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Storing Photographs

Introduction

Photographs have been important to us since the first picture was taken over 100 years ago. Technology has improved to a point where taking a photograph is a less technical task, but our desire to keep the photograph in like new condition is the same as always.

Think back to old photographs you have seen. Dust, fading, and scratches can ruin your family heirlooms. Part of the problem is that you cannot both totally protect your photographs and be able to view them easily. However, if you follow a few simple guidelines you should be able to enjoy your photographs for years.

Fading

For a photograph to be printed light is required. After the paper is exposed to light it is sent through a chemical bath that makes the paper insensitive to light. The caveat is that the dyes in the paper are still susceptible to fading. Current photography papers are much better than older papers, but photographs left in direct light will still fade over time.

Keeping a photograph in the dark would be an easy way to keep the image from fading. Of course, this is not practical. Part of the joy of photographs is that you are able to view them. But, if you store the photographs in such a way that they are in the dark most of the time they will last longer. Common choices are albums and photo boxes.

Whatever you choose to store your photographs, there are a few things to keep in mind. An album with "sticky" pages is possibly the worst way to store photos. Over time the adhesive begins to stick to the photograph, at which point you cannot remove the photo without damage. Also, be sure whatever you choose to store your photographs is intended for storage of photos. Typically these will be made of materials that will not damage photographs.

For framed photographs you should look for "non glare" or "UV" glass. These types of glass will help to keep a framed photo from fading.

Dust & Scratches

It is important to keep your photographs inside something. Ideally each photo should be encased in a photo safe plastic sleeve or framed. With digital editing it is usually possible to remove scratches from photographs. However, it is typically more expensive than storing the photographs safely would have been.

Conclusion

Your family photographs are important to you and will be important to your children and their children. We owe it to ourselves and our family to do what we can to protect these heirlooms.

More Information

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