How do you store your films after use?

[Mark @ Hurricane Printing]

What do you guys/girls use to store your film positives in? My ink jet clear films (not the water proof kind) are 13" x 18" and I use the x-ray folders that are open on one end ..the kind doctors use to store x-rays. They seem to work fine even though my films are a little longer than the folders...granted I can trim the films but I'd rather not. My biggest concern really is if I have a job with multiple colors, for example 6 colors, I put all of the positives in this one folder and sometimes, in time, they stick to each other. I make sure to insert them in the folder so no ink from one is touching the ink from another. All of the folders are stored in my office which is a controlled environment but I still get some, not all, sticking to each other. All jobs folders are not stacked horizontally one top of on another...I have them stored vertically.

Should I start using water proof ink jet film? waterproof film seems like they wouldn't stick...I never used it before but it looks like there is a certain glossy on the film that prevents them from sticking...I dunno..I'm just guessing on that one.
Should I store the positives in something other than the x-ray folders?
Should I place something in between each positive when stored? If so what would be good for that?

[beanie357]

Folders from Uline.
Used blueprint cabinet, alpha sort.

[Gilligan]

They still stick.

[prozyan]

In the trash.

[Socalfmf]

DIRECT TO SCREEN BABY!

[mk162]

in the trash, it's too complicated to store them.  You could store the folks that will re-order, we only have about 4 or 5 customers that place reorders every month or so, it's not worth it for the folks that do a couple big runs a year, or most of our other customers that change a small detail like date or something like that.

Direct 2 screen would be nice, very nice.  First I have other fish to fry though.

[Homer]

we're going to a hanging system with coat hangers and folders. I would toss them but I don't always have the time to reprint. I have a stamp I use and tag the order form "reorder"  and boom, pull the films and done. otherwise I'd be here all day running films.

I did talk to Brad @ maverick about some sort of recycling program. If there is a way we printers could send him our used films for credit towards a new roll. He could recycle the plastic and get some coin back. assuming it was serious volume. There has to be some way to make coin on old films. If everyone tosses them out, that is some serious recycling. But I don't know, maybe shipping would kill any profit etc...

or DTS haha....douche...

[mk162]

i use the old films to cover the prints on the reverse sides of screens.  Easier to remove than taping over a print.

[cvreeland]

I buy the big 4 mil. clear plastic ziploc bags from Uline that are big enough to hold the film & carrier sheets. I think they're approx. 20 x 20. Never had a problem with anything sticking to them.

We keep 'em in flat files. I don't think they'd stand up very well.

[Prosperi-Tees]

i use the old films to cover the prints on the reverse sides of screens.  Easier to remove than taping over a print.

Same here.

[shellyky]

i have a big wide file cabinet and have been tossing them in there in certain drawers depending on if they will ever order again/frequent orderer, etc....its getting pretty heavy so i'll likely throw away about a 1.5 foot tall stack soon....its almost faster to just reprint than digging thru the massive stack (in no order) to hunt down all the pieces.

[dlac]

Pizza boxes.. you can buy like a zillon or them from ULINE for like a $100.00.. 16 inches by 16 inches..right the client or art name on the front with magic marker and start stacking
dlac

[mooseman]

I like the pizza box idea.

[Socalfmf]

DLAC

pizza boxes?  does't that take up a ton of space?  we do about 40 screens a day and with 15-20 clients that is way to many boxes..where do you keep them all?

[cleveprint]

We have a bunch of old X-Ray folders that we use. Not sure where we originally got them, but we have had them forever. We even have some new ones that are the same size. Each folder is customized by customer name and filed alphabetically. Some customers that we have a lot of films for are organized by specific jobs or sports. Very rarely do we ever have an issue finding an old job. We are hoarders too. Hd a customer that hasn't been in in over 15 years. Went back and found his file. They were films that were shot by the old stat camera!!! Trying to upload a pic, its my first time, hopefully it works....