How to Care for your Printed Images

Last week, I delivered print images to a corporate client.  How cool is that?  Normally, when I'm working for corporate clients I'm delivering digital files (along with licensing terms).  This particular client wanted to do something special for it's employees and offered a print of their favorite image to keep or give to a loved one, which in some cases, was not the same image chosen for their professional image.

I always work with my portrait clients to create custom images that they can live with everyday, whether on the wall or in an album and discuss how to care for their images when they receive them, but it's rare that I am talking about it with corporate clients!

I'm a big believer in living with your images and I work with professional lab partners to produce the highest quality archival images possible on photographic paper, art paper, photographic albums, canvas and metal prints.  Here's a quick primer on caring for your printed images--with proper care and handling, your printed photographs should last a lifetime and beyond.

Images that I create for my clients are printed with archival quality inks and on mediums that are chemically stable and will not deteriorate quickly. My images are printed on high quality archival papers, canvas or metal.  Images 5x7 and larger printed on photographic paper and all canvases will have a protective coating applied to the surface.  Album pages also have a protective coating applied.  This will help prevent fingerprints as well as provide some protection against UV light.  Exceptions would include images printed on photographic art papers or fuji's deep matte paper.

Most damage to photographic prints is often caused by acidic materials (like non-archival matts, backings or tapes), temperature changes, humidity, UV light and physical damage. Avoiding these will go a long way to preserving printed images.

Handle photographs with care to avoid bending, denting or scratching their surface.  Avoid touching photographic surfaces with your fingers.

Don't write on the back of your photographs, as inks from pens can penetrate the surface and cause damage.  Label the outside packaging with a soft pencil.

The images I deliver to you will have a protective coating applied to the surface, but can be protected further by framing them behind glass with Acid free matting or glass spacers and acid free backings. Archival quality mounts should be used to attach the photographs.  Canvas and metal prints will be delivered ready to hang on your wall.

Don't laminate photographs as this can cause permanent damage to the emulsion layer.


Display images in an area that is cool, low light and dry.  Avoid direct sunlight or rooms with high humidity.

Avoid contact with water or liquids.  Here's a really helpful tip:  if the photograph is framed, clean the glass by putting glass cleaner on a soft cloth first, then cleaning the glass so that liquid does not come in contact with the photograph.

Canvas prints may be dusted with a soft, dry cloth.

Metal prints are the exception and are very durable and maybe wiped with a damp cloth to clean the surface.  Use caution with a metal print with sharp corners--they are extremely sharp!  Infused onto thin aluminum, the metal print while durable, can be dented if dropped.

Do you have more questions about how to care for your images?  Drop me an email--I'd love to help!