You rely on your emulsion to produce consistent screens, so how you store it matters.

Chromaline strives to provide customers with the freshest possible products. Once that emulsion arrives at your shop, proper storage and inventory rotation can help maintain product performance and make sure you get the most from every bucket.

Temperature, storage conditions, product age, and even the type of emulsion can all affect shelf life. A few simple practices can help keep your screen room inventory organized and your emulsion ready when you need it.

Keep Emulsion Cool and Dry

For best results, Chromaline emulsions should be stored in a cool, dry area between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). Avoid storing emulsion near heaters, loading docks, direct sunlight, or other areas where temperatures can fluctuate significantly. Many emulsions are also sensitive to freezing, so be especially careful when storing product during colder months.

Temperature and humidity can affect more than product storage. They can also influence other parts of the screen-making process. For more information, read our Summer Screen Room Checklist: How Heat and Humidity Affect Screen Making.

Whenever possible, keep emulsion in its original container and follow any specific storage warnings printed on the packaging or listed in the product's user guide.

For additional tips on maintaining a consistent screen room environment, see Build A Better Darkroom.

Use Your Oldest Emulsion First

Good inventory rotation is one of the easiest ways to protect product quality. Follow a first in, first out approach. When a new shipment arrives, place the newer product behind the existing inventory so the oldest material is used first.

You can find the manufacture date on the product label, making it easy to determine which bucket should be used next. This is especially important for shops that purchase several buckets at a time or keep multiple emulsion types on hand.

Shelf Life Varies by Emulsion

Not every emulsion has the same shelf life. Pure photopolymer, diazo, and dual-cure emulsions have different formulations and storage characteristics. In addition, adding diazo sensitizer can significantly change the usable life of an emulsion.

If you mix a diazo or dual-cure emulsion in your shop, it is a good practice to write the date it was sensitized directly on the bucket. This makes it much easier for everyone in the screen room to know which product should be used first.

Rather than relying on a general shelf-life rule, always check the recommendations for the specific Chromaline product you are using. If you are evaluating which type of emulsion best fits your application, our 5 Tips When Choosing An Emulsion can help.

Check the Label and User Guide

Before storing or using an emulsion, take a moment to review the product label and user guide.

Pay particular attention to:

• Recommended storage temperatures
• Shelf-life information
• Freeze warnings
• Instructions for sensitized emulsions
• Any product-specific handling requirements

You can find current instructions on the Chromaline User Guides page.

Make Product Rotation Part of Your Screen Room Routine

Proper emulsion storage does not have to be complicated. A little organization can go a long way.

Remember these four basics:

• Store emulsions between 65°F and 75°F in a cool, dry location
• Use the oldest product first
• Check the manufacture date on the label
• Refer to the product's user guide for specific shelf-life and storage information

Taking a few minutes to manage your emulsion inventory can help protect the products you have purchased and contribute to more consistent results in the screen room.

Cold Weather Shipping Consideration

Reminder: Chromaline liquid emulsions are not freeze/thaw stable. During colder months, it is important to plan ahead when ordering emulsion. Packages may spend extended periods in unheated trucks, trailers, or distribution facilities where temperatures can fall below freezing. Consider ordering well ahead of anticipated cold snaps to help ensure you have the emulsion you need when you need it.

Need screen-making materials during freezing weather? Chromaline capillary films can ship year-round. Unlike liquid emulsions, capillary films are not affected by freezing temperatures during transit, making them a dependable option when winter weather limits the shipment of freeze-sensitive products. Learn more about Chromaline Capillary Films.

Have questions about storing or selecting the right Chromaline emulsion for your application? Contact the Chromaline team. We are here to help you get the best performance from your screen-making process.