protecting your Photos

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Before you do anything to your photos....it is important to understand what materials you choose and the enviornment you store your photos in and how it can effect the life span of them.  By following a few simple tips, your photos can be stored safely...allowing you to enjoy your treasured keepsakes for years to come.

Natural causes of your photos to deteriorate:

1. Light:  Light is the number one enemy of your photos, causing them to fade out.  While sunlight and fluorescent light are the worst culprits, being exposed to average light in a room can cause fading.
2. Temperature:  High Temperatures attack the photo's emulision, which is what holds the image to your photos.  Temperatures that fluctuate between hot and cold, in an attic for instance, cause the emulision and paper to expand and contract, resulting in flaking and cracking.
3. Humidity:  Damp or moist conditions cause mold to grow on your photos and provide the perfect enviornment for other microorganisms to attack the emulsion.
4.  Acid & Lignin:  Found in paper and other type materials, causes photos to turn yellow and deteriorate over time.
5. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC):  Many plastics contain PVC, which can break down and emit a gas causing your photos to stick to the page, discolor. fade and rapidly deteriorate.

 

Photo Preservation Tips:

• Handle photos by their edges.
• Store photos in the dark and consider making copies of your photos that you plan to display in frames.
• Keeping photos in a cool and dry place on the main floor of your home will help preserve the life span, by having just a 10-degree drop in temperature.
• When storing your photos, Use all materials that are acid and lignin free. Be sure to also use plastic sleeves that are PVC free, so that your photos and memorabilia are treasured for years to come.

By using products that follow these basic guide lines, you will take the worry out of preserving your memories for generations to come.