Anything But The Shoe Box: How To Take Proper Care of Your Negatives

At GPP, we believe that photography is, among other things, the art of preserving moments. Be it your old family album, an international trip from your youth, or a roll you shot just before lockdown and the 'new normal' – we are committed to helping you protect your negatives, and the memories contained in them.

There are several things you can do to make sure your negatives last for as long as possible. One thing is to avoid ever touching them without a glove, as oils naturally found in our hands can cause deterioration to the film. Gloves also help protect against unwanted scratches – another source of trouble when handling negatives. It is crucial that they are kept in a cool, dry place, since both heat and humidity can cause damage to the film.

Another thing to do is to make sure you keep your negatives flat - having been contained within a tiny canister, film tends to roll, and that can cause image distortion during the scanning process, or even result in the film breaking or tearing. Never store negatives on top of each other, as any humidity introduced to the air can cause them to stick together, and separating them can cause additional damage.

The ideal method for storing sheets is in plastic sheets which are PVC-free, which then go into a sealed binder to best protect them from moisture and dust. Those binders should live in places with little fluctuation in temperature and humidity (such as garages, basements, or attics), and that should guarantee the longest life possible for your negatives.

With all of that in mind, film is still inherently perishable, and it will eventually fade out and break down in time. This is why it is ideal to scan your film – sooner rather than later, before time gets the best out of it.

Equipped with an Epson Perfection V750 Pro Scanner, we at GPP are happy to offer you two options for your film negatives: a low-res and a high-res scan, depending on your needs. If you wish to simply digitize your negatives and share the digital copies with friends and family, then our low-res solution is the way to go – at 1200 DPI, your scans will have the necessary quality for mobile viewing and small 4x6” prints. If you're looking for a little more than that, our high-resolution option is suitable for anyone who wishes to retouch, crop, or print large versions of their favorite moments captured on film. At 12800 DPI, you can comfortably zoom in, crop, and achieve great detail and sharpness in your scanned images – and while you're at it, why not print it as well? With our high resolution scans, you can print your images at up to A1 size – because those special moments deserve a place on your wall.

If you would like to get your negatives scanned, fill out the following form – tell us a bit more about your film, and we will get back to you as soon as possible with more information and prices.