How do I keep my photographs from fading?

To keep your photo's from fading make sure they are not exposed to direct sunlight, stored in a extremely hot environment such as garage or an attic, in an area that is damp such as a basement or near flame.

Make sure they are stored in an acid free box. Photography stores and craft stores sell acid free or low Ph boxes designed or the special purpose of archiving photographs and old documents.

What causes my photographs to fade or deteriorate?

Several things can cause your photographs to fade.

The ultraviolet rays of the sun will make your photographs fade.

Fluorescent light is bad as well.

Moisture can will cause the paper that the photo is printed on to deteriorate. Moisture will also create an environment for mold to grow. Mold and fungus will also eat away at the paper that the photo is printed on.

Extremely hot temperatures can cause yellowing of the photo paper was well as break down the chemical composition of the photo itself.

Older photographs were printed on paper that was made from a wood based pulp that didn't have certain chemical compound removed from it. These compounds known as Lingnan's turn yellow and fade over time. When exposed to sunlight they begin to fade and deteriorate even faster. This paper has a high acidity or PH that over time based on a chemical reaction causes the paper to deteriorate.

 

How should I store my photographs?

The ideal place to store your photographs is in a cool dark place. The ideal temperature is -30. If that is not possible then keep then in acid free box. These boxes can be purchased at photography stores such as Tempe Camera. The boxes will be marked as being constructed with acid free material.

If you want to display your photographs out in the open make sure that they are in a frame that has Ultraviolet(UV) protected glass. This will shield the photo from any UV rays.

If you are going to store your photographs in a box make sure the box is an acid free box specifically designed for archival of old documents or photographs.

 

A box or paper that is paper free will be marked the symbol shown below. A circle with the infinity symbol at the center.

 

 

 

How long will my original photographs last?

Black and white photographs can last anywhere from 10 to 300 years. They traditionally don't fade as quickly as color photographs because black photographs use metallic silver as the image former. Color photo's fade quickly because the colors are made up of dyes. When these dyes are exposed to sunlight or fluorescent light they will begin to fade is exposed over an extended period of time.

Can I archive and restore slides?

Yes. Slide can be scanned into the computer and digitally archived and restored.

How do I scan my photographs?

If you use your own scanner or one from Kinko's make sure that you scan your photographs at a resolution of 600dpi. (dots per inch) The higher the resolution the better the quality of the digital photo. When we have a photo that is scanned at a higher resolution it is easier to edit a photograph. The higher resolution will also give us more of an opportunity to increase the size of the print and in order to give you a quality product.

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