13 Tips For Preserving Your Photos

Preserving photos has become my top priority. My Grandmother and I have started going through her collection of photographs to scan and preserve 7 generations worth of photos. As I'm archiving these photos, and realizing their value, I want to preserve them to the best of my abilities. I've done tons of research and put together a list to help you preserve yours too.

• Photos look beautiful when hung around the fireplace, but be wary, this will ruin your photo. I'm not saying don't do it, but be sure that you have another copy.
• Do not use anything that does not say "acid-free".
• Store your photos near the center of your home up in a closet. Keep them safe from humidity, extreme temperatures, direct sunlight and smells.
• Store your photos in an archival safe storage container, so they're safe from debris and bugs, which can cause damage.
• Do not store the negatives, paper or newspaper clippings with your photographs. Place them in a separate container.
• When looking for a frame to hang your photo in look for ones that are made of stainless steel, acid-free plastic or aluminum.
• Be sure to take some black and white photos too, they last longer than color prints.
• Do not use photo albums with clear plastic covers that peel back. The best method is probably the most common style used, just use corner mounts in an acid-free book, so the glue never touches your print.
• If you have the negative of a picture that you would like to preserve, then take it to a reputable photo printing shop and have it saved to a disk. Scanning the actual photo will not give you the quality that you can achieve with a negative.
• Be careful with the photos and negatives that you handle and how you handle them. Each time you increase the possibility of damage. You should always wear cotton gloves, only touch the edges of your photos, and as little as possible. Your hands carry acids and oils that are harmful and will age your photos.
• If you are keeping the original photos too, a #2 pencil is recommended to write names and dates on the back of the photos. Be careful not to press too hard, this will leave an indention on the front of your photo.
• Thanks to technology we can preserve our family history forever, but do not alter your original photo. To do this you will need to put everything on your hard drive then save it to several disks and store them in different locations. Give them to grandparents, parents, siblings or put them in a safe deposit box. Technology is forever changing, so you will also need to try to keep up with it and update the disks every so often. Because pictures files are so large, I don't recommend trying to save every picture that you take, just the important ones.
• A DVD is another way to preserve your photos, they hold up seven times the capacity of a CD, plus you don't need a computer to enjoy it, just a TV and DVD player.

If have any techniques you would like to share, please add to the list by leaving a comment.

Free Digi Scrapbooking is a place where you can find free kits, tutorials, tips & tricks, inspiration, how-to guides and the latest news in digital scrapbooking.

Camera Sale Best Buy
Canon Camera for Sale
Best Buy Canon Accessory