Preservation FAQs

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What is “archival?”

According to the dictionary, “archival” refers to a material or article kept or used in a special area for long-term retention (as in an archive). Many companies advertise their products as “archival” to imply permanence, durability, or chemical stability. However, there is currently no agreement on a standard definition or a quantifiable method for verifying most materials’ archival quality.

How do I know if a product is photo-safe?

The most common and reliable test used to predict harmful chemical interactions between scrapbooking materials and photographic images is the photographic activity test (PAT). It is a test method endorsed and published by the International Organization for Standardization specifically for photo storage products.

What should I do to preserve my photographs and scrapbooks?

Keep them in an area that is cool and dry, use preservation-quality scrapbook materials, and handle them carefully. Keep scrapbooks stored vertically on shelves to prevent pressure damage to photos and memorabilia stored inside. If horizontal storage is preferred, keep an album or scrapbook inside a close-fitting box.

Are the photos I print on my computer archival?

Some types of digital prints are long-lasting, but it takes some technical knowledge to determine which types are and which are not. If you really want to pursue the ink-jet printing route, it is always best to use the printer manufacturer’s recommended inks and papers. It is also best to use pigment inks as opposed to dyes, but be careful to read the packaging, as some ink sets use pigments only for the black ink.

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 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 may help it last there a little longer.

How do I ensure that my journaling will last as long as the rest of my scrapbook?

Use pigment ink pens that are fade-resistant, lightfast, bleed-proof, and waterproof. If your journaling is done on pages that also contain photos, the ink should pass the PAT as well.