Blog: 4 Maintenance Tips When Handling Fine Art Photographs
Photographs contain priceless moments captured at the perfect time. This is why it is essential to preserve them to metaphorically protect the memories embedded within them. However, there is limited information on the proper handling of photos to extend their longevity, which almost makes it similar to a lost art.
Most people don’t know that some of their everyday practices can actually ruin the quality of photographs. When you’re aware of these situations, you can take precautionary measures to avoid any substantial damage, which lets you enjoy photos for a longer time.
In this article, we will share with you four maintenance steps to properly handling fine-art photographs:
1. Handle the photograph properly
The easiest and cheapest way to maintain the integrity of the photo is to handle it properly, such as washing your hands before handling it. You can also wear cotton gloves for added security measures. If your fingers touch the surface of a photo, know that it might leave some marks and streaks that can destroy its aesthetics.
Ensure that you handle a photograph with both hands so that the photo doesn’t bend under its weight. Don’t stack pictures on top of each other, both facing each other; otherwise, you’ll risk damaging the photos when the inks of one photo become attached to another photo’s surface.
2. Place photos away from light
Photos shouldn’t be placed in areas where direct sunlight enters. Know that ultraviolet rays damage the quality of the digital print. However, you can invest in a reliable ultraviolet light glass filter, called Plexiglass, to prevent UV rays from damaging your photo.
3. Avoid hot and humid environments
Don’t place photos near extreme heat and high humidity areas. Fireplaces, heaters, radiators, and other heating devices are natural enemies of photos. Aside from the heat, avoid putting photos in moist, humid environments as well. When you store photos, make sure you store them in a dry storage container inside an arid room. Damp basements or humid attics are the worst places to store photos.
It is best to store them in a room with constant temperature and humidity. The ideal condition would be 65-degrees Fahrenheit and 40 percent relative humidity. Any value above that can potentially promote mold growth, which deteriorates your photos once it has started propagating.
4. Avoid dusty and pollutant areas
Another storage environment you should avoid is dirty places where various dust particles and other pollutants can stick to the photo’s surface. You can invest in an excellent filtration system to clean your air environment from pesky pollutants. In doing so, you help maintain the integrity of your photos by letting it stay clean and spotless.
Conclusion
The guidelines mentioned above are the basics of maintaining priceless photographs. Make sure to religiously follow them so that the quality of the photos won’t deteriorate. Proper maintenance and handling of photographs make them last longer. Finding a suitable storage environment or display area is a priority on the list as well. When you do this successfully, you’ll have a beautifully captured moment to look at for years to come.
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