No one wants to see photo prints fading, ruining the recollection of those special moments. Thankfully there are steps you can take to avoid this. There are three clear factors that cause your photo prints to fade, and you’ll find details below on how to minimise their effect, helping your prints stay brighter, for longer.
How to stop Light fading your photos
Ultraviolet light is the bane of your photos existence, eventually wearing your photo down to a shadow of its original self. If you can't keep your photos in complete darkness, at least aim to:
- Keep the photo out of direct sunlight for any significant period of time
- If possible, use frames with anti-UV glass
This minimises your photos UV exposure, and should ensure they last far longer.
How to stop Moisture fading your photos
Stop getting your pictures wet. Done! Seriously though, if photos aren’t on display and are being stored somewhere try to keep them in a cool, dry place.
Anywhere that gets humid or damp, such as basements or bathrooms, are not ideal places for photo storage, so be aware that any pictures you place in these rooms will likely suffer from a change in hue fairly quickly.
For pictures on display, keep them cool to maximise their longevity.
How to stop Air exposure fading your photos
Air exposure causes your prints to fade by a process called oxidation and, short of sorting your photos in a perfect vacuum, you can’t stop it.
Assuming you don’t have access to a perfect vacuum, your photographs resistance to air will depend on the type of ink it uses.
Dye-based inks: weak to air exposure, dye is exposed to air almost constantly.
Pigment-based inks: Particles suspended in a clear resin. This resin significantly reduces the oxidation effect.
This means if you haven’t purchased your printer yet, and air exposure is a major concern, side with one using pigment inks for the best, longer lasting prints.
Prepare for the inevitable
These precautions will make your photo prints last much longer, but ultimately nothing lasts for ever and eventually some fading is inevitable.
In light of this, make sure to keep backups of all your treasured pictures on a PC hard drive or a backup external hard drive (not to mention it’s probably on Facebook). Digital photos at least are fade resistant!
