The Doran 8.5 x 11" Paper Safe offers light-tight protection for film and paper. Ideal for storage of all light-sensitive materials-color paper, films, metal plates, etc.
Holds up to 200 sheets of 8.5 x 11" paper.
I bought this despite what I considered to be a very high price, because I thought it would be better than making my own. I'm pretty handy and can make a lot of things, but I do value my time. I also thought they might have figured out some tricks and solved some problems I'd encounter and learn about the hard way with a DIY. I'm quite disappointed. My suspicions — this is a product that should sell for $15 — were justified. It's poorly toleranced plastic that doesn't really operate smoothly and hasn't been built with the attention and quality I think the price should justify. Also, it came wrapped in a bag inside a box, and when I took it out of the bag, it was FILTHY inside. I had to spend about five minutes with a microfiber cloth and air blower trying to get all the dust and junk out of it. It's like it was packed in a sandstorm or something. See photos. I had already cleaned it partway when it occurred to me that I should photograph it for this review, so when it arrived it was much dirtier than you see in the photos. What in the WORLD? How can I put photographic paper in something like this? My prints would be covered in dust spots! Whoever packed this should be ashamed of themselves, and B&H should get in touch with the maker and pressure them to step up the quality of their product. I won't be buying another, but now that I've put the work into cleaning this one I'll keep it.
I make 16x20 color prints from 35mm to 4x5 color negative film. I use 16x20 Fuji Crystal archive paper. I bought a Doran 20x24 paper safe several years ago and it has worked fine for the 16x20 paper. I have been cutting down 16x20 sheets into 8x10's for contact sheets and test prints. Mixing the 8x10 paper in with the 16x20's was causing me handling . I cut the paper expose the enlargements in complete darkness. At times, I would pull out a sheet of 16x20 paper and an 8x10 on top of it would come partly out of the safe and be partially exposed when I turned the lights on. The 8.5x11 safe hs eliminated this problem. I had seen concerns posted about the use of velcro to hold the safes closed. I am an amateur, printing on weekends. The 20x24 has had no problems. If it does, I can replace the velcro.