Preservation Is Better Than Cure

Come the day we see the photograph in print and hold it in our hand it looks like something that should last forever. But looks are deceptive. Even modern photographs will not last for more than 20 years or so withot fade, and while black and white photos last longer they will, eventually, fall foul of any number of enemies, in the form of a hostile environment or nature's worst.

While a photo restoration service is a remedy for those that have already fallen, a little knowledge today can delay catastophe tomorrow.

Know your enemy!

High temperature and relative humidity >> Photographs are basically organic, and thus are susceptible to moulds and such like, especially if they are subjected to the twin evils of moisture and heat. Store your photos in a cool, dry place. Aim for a temperature lower than 68 deg. Fahrenheit and with humidity of below 50%.

Ultraviolet Light >> Old colour photos fade rapidly. If out on display then twice so. If you can, try to keep your photos out of direct sunlight. If you have to display it then make sure that the glass in your photo frame will protect it from ultraviolet light.

Bring the original to us and have us make a copy print, archive it to CD or supply you the digital file. And our photographic prints with Epson Ultrachrome K3 inks will outlive us all, even without UV protection.

Adhesives and Rubber >> Sticky-back photo albums... blahhh... rubber cement, equally so. In fact most glues and rubber products contain harmful chemicals that will harm your photos. So don't use them.

Air? Yes, really! >> Fumes from cleaning products and paint can damage your photographs. Try to avoid over-exposure.I

Heavy Metal - will damage more than just your ears >> Metallic objects such as keys and paper clips can scratch the surfaces of your prints and negatives. Don’t clip your photos together and don't store them with metal objects.

Light at the end of the tunnel

So, when all is said and done, a photograph is by it's very nature, temporary, and preserving it seems like hard work. But if you store or display your photographs with care and thought, they will, literally, last a lifetime.

Store your Photographs in a Cool and Dry Place

Attics and loft-spaces are the wrong places to store your photographs. The extreme temperature and humidity swings in your attic will make your photographic paper split and crack. Find a cool and dry area of your home where the temperature is fairly constant.

Hang and be damned

Is only right that you will want to have your favourite photos on display. Take a few precautions though and you can avoid the 'shop window fade' common to most high streets.

Hang your photo out of direct sunlight. If you must hang in in direct sunlight then either buy a filter to protect it or have a copy made and hang that, keeping the original safe.

Binary your finery and preserve them forever

The ideal way to preserve your valuable photographs is by saving them all digitally - thus removing the paper altogether. Have your photos scanned and saved onto CD and they should last for several life-times and beyond.

Still take precautions though