Many
of our family memories are captured in photographs. Whether they are
from last month's vacation or are treasured heirlooms from generations
past, you'll want to preserve them for the future. But how do you do
this? Remember that photos are basically paper, so the actions you would
take to preserve documents apply also to photos.
THE most harmful agent in photo degradation is acid
because, over time, it will deteriorate (age) a photo and cause it to
become brittle. Many plastics and papers, as well as "magnetic" photo
albums, use materials that are not acid free. So you might want to "dig"
out your wedding pictures and albums of family snapshots and make sure
that they are stored in albums made from the proper materials. Some
preservation tips:
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All albums,
storage containers, envelopes and the like must be archival quality,
meaning acid free.
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The paper you
put the photo on should also be acid free and lignin free. Lignin is
a substance found in wood fibers of untreated paper. Over time it
breaks down into acids that will harm photos and documents.
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Avoid "gluing"
original pictures on a page, rather, use acid-free photo corners for
mounting. This allows removal without damaging the picture.
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Excessive
temperatures will accelerate the aging process. Try to store photos
below 70?F. So your attic is out, or anywhere near a furnace or
similar heat generating appliance.
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High humidity
areas should also be avoided as this can cause mold or fungi
development. Ever look at a book stored too long in a basement?
Yuck! Imagine your pictures looking like that. So avoid basements,
garages, or a closet in your bathroom.
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Water and fire
can ruin an entire collection. Keep pictures away from fire places,
hot water tanks and the like. Avoid water damage by storing them up
off the floor and not in a basement.
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Prolonged
exposure to light, especially natural sunlight, can cause fading due
to UV rays. This doesn't mean you can't display your pictures,
though. Two suggestions are to display a copy, or if you must use a
one-of-a-kind original, have it framed with UV-protection glass at a
frame shop.
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You may want to
consider making a copy of the pictures you want to show most often.
The copy can take all the wear and tear of handling while your
original sits safely in its archival storage location. There are
many ways to get copies of a picture if you do not have the
negative:
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Have a
photographic copy made, either by a studio, or even with your
own camera.
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Scanning to
create a digital file that can be printed. Another benefit with
scanning is that the electronic file can be put on a CD for
storage.
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Use a Kodak
Picture Maker, often found in photo processing centers.
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Avoid
photocopying as this process uses heat and intense light.
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Minimize
handling as your fingers can leave dirt and oil that can cause
damage. Although you may not see your fingerprints when you touch a
picture, you're leaving a residue that might show up over time. If
you must handle a valuable picture, wear cotton cloves.
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Try not to write
on the picture, especially the picture side, as it's a detraction.
If you must write, do it on the back with an acid free pen (don't
press too hard or the pen indentation will be visible on the picture
side), or pencil. An alternative is to write on the paper next to
the picture.
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