From: Alain LeTourneau (email suppressed)
Date: Tue Dec 04 2007 - 13:13:18 PST
Robert,
This is exactly why I suggested tape "sealing" the cans with molecular
sieves (Kodak product). This creates a micro-climate in which the sieves
absorb the off-gassing of the film elements, and the sealed can prevents
outside gases from
entering the can. I replace the old sieves with a new ones every 12 months.
I just use Permacel (now called something else) cloth tape to seal the can
as I
have yet to locate a good acid-free tape.
This method of protecting the film elements was suggested to me by the late
John Pytak at Kodak. I told him specifically that I was not in a position to
build a
vault, nor pay to store my elements at a vault, nor buy the appropriate
freezer,
and asked what would be the next best thing. I'm passing along what he told
me.
-Alain
On 12/4/07, Robert Schaller <email suppressed> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the trove of information! I really appreciate it.
>
> One thing that no one mentioned -- and I haven't had time yet to visit all
> the links -- is the effect of other environmental conditions on film,
> other
> than temperature and humidity. For instance, I have heard a rumor that
> wood
> releases gasses that encourage vinegar syndrome. Is there anything to
> that?
> What about film that is kept in a darkroom, where there are small but
> present vapors from processing chemicals?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Robert Schaller
>
> On 12/2/07 12:59 PM, "Bill Brand" <email suppressed> wrote:
>
> > The "Self-Preservation Guide for Film/Video Makers" is a chapter of
> > "Results You Can't Refuse: Celebrating 30 Years of BB Optics" a book
> > published by Anthology Film Archives. The Self-preservation guide is
> > part of our attempt at a grass roots preservation effort and
> > addresses exactly the sentiment expressed by Robert Schaller. It
> > doesn't give all the answers but it does give resources and takes the
> > approach that its better to do what you can - even only a little -
> > than to do nothing. We've posted a pdf of the chapter for free
> > download at:
> >
> > http://www.littlefilm.org/News.html
> >
> > The book is available for $10 at Anthology or online at:
> >
> >
> http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?r=1&ean=9780911689
> > 266
> >
> >
> > Here's some other good resources:
> >
> > Independent Media Arts Preservation
> > http://www.imappreserve.org/
> >
> > National Film Preservation Foundation
> > http://www.filmpreservation.org
> >
> > The Home Film Preservation Guide
> > http://www.filmforever.org
> >
> > National Film and Sound Archive, Commonwealth of Australia
> > http://www.screensound.gov.au
> >
> > Lux, UK - Keep Moving Images
> > http://kmi.lux.org.uk/index.html
> >
> > Brodsky and Treadway
> > http://www.littlefilm.org
> >
> > Electronic Arts Intermix
> > http://www.eai.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> First of all, here are two resources that might be of
> >> interest to folks on this list:
> >>
> >> The National Film Preservation Foundation published a
> >> great basic guide to film preservation which you cna
> >> obtain by going here:
> >> http://www.filmpreservation.org/projects/preservation_basics.html
> >>
> >> Also, Anthology Film Archives published a book by Bill
> >> Brand and Toni Treadway called the Self-Preservation
> >> Guide for Artists. I believe you would get this book
> >> from Anthology.
> >>
> >> *
> > snip
>
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.
>
-- 40 FRAMES Alain LeTourneau Pamela Minty 425 SE 3rd #400 Portland, OR 97214 United States +1 503 231 6548 info(at)40frames(dot)org http://www.40frames.org __________________________________________________________________ For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.