The value of old photographs and how to store them
There is nothing more valuable than an old photograph of a deceased family member. To keep that memento in perfect condition it is important to store it properly. All photographic prints are fading over time until they eventually vanish forever. But don't worry even if the diseases of fading colors, watermarks, and ripped edges have already spread there is a cure. We as a professional photo restoration service can restore the original beauty of your old images.
The Bad Guys
1. Ultraviolet Light
UV is pretty much the worst thing that could happen to the colors of your photographs. Sunlight is highly aggressive. The best way to preserve your photographs is to hide them somewhere the sun rays can't reach them. If you want to display your pictures in direct sunlight make sure to use special filter glass that blocks the UV rays. What's even better is to create a copy of that photograph and store the original in your archive.
2. Air Pollutants
Even your basic house cleaning products and fresh paint can damage your precious photograph. What makes you dizzy in the head smelling it causes chemical reactions in the photograph. Don't put cleaning products right next to your archive box of photographs.
3. Metallic and Sharp Objects
These materials are extremely sharp and hard. This can easily cause scratches and other damages to your photographs or negatives. Don't use metal clips and don't store metal objects in the same box as your photographs.
4. Paper and Wood Products
Products made from a tree seem natural but the way they are produced involves lots of chemicals such as acids or bleaches. These can slowly destroy your photograph over time. Make sure you get acid and bleach-free papers and storage material.
5. High temperatures and relative humidity
Room temperature and high humidity easily cause mold and fungus, which then slowly spread all over your photograph. Keep your images stored at a cool and dry place. Preferably under 70°F (20°C) and 50% relative humidity.
6. Adhesives & Rubber
The chemicals included in sticky stripes and adhesives will eventually destroy your photograph. Learn how to safely remove glue from your old photos. You won't see it right away but time will tell.
Summary
With some simple and smart decisions on storing and displaying your photographs, you can win a tremendous amount of time saving precious moments for future generations. If you have already recognized some fungus, fading in color or any other damages it's now the time to create a digital copy of your images. Remember things will only get worse over time.
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- Get a Free Quote — Already have damaged photos? We can help restore them.