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FAQ
How do I safely preserve a newspaper article in my scrapbook?
Because lignin in newsprint will accelerate the decay of an original newspaper clipping, it is best to make a photocopy of the clipping on good-quality office paper (acid-free, lignin-free, and not recycled) and put the copy into your album. 
Treating the original newsprint with a deacidification spray may reduce the rate at which it decays, but the treated original still won't last as long as a photocopy. Also, even if treated with deacidification spray, newsprint cannot safely be stored next to photos; the pollutants from lignin can stain and mar your photos. Still, your original newspaper clipping is worth keeping in a separate box or folder, and a deacidification spray should help it last there a little longer.
For more preservation FAQs
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IPI would like to thank
Photo Marketing Association International
for their support at PMA 2008
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PMA 2008 in Las Vegas
Photobooks - by Dan Burge
The big story at PMA 2007 was photobooks, and 2008 was just another chapter in that story. The volume of photobooks made last year was an almost 100% increase over 2006, and by all predictions their production is expected to continue to rise at that meteoric rate for years to come. I attended several classes on photobooks and, among other things, learned about software  programs that make it easier for consumers to create the pages and sat in on a discussion about whether stores should print photobooks in house or should outsource them to large printing services. In several of the presentations audience members expressed concern regarding the long-term stability of these products. These books are being considered heirlooms like the albums and scrapbooks of previous generations, and consumers are hoping they will last a long time. Unfortunately, the answers offered by the expert panels were vague and sometimes diverted to other issues. This doesn't mean that photobooks are risky methods of developing family history photo collections. I think the weak response was more a result of the industry's own lack of knowledge on the subject of preservation than a question of their product's quality. I do believe that many of the images will be long lasting in terms of resisting fade. My primary concerns for photobooks are binder integrity, page yellowing (especially edge yellowing), or damage due to humidity. I think future research will be performed and these questions answered, and hopefully any product weaknesses will be quickly addressed. But I'm very optimistic about these memory books. I should be; I make them for my family. | |
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Until the very end of the 20th century, all photos were created using a wet process. This involved running the film or photo printing paper through liquid developers, fixing agents and water washes in order to "develop" the image. Today, our photographic prints can be captured digitally or with a film camera and then processed either through traditional wet processing or printed using "dry" systems in which the photo paper is never immersed in liquids. Dry digital printing systems, or mini-labs, are often used by photo retailers and sometimes by traditional mass market photo finishers. The dry systems have several advantages. First and foremost, mess and lab maintenance are reduced; in addition, the hazardous processing chemicals used in the old systems are eliminated. These new printers use a variety of technologies, but currently direct dye thermal transfer ("dye sub") is the most popular. Eventually inkjet and electrophotographic printers will become more common and may one day overtake dye sub. The advantage for consumers is that these technological advances will improve the quality of the pictures they receive from retailers, and they will make it possible for their images to be printed on a wider variety of products (t-shirts, mugs, photobooks, etc.). Most importantly for us all, they will reduce the stress on our environment! But the question Archival Advisor assumes you want answered is, "Will these prints last as long as my traditional photos?" We recommend that you go to a retailer you trust who uses a printer brand you trust and that you then care for these prints as you do those you already have, keeping them in a cool and dry place. Taking these steps should ensure that your new prints last as long as, if not longer than, those you already have. |
Tips & Tricks
How to Remove Rubber Bands, String, or Ribbon from Rolled Old Documents
When undertaking this task, avoid stressing the paper by holding it without excessive pressure. Don't try to slide off the rubber band, string, or ribbon as this may harm the document. Instead, cut the band carefully with scissors avoiding force  on the roll.
Warning: the rolled document may be brittle, and unrolling it may cause it to fall apart. If this is a concern, contact a professional conservator. |
Term of the Month
Lightfastness - Resistance of colorants to fading or paper to yellowing upon exposure to light.
Archival Advisor Glossary | |
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