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PRESERVING YOUR PHOTOS

Acid & Lignin

Choose papers & materials that are acid & lignin free to prevent your photos from turning yellow, crumbling and deteriorating over time. We only stock products of archival quality to take the worry out of choosing materials for your photo preservation projects.

Exposure to light

Store photos in the dark. Light is your biggest enemy, especially sunlight & fluorescent light. Even the average light in a room will cause fading.

Humidity

Damp or moist conditions will cause mould to grow on photos and allow micro organisms to attack the emulsion.

Extreme temperatures

Keep photo's in a cool & dry place. High temperatures attack the photos emulsion which is the layer that holds the image on your photos. Temperatures that fluctuate between hot & cold cause the emulsion to expand and contract, causing cracking and flaking.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Many plastics contain PVC which can break down and emit a gas causing your photos to stick to the page, discolour, fade and rapidly deteriorate.

Careful handling

Handle photos by their edge or wear lightweight cotton gloves. Fingers can smudge your photos and leave an acid residue. Avoid using clips or materials that can scratch the emulsion.