Negative Storage

[Jao]

I suspect this is a recurrent discussion but I am keen to illicit views about the most effective way to manage Neg storage.

I am shooting between 8 and 10 rolls of film a month, mostly 35mm, probably 2-3 rolls of 120.

My issue is that I have several systems running at once. I have my 35mm in CD boxes with the ASDA disc and the contact sheet that comes with the disc on the front of the CD Box. I also have the negs I develop myself in folders with Kenro sheets. This also how I file away all my 120.

Although the systems I use broadly work, I'd be keen to hear about how others manage their negative storage?

 

[Andysnap]

I just store them in order of when they were taken. I did have a system but it got too complicated so I keep it as simple as possible. I did make some stickers which I write on the camera, lens, film, date taken and locations and they are stuck onto the neg holder. Simples.

 

[freecom2]

In order of when I finished shooting them. All filed in Kenro 35mm and 120 sleeves, and then in numerical order in negative folders.

Information on what emulsion/camera/date/ISO are in the folder name of the scans on my hard drives.

For instance:
Roll 140 - 28-02-2014 to 12-03-2014 - Fuji Superia 800 (Expired 11-2013) - Nikon FE2

It's very easy to overcomplicate these things and it is mostly futile.

 

[excalibur2]

Well I have the Asda folders with negs and CD labelled (Asda ref number) in a row with some info of the lens and film etc..I also copy the files on the CD onto my computer with the same folder ref number, this way there is a link from computer to negs. But if I'm looking for something specific, I haven't found an answer to that yet other than viewing all the files on my computer or looking at each index in the folders.

 

[ChrisR]

I have very much a lack of system, except in labelling. It's complicated by the fact I have negatives (and slides) from as far back as 1966, but only redicovered them and started scanning them 3 years ago. I also have had processing done by ASDA, Snappy, MaxS, Boots, Photo Express, Peak, Dark Room, Genie and more, all of whom send back the material in different sized packets. I haven't started home processing yet.

My system is to store the packets in more or less time-related heaps inside large cardboard boxes. They were carefully sorted into shoe boxes, but some modern packets are too large, and there are getting too many anyway. Each packet is labelled, something like "CN1404PMXC Reala Suffolk & Ken", which tells me it's the 3rd roll from April 2014, taken with one of the Pentax MXs, it's colour negative film, in this case Reala 100, and a summary of the contents (quite often "Misc"). That's also the folder name in Aperture. (Much older stuff omits the two month digits.)

The "heap" nature of the collection is not particularly a problem, as I've only gone back to re-scan stuff a small number of times, and the stratigraphy works quite well!

I'm conscious this is a rubbish system and unsustainable. A year or so ago somehere sent me a packet of sleeves suitable for filing; I'm planning to use these when I get round to processing my black and white stuff at home. Not sure how these will be labelled yet...

 

[StephenM]

For negatives, I use negative sleeves kept in four ring binders or boxes; my five oldest binders are Paterson, from the 1960s. These older binders are labelled A to E.

The labelling for newer negatives is equally simple, given that I don't mix formats in a binder. The negative type makes the prefix, and then I use a sequential 2 digit number (adaquate so far) to make the binder unique. Thus, MFC01 is the first binder with medium format colour negatives in.

35mm slides (I have no slides in other formats) are stored in hanging files in a couple of filing cabinets. There is no organisation other than by film. The organisation is done via computer, where the hanger id has contents, film type, date etc. stored. I can use the database to sort into any order I want to find the right file (in theory).

 

[AshleyC]

ive got one of these from silverprint

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=931

All stored in sleeves with an index page at the front with page number, location, film type, size, colour / B&W noted

But tbh i will probably never go back and dig a negative out since theyve been scanned. Its all neat and tidy for when i pop my clogs and someone finds them and makes millions off them though.

 

[Nod]

Negs and slides are in 4 ring binders with A4 "contact" sheets and CDs of scans alongside. All filed in chronological order and labelled as well as possible, although some films have a few different outings on them. Generally the label is something like Haytor 1/1/98 or similar but some are a bit more detailed. The binders get stored spine upwards to reduce the amount of dust settling into the slide sheets (but make sure the negs don't slip out of 6 to a strip sheets!)

 

[stevelmx5]

erm...all 'held' in the sleeves they were sent back in then those are in a single A4 acetate sleeve after they've been scanned along with a couple still in the cardboard packaging that AG returned them in. Digital files stored on the Mac and backed up to my server...am I getting barred from this section now? ;0)

 

[steveo_mcg]

Mine are all in a kenro folder in rough date order, with the knowledge that if I ever need to go back and get something I'll just need to leaf through loads of shots...

 

[Jao]

Many thanks folks, lots for me to think about here.

Reflecting on others approaches I am minded to move to a binder system, the CD box approach worked for a while but If I was happy with it I wouldn't be doubting it!

My challenge now is that I also need to think about sorting my digital storage too, and I haven't got my head around that at all!!!