Preserving old photos
From time to time we create photo sculptures with copies of old photos. The cutout seen here is an example of a beautiful hand-colored photo. These were the early "color photos". A black & white photo was taken and printed and then the photographer or a specialist in hand coloring would apply, with various tools, the dye that would create light, usually pastel, colors.
This copy of an old photo is probably my favorite that we have received from a variety of customers. The image itself is striking and telling. Look at how the couple is dressed, their hairstyles...the touch of pastel coloring. In addition, I was very impressed with how vibrant the photo was. The customer said the photo had not been enhanced or manipulated in recent years. It was in perfect, original condition. The photo had obviously been stored correctly and safely and the benefits are enormous.
Old photos should not be thrown into a box and put in the attic or basement. The extreme temperatures and humidity there will be a quick death for the images. The best thing to do would be to scan the images and place on a CD. On a CD, the images will last for over 80 years.
However, if you have a lot of old photos, perhaps carried down from generation to generation, transferring to CD can be a time consuming project, put-off until one finds time. (which may never come?) There are companies that will scan and transfer the images to CD for you, but that can be expensive and risky and somewhat time consuming, as well. You would still have to take the time to gather and organize the photos to be handed over to the person/company doing the scanning & transferring. What if they lose or misplace your photos? This actually happened to a friend of mine. She not only was angry with the company for losing the photos before they were copied, but was extremely saddened that these photos/images were lost, never to be found or replaced...or seen again.
Until you have the time to transfer to CD here are some important tips to sustain the images on old photos.
---The ultimate place to store photos is in a safe deposit box at your bank. Those areas are usually climate controlled. The dry and dark conditions of the box is ideal. This may not be practical for some people, so store the photos where it is comfortable for you, in the living quarters of your home where it is air conditioned in the summer and heated in winter. No attics or basements! Best conditions are under 70° F, with the relative humidity under 50%.
---Photos will last a lot longer if printed on acid free paper, also known as archival paper. If printing yourself, you can find acid free paper at most retail outlets that sell photo printing paper. If getting prints/copies from a photographer, you can also request that the photos be printed on archival paper. Acid-free/archival paper is more expensive than normal printing paper...but remember, it comes with an insurance policy.
---Before placing photos in storage, remove any paper clips, tape, rubber bands and fingerprints. All usually contain acid/oils that are harmful to photos. Use containers/boxes that are acid free or archival. Safe plastics include polyester, mylar, polypropylene, polyethylene, and tyvek. These are available at camera/photography stores and some photography departments in general merchandise stores.
---Photo albums can be used for storage, but again, seek out acid-free papers and notebooks made from archival board. Or you can buy clear plastic pages made from polypropylene and insert the photos. Do not use vinyl pages or notebooks. They emit harmful vapors and shorten the life of photos.
---Color inks, those used in color photos, are quicker to fade or shift (discolor) due to acid content. Old black & white photos were printed with inks which contain silver, a more permanent component. (that's why most old b&w photos placed in albums or boxes retain their image after decades!) So, it is an option that you can "save" colored photos by having them transformed into black & white.
There are other things we can cover at a later date but the tips above are the most important in preserving your memories.
This copy of an old photo is probably my favorite that we have received from a variety of customers. The image itself is striking and telling. Look at how the couple is dressed, their hairstyles...the touch of pastel coloring. In addition, I was very impressed with how vibrant the photo was. The customer said the photo had not been enhanced or manipulated in recent years. It was in perfect, original condition. The photo had obviously been stored correctly and safely and the benefits are enormous.
Old photos should not be thrown into a box and put in the attic or basement. The extreme temperatures and humidity there will be a quick death for the images. The best thing to do would be to scan the images and place on a CD. On a CD, the images will last for over 80 years.
However, if you have a lot of old photos, perhaps carried down from generation to generation, transferring to CD can be a time consuming project, put-off until one finds time. (which may never come?) There are companies that will scan and transfer the images to CD for you, but that can be expensive and risky and somewhat time consuming, as well. You would still have to take the time to gather and organize the photos to be handed over to the person/company doing the scanning & transferring. What if they lose or misplace your photos? This actually happened to a friend of mine. She not only was angry with the company for losing the photos before they were copied, but was extremely saddened that these photos/images were lost, never to be found or replaced...or seen again.
Until you have the time to transfer to CD here are some important tips to sustain the images on old photos.
---The ultimate place to store photos is in a safe deposit box at your bank. Those areas are usually climate controlled. The dry and dark conditions of the box is ideal. This may not be practical for some people, so store the photos where it is comfortable for you, in the living quarters of your home where it is air conditioned in the summer and heated in winter. No attics or basements! Best conditions are under 70° F, with the relative humidity under 50%.
---Photos will last a lot longer if printed on acid free paper, also known as archival paper. If printing yourself, you can find acid free paper at most retail outlets that sell photo printing paper. If getting prints/copies from a photographer, you can also request that the photos be printed on archival paper. Acid-free/archival paper is more expensive than normal printing paper...but remember, it comes with an insurance policy.
---Before placing photos in storage, remove any paper clips, tape, rubber bands and fingerprints. All usually contain acid/oils that are harmful to photos. Use containers/boxes that are acid free or archival. Safe plastics include polyester, mylar, polypropylene, polyethylene, and tyvek. These are available at camera/photography stores and some photography departments in general merchandise stores.
---Photo albums can be used for storage, but again, seek out acid-free papers and notebooks made from archival board. Or you can buy clear plastic pages made from polypropylene and insert the photos. Do not use vinyl pages or notebooks. They emit harmful vapors and shorten the life of photos.
---Color inks, those used in color photos, are quicker to fade or shift (discolor) due to acid content. Old black & white photos were printed with inks which contain silver, a more permanent component. (that's why most old b&w photos placed in albums or boxes retain their image after decades!) So, it is an option that you can "save" colored photos by having them transformed into black & white.
There are other things we can cover at a later date but the tips above are the most important in preserving your memories.
posted by Marilyn @ 10:45 AM
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home