Large film archives tend to store their films in vaults which are monitored and maintain a cool and dry climate. Unfortunately, these conditions are not neccssarily available to everyone.
If this is not a possibility for you, archivists say it’s a good idea to store your films on cores. This avoids the plastic of a reel and allows them to breath. 3 inch cores are the standard size and are preferable over 2 inch as the wind is not so tight. After speaking with a many specialists in the matter, they advise that the film be wound manually on the core, this prevents the risk of tearing or damaging the film. If you wish to project a film on a core you will need a split reel.
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