How to Protect Your Fine Art Photography
Information on how to properly care for photographs, photographic prints and the care of photography collections. Since photographs can be easily
damaged, taking precautionary measures is the best defense in protecting their values. This article and web page have been designed to help you
understand the of care and handling of photographs. Resource links and books are also featured providing you with a wealth of knowledge and hours of
reading.
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. 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
you 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 you photographs framed. Normal household light bulbs usually do not
present a problem for photography
Heat and 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%. If the humidity is too high, be on the lookout for Foxing, a type of mold growth. If you live in the
tropics, the best advise I can give you, is to contact a local museum in the area, and ask for information on taking care of your artworks.
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 (good luck here), 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 remove them place them in a safe area whenever the conditions became extreme.
Heavy duty air filtration systems are a common place in museums but most private collectors do not have them. Home air filtration system are becoming
more popular and my 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.
Framing
Make sure you take your photographs to an framer that is experienced in handling photographs and understands good archival framing. If they are not
experienced, make sure that you stress to them the importance of proper handling and framing and make sure they know the value of your artwork so
they will take extra care in framing it.
Moving Artworks
If you are involved with a major move, make sure that you artwork is protected from the elements as well as uneducated movers. Look out for weather
problems, wrap your artworks in plastic to prevent water damage and to protected frames use some cushiony material like towels or blankets. Frame
corner protectors are also available or you could completely wrap the artworks using cardboard and tape.
Information on how to properly care for photographs, photographic prints and the care of photography collections. Since photographs can be easily
damaged, taking precautionary measures is the best defense in protecting their values. This article and web page have been designed to help you
understand the of care and handling of photographs. Resource links and books are also featured providing you with a wealth of knowledge and hours of
reading.
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. 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
you 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 you photographs framed. Normal household light bulbs usually do not
present a problem for photography
Heat and 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%. If the humidity is too high, be on the lookout for Foxing, a type of mold growth. If you live in the
tropics, the best advise I can give you, is to contact a local museum in the area, and ask for information on taking care of your artworks.
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 (good luck here), 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 remove them place them in a safe area whenever the conditions became extreme.
Heavy duty air filtration systems are a common place in museums but most private collectors do not have them. Home air filtration system are becoming
more popular and my 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.
Framing
Make sure you take your photographs to an framer that is experienced in handling photographs and understands good archival framing. If they are not
experienced, make sure that you stress to them the importance of proper handling and framing and make sure they know the value of your artwork so
they will take extra care in framing it.
Moving Artworks
If you are involved with a major move, make sure that you artwork is protected from the elements as well as uneducated movers. Look out for weather
problems, wrap your artworks in plastic to prevent water damage and to protected frames use some cushiony material like towels or blankets. Frame
corner protectors are also available or you could completely wrap the artworks using cardboard and tape.
Information taken from Art-Support.com
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