Any time it is desired to retire a collection from active service. be it to prevent accidental damage or to place it in very cold storage, duplication will allow continuous immediate access.In a duplicating project, original negatives may range in size from35mm to 8"x10" and beyond, and the quantities involved may range from a few dozen to twenty thousand or more.

Whether by contact or roll, the exact specifications followed by the Chicago Albumen Works for image density, image contrast, and film type are described in The National Archives and Records Administration document "Requirements for the Duplication of Negatives: Shadow Normalization Tone Reproduction."

In addition to the technical specifications, the NARA document covers quality control and inspection issues, facilities and shipping requirements, and various performance, testing, and reporting topics.

- All projects are returned "Shelf Ready."

- Each interpositive and duplicate negative is sleeved in an archival, buffered enclosure, numbered and arranged in proper sequence, and any enclosure used has passed the Photographic Activity Test (P.A.T.).

- All processed films are individually inspected for contrast, density, physical flaws, and processing defects.

- A Certificate of Findings from an independent testing laboratory is available to certify that residual thiosulfate levels are below ANSI specifications.

- Polyester-based laboratory films are used exclusively, with contrast, density range, and image structure characteristics specifically designed for the production of the highest quality duplicates.

- Panchromatic films are used for all interpositives in order to minimize the effects of stains found in original negatives.

Contact Duplication

The highest quality and most archivally secure duplicate black-and-white negatives are produced via a two-step process, rather than by and direct duplicating method or by copying photographic prints. The preservation interpositive (and its resulting duplicate negative) provides an accurate and archival record or the original and is the means by which an endangered collection can be preserved and utilized. The film interpositive serves as a preservation master; from it duplicate negatives of any printing characteristics can be produced.

Optical Duplication

Copy Negatives

The Chicago Albumen Works can produce high quality copy negatives and transparencies in both black and white and color, and in all formats, ranging from 35mm to 8"x10". It is only through an acute understanding and a constant attention to detail that copy services can be successful. In addition to providing such understanding and attention, the Albumen Works conducts such projects in a conservation environment, where original photographs are treated with care and historical respect.