Taking care of your vintage photos and prints

If you enjoy collecting vintage prints and photos, you understand the importance of taking good care of these treasures so that you can help preserve and protect them. However, for those who are new to collecting these photos, or if you have just inherited a family album that includes antique pictures, you need to learn how to properly care for your valuables. Here you can learn a little about vintage prints and photos and how to properly care for them.

After you purchase your vintage photo, you should use archival materials to help maintain the photos original appearance. In the old days, the photos were coated with a liquid that contained gelatine, which stabilized the picture once it dried. Sepia or selenium were often added to the gelatine to provide additional support. When sepia was added the photo would take on a brownish tone and when selenium was added the photo would become light and silvery.

To help preserve your vintage photos, you will want to find an acid free or lignin free photo album, a loose leaf album tends to work best. It is very important that you avoid exposing your prints and photos to any components that contain sulfur dioxide, fresh paint, and fumes from cleaning oxidants as these can ruin the colors in your photos. If your photo album has plastic pages, make sure they do not contain poly vinyl chloride; this chemical will cause your vintage photos to turn yellow and they may even stick to the plastic over time. If your photo album has paper, you should use a fibre-base paper, which mimics the old linen rag sheets. Cabinet cards can also be inserted into your vintage photo album; these cards will provide extra protection from dust and fingerprints.

For your vintage prints you will want to find an acid free mat, like a rag board. Place your print on the matting and use an acid free tape to connect the mat edges. Make sure to not let any of the tape touch your print as it can ruin it. You can also use acid free corners to hold the matting together. Once this is done, you can put your vintage print in a metal frame; wood frames usually contain a chemical that will damage your print, so you should avoid these types of frames. It is best if your frame has a UV blocking glass. This will help protect your print from fading due to sun damage.

When you hang your vintage prints, try to avoid hanging them in direct sunlight. If your print gets too hot it can fade. For your vintage photos and photo albums, make sure they are stored in a dry and cool room that has a pretty balanced temperature. A room with high humidity can cause your photos to vanish and if your photos are in a room that is too dry, they can crack and tear. You should especially avoid storing any vintage prints or photos in an attic or garage.