Preserving Your Photographs

Photographic prints, just like any artwork, are vulnerable to damage. Here are some tips to ensure they last for the longest possible time.


Handling photographs

Always handle photographs by their edges to avoid leaving fingerprints. Even if you have washed your hands and they are clean oils and salts in our fingertips leave permanent marks on photos and contribute to fading of the image. If the photograph has value, either sentimental or monetary, you should wear cotton loves.
Never try to repair photographs that are torn or in pieces. Materials such as sticky tape and masking tape cause fading and staining and can attack the print. Keep the photograph in a folder or sleeve by itself. If you desire that the print be repaired look for someone that specializes in photo restoration. They will scan the image and make digital repairs to the image.


Storing photographs

Light, heat, water, pollution, and insects all enemies of photographs. The best place to store photographs is somewhere clean, cool, dark, dry and well ventilated. Keep photographs somewhere they will not constantly be moved or disturbed. There have been many times that I have seen people store their photographs in the following places that should be avoided:


* garages or sheds: while great all purpose storage areas they are often damp, have insects and can get very hot in summer
* on the floor or in the basement: this will put photographs at risk of water damage if there is a flood


Storage materials for photographs

Always use conservation-quality materials to store photographs if possible. Archival storage materials for photographs include boxes, folders, albums and sleeves. They are usually made out of paper. While it may seem like a good idea avoid laminating unique or valuable photographs. Once a photograph has been sealed in plastic the plastic cannot be removed. Over time the material used to laminate the photograph will start to attack it.


Photograph albums


A good archival photograph album will provide excellent protection for photographs while a poor one can cause damage. Always choose an album where the photographs can be easily removed, for example albums with plastic sleeves or with corners for the photos to be placed in. Do not use albums that have sticky cardboard pages and plastic covers that cling to the photos. The adhesive on the pages will attack the photographs. Photographs can actually be damaged if you try to remove the photographs once they are stuck to the pages.


Negatives

Remember negatives? Negatives are very important and should be carefully stored. If anything happens to the print you can always have another copy made from the negative. It is best to store negatives in individual sleeves. If the negatives rub together they will easily be scratched. It is also a good idea to store negatives separately from prints.

Recording information about photographs

It is important to keep any information about the photograph, such as:


* who is in the photograph
* where it was taken
* when it was taken
* who the photographer was


It is not necessary to write on the photograph. If you do:


* write on the back of the photograph in the border area or near the edge
* use a soft pencil like a 2B since a pen or felt tip marker could seep through to the front of the photograph
* print softly




Displaying photographs

You can prolong the life of your photographs by displaying them properly.You should always avoid:


* hanging photographs in sunny places as this will make them fade more quickly
* hanging photographs over fireplaces where high temperatures can cause damage over time
* putting pins directly through photographs
* using self-adhesive tape, glue or paste in direct contact with a photograph.


Framing photographs not only improves their appearance, but helps to protect them. Hang your photographs in a place where they will not be knocked or bumped and always use strong hanging devices.