature. This is one good reason in favour of storing the paper in a cool place. However, putting the paper in the fridge after each darkroom session and taking it out of there before the next session may also harm your paper, and it seems hardly practical. You have to take it out well before the session to allow for acclimatisation, or you might experience dew formation on the paper. So there are compromises: Store the paper in a cool (rather than cold) place, or only put it in the fridge when you know you won't need it for an extended time. (I think, one might even freeze it then, but I haven't tested that.) Also make sure the storage is dry.

-- Thomas Wollstein (thomas_wollstein@web.de), December 10, 1999.

Fogging is a chemical reaction. Like most chemical reactions, it occurs more slowly in cold conditions.

I don't know how long paper lasts. I do know that I don't notice any difference between one-year-old paper and new stuff. Paper is less sensitive than film, and fogs more slowly.

I don't refridgerate or freeze paper, because I don't need to. If you are not going to use it for a year or more, it might benefit from cold storage. Wrap it in air-tight plastic first. When you take it out of the fridge/freezer, let it warm up overnight before unwrapping it.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), December 10, 1999.

Most standard photographic paper has to be REALLY outdated to develop problems. I've often used stuff ten years outdated with very good results. You should be fine...

-- Michael Goldfarb (mgoldfar@mobius-inc.com), December 10, 1999.