Unfortunately, film is not eternal and overtime will start to deteriorate, putting your loving memories at risk for being lost. So, what is the lifespan of film? There are many factors that alter the lifespan of media, such as how it is stored and handled. Two biggest components that affects film are significant temperature changes and extremely high or low humidity, which is why it is important to store media in a climate controlled environment. Although keeping film and photos in a safe box, that doesn’t mean they should stay in your storage closet forever.
What Causes Film to Age?
After only 15 years, film will start to deteriorate, causing audio and video quality to degrade. This doesn’t mean your media is completely ruined, you will only start to notice a lower quality in pictures or a muted coloring. As mentioned previously, this is often a result of being exposed to years moisture and temperature changes, which causes the acetate base layer to slowly degrade. The color decay will show an overly red or blue rather than the original color palette. As the acetate continues to decompose, you may notice a smell similar to vinegar, which means acetate acid has reached the film base. If you notice this happening to your film, we suggest digitizing immediately to preserve your memories before they are completely deteriorated.
Let’s Get Digitized!
If you’re still weary about handing over your memories to be upgraded to an mp3 file or flash drive, we completely understand the trust that comes along. At Keepsake, we handle your media as if it was our own. Not only will it give you a peace of mind knowing your memories are now preserved forever, but will also free up space consumed by tapes and cassettes that are overflowing your storage closet. If you’re considering digitally transferring your photos, film, or audio, it’s time.
Keepsake Solutions is a Columbus, Ohio based memory preservation service with over 15 years of experience. We use cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art techniques to ensure that your memories are preserved, and that no precious moments are left in the past. If you’d like to contact us with questions or comments, please feel free to do so at (614)392-1909 or email us below.