How to Preserve and Use Your Film Negatives

If you're new to film photography you may be wondering one of a few things when it comes to negatives - what are they? Do I need to keep them? What do I do with them? Or all of the above!

In a world of digital photography where all you have to show for it are endless images on your phone, having something physical that comes with film photography can feel unexpected!

We've been in the film processing industry since 1983 so if there's anything worth knowing about negatives, we know it! Keep on reading as we share the best way to store negatives, what they are and what you can do with them when you next get a roll of film processed.

What Are Film Negatives?

Film negatives are the physical record of a photograph captured on traditional film.

These negatives serve as the master copy from which prints are made, holding far more detail and tonal range than a typical photo print.

Because they are irreplaceable once lost or damaged, negatives are not just a step in the photographic process but something that should be treasured, preserving moments exactly as they were originally captured.

What Can You Do With Film Negatives?

You've already got your prints or digital scans so you might be wondering why you need them.

There's a lot that you can do with film negatives beyond simply filing them away. As we touched on earlier, negatives are your master copy. So, for whatever reason in the future if you want more prints, or perhaps you've lost all of the original photos, you can get your negatives scanned in again by a lab (or your own home setup) and have your photos generated from this however you wish. Negatives allow you to revisit these times, decades later (ensuring they have been stored correctly).

If you prefer to keep things analogue, negatives can also be used to make traditional darkroom prints or enlargements. Some photographers turn them into contact sheets to view an entire roll at a glance, while others experiment with alternative printing techniques like cyanotypes.

And for the more creative-minded, they can even be used in art projects, layered in mixed-media pieces, or displayed as part of the storytelling process behind a photograph.

How To Store Film Negatives

The best way to store film negatives is to keep them clean, dry, and protected from light. This will ensure that they retain their quality for years to come.

There are a number of different ways you can store them, but the most common form is to place them in archival-quality sleeves made from materials like polypropylene, polyethylene, or uncoated paper, these prevent dust, scratches, and chemical degradation. Many online retailers offer these, just search for "archival storage sheets 35mm", for example.

You can then store the sleeves in a binder or storage box, and keep them in a cool, stable environment away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight.

Avoid attics, basements, or anywhere prone to temperature fluctuations, as these can cause the film to warp or develop mould. If you have a large collection, label each sleeve with dates, locations, or roll numbers so you can easily find specific images later. This is key if you have a lot of negatives, getting into a routine of this when you receive your negatives back will help you to keep on top of it.

Proper storage not only preserves the negatives’ quality but ensures they remain a usable archive for decades to come.

Negatives are a valuable piece of the film photography process and one that should be stored and looked after for potential future use.

If you get your film processed with us, at FilmProcessing.co.uk we offer FREE return delivery on all negatives if you choose to have them returned, happy snapping!