The shelf life for film can vary greatly. It will depend primarily on the type of film and the way the film is stored.
Color Film
The shelf life of color film, both slide film and print film, is printed on the film box and will be different for different film types. It usually ranges from four to six years after the film was manufactured. Professional film often has a shorter shelf life than consumer-grade film. Color shifts occur in outdated color film.
Black and White Film
Although black and white film is more robust than color film, manufacturers typically say it has a shelf life of four to six years after manufacturing. However, outdated rolls of black and white film many years expired often produce acceptable images.
Refrigerating Film
An easy way to extend the shelf life of film, both color and black and white, is refrigeration. Refrigeration typically doubles the expected shelf life.
Freezing Film
Putting film in the freezer vastly extends its shelf life. Color film from the early 1990s often produces acceptable images nearly 20 years after manufacture and 15 years after the film expiration date.
Things That Shorten Film Shelf Life
There are a number of things that will shorten film's shelf life. The primary one is heat. Film should always be kept in cool, dry conditions. Moisture will also shorten the shelf life of film. Professional film is very sensitive to temperature variation, and must be kept below a temperature specified by the manufacturer.
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