7 tips to give your film a longer life

Have old film reels? A bit of care today will keep the action rolling for years to come.

Attaching 65 to 95 centimetres (two or three feet)  of white leader film at the beginning and end of your films is a good way to protect them against damage during lace-up and projection.

• Your films should be kept on reels only if you view them frequently (but be sure to replace any bent, warped, or broken reels).
• For long-term storage, films should be wound ends-out onto plastic cores in even, tight rolls with the ends secured with archival tape.
• Be sure to wind the film well; loose rolls can cause cinching, tears, and other damage. Store film rolls in noncorrosive metal cans or in acid-free plastic film boxes.
• You can purchase cores, reels, and boxes at photo-supply shops. Stack film cans horizontally to prevent warping.

• Although 35 mm nitrocellulose (also known as cellulose nitrate or nitrate) film has not been manufactured for more than 50 years, it may still be found in some collections.
• Nitrate film requires professional maintenance and storage, and should not be stored in your home.
• It can be a serious fire hazard and has even been known to self-ignite.

Do not seal cans or boxes containing film with tape; it will trap moisture inside that can promote the growth of moulds or mildew on the film.

• Before putting your rolls of 16 mm or 8 mm film into storage — and periodically thereafter — give each a good whiff. If any smell like vinegar, it's a sure sign that it's time to get it transferred to a different format as soon as possible; the film is starting to decompose.
• Although the process can be slowed down by cold storage, it cannot be stopped (and affected rolls should be stored separately.
• This condition is known as "vinegar syndrome," and it occurs when the acetate content of cellulose acetate film starts to turn to acetic acid — the same chemical in vinegar.

• In general, the colder and drier your films are kept, the longer they'll last.
• It's best to store black-and-white film in an area with an average temperature of 10°C (50°F) or lower, and a relative humidity of 30 to 50 per cent.
• Colour film, like colour photos, does best in lower temperatures and lower humidity.
• The best results will be seen at temperatures of 0°C (32°F) or lower, with a relative humidity of 20 to 30 per cent.

• You can remove dust or fingerprints from your films by gently wiping them down with a clean flannel or soft cotton batiste cloth.
• Frequently refold the cloth to avoid transferring the dust back to the film.