Photographs are a visual record of people and events, captured at one particular moment in time. To preserve these moments long into the future, one should follow a few simple rules for handling and storage.
Develop a method of cataloguing and identifying prints and negatives for future reference. Photos can be safely identified on the reverse and negatives on the enclosure with special film and print marking pens.
Handle all prints and negatives with anti-static gloves to eliminate the possibility of lint and dust clinging to the images.
Select the primary enclosure based on the usage. An image that will be handled often is better stored in a plastic enclosure; one that will not be referred to often should be stored in a paper enclosure for maximum protection against light.
If stored in paper enclosures or folders, be sure to use buffered papers for black and white film and negatives and unbuffered papers for color prints. All paper enclosures should pass the PAT.
Store photographs and negatives in a cool, dark location that does not have extreme temperature fluctuations.
When attaching photos to scrapbook pages, use photo corners or hinge them using a safe, acrylic-based adhesive.
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