Care & handling of Photographs

Since photographs can be easily damaged, taking precautionary measures is the best defence in protecting their value. This page has been designed to help you understand the of care and handling of photographs. Several everyday situations can potentially cause damage to photographs. Avoiding these situations and potential problems, is much easier than trying to correct damage once it has occurred. Major areas of concern are broken down into the following categories:

HANDLING THE PHOTOGRAPH

Proper handling is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent photo damage. Always wash your hands before touching a photograph and if possible wear clean white cotton gloves that are designed for handling art. Skin oils and salts will cause permanent damage.

When picking up a photograph always use both hands and make sure the back of the print is supported so it does not bend. Never touch the surface of a photograph with your finger. If you are trying to blow something off the surface, make sure you do not accidentally spit on the print. The surface of photographs can be damaged by sliding prints against each other and by placing objects on top of them. Once damaged this way, photographs are very difficult if not impossible to repair.

LIGHT

Never hang or exhibit photographs in direct sunlight. Next, try to avoid strong indirect daylight. It’s a good idea to change prints frequently if they hang in strong light situations. Ultraviolet light is what you want to avoid. Many fluorescent tube lamps give off ultraviolet light, and filters are available and should be used. Also, you can purchase ultraviolet-shielding Plexiglas or glass when getting your photographs framed. Normal household light bulbs usually do not present a problem for photography

HEAT & HUMIDITY

Try to avoid extremes of heat and humidity. Keep photographs away from fireplaces, radiators or other heating devices. When storing photographs keep them out of damp basements and hot attics. It is best to keep them at a constant temperature & humidity. Museums try to keep a temperature around 65 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 40%.

EXTERNAL POLLUTANTS

Where you hang and store your photographs can make a big difference, if you choose the wrong place they may become damaged. Here’s my list of what you should try to avoid: Smog, fumes from fresh paint, cleaning solvents, motor exhausts, burning wood and smoke of any kind, rubber bands and other rubber based products, moist air from the oceans. Also, try to avoid displaying photographs where food is being prepared (like a kitchen or a restaurant). The best way to protect your photographs is to remove them, and then place them in a safe area whenever the conditions became extreme.. Home air filtration systems are becoming more popular and may be useful in protecting your artwork. Making sure your artwork is framed correctly and covered with glass is the easiest ways to protect artwork from air pollutants.

Avoid writing on the back of prints with a pen or marker. If it is necessary to write on the back of a print, use a soft 2B pencil in the border area. Also avoid using pressure-sensitive labels or tapes or adhesives.

Aluminum frames are safe, light-weight, relatively inexpensive, and come in all sizes and colours. Wood frames can attract insects, and they give off gases that are harmful to the photograph.


-----