ARCHIVE TIPS: PRINTS
TOP QUALITY PRINTS
We use one of Australia’s top photo labs for our prints, who regularly prints award-winning photos for gallery exhibitions.
They use Kodak Professional Supra Endura paper. This is one of the most stable photographic papers available. It is estimated to have a lifespan of 100 years in typical home display, and 200 years in dark storage.
We also don’t put our address stickers on the back of prints (some photographers do). Doing so could result in acid and adhesive from the sticker leach through to the front of the photograph over numerous years.
HOW YOU SHOULD PROTECT YOUR PRINTS
Photographs can be easily damaged. Sunlight, fingerprints, pollutants such as cigarette smoke can all damage the paper and the surface emulsion.
A few easy steps to take are:
- Make copies of all important photographs, and only display the copies in frames and in non-archive quality albums.
- If you are showing or lending photographs to others, make a copy first. People often point at photographs and leave fingermarks. Because finger grease is slightly acidic, over time it can leave permanent marks on photographs. If showing an original, place it on a piece of stiff cardboard so that people don't finger the print directly.
- Keep the photographs clean. Dust behaves like sandpaper and can scratch photos.
- Try not to hang prints in direct sunlight, which can bleach the colours.
Download our info sheet with more tips on print care.
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