Permanent Solutions to Photographs with Faded ColorWriten by William Heroy
Everything you see is the result of selective reflection of various colors from the visible spectrum of light as they leave an object and enter the human eye for interpretation. Whether the format used as film or digital imaging the end result is a picture, which is first captured by a device and then transferred to a piece of paper, plastic or a combination of the two. Some forty-five or so years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency determined the chemicals used to create pictures caused problems with our soils and streams. The EPA began controlling the make up of chemicals used in the manufacturing of photographic materials. The same is true for various ink jet papers that now saturate the retail market place.
The kind of light, ultra violet, that causes skin cancer and destruction of the ozone layer is also considered the best solution to controlling the harmful effects of these color chemicals as they accumulate in landfills. Given enough natural light heat and time, the breakdown of color simpler and safer chemical compounds makes for a cleaner environment.
Unfortunately, the color photograph on the wall that looks so wonderful today has limited life span. The more light it gets the faster it will self-destruct. Some prints gradually begin to take on a red cast others turn green. As various chemicals in the printed picture break down, the viewer sees only the reflection of colors that remain. There is no stopping of this process of deterioration.
Before the color photograph, as we know it was invented, photographers used a silver process, true black and white, or a sepia process, silver and sulfer, in combination with oil paints to achieve natural color. Because the prints made were essentially metal with added oil color, the stability of the image is now considered permanent and archival in quality. Due to the color in oil pigments not deteriorating with exposure to light the viewer can expect these images to last many times longer than ones created using contemporary technology.
Today there are studios that reproduce old and new photographs of lasting quality using the time tested methods of archival printing and oil tinting. Because of the labor-intensive nature of this type of work it requires a higher cost. In todays marketplace, many prefer quantity and low costs to quality and permanence. Unfortunately, the vast majorities of color image collectors really dont know the difference between archival prints and color imaging and dont understand the process of color deterioration. The retailers and manufacturers of color products offer little education voluntarily on the subject as their profits are best reflected in volume sales. Little consideration is given to the customer base, that views archival preservation as essential in photographs.
When shopping photo processes and vendors, ask questions about how the product you are about to buy. Will it last? How is it made and what are the guarantees and limitations? Ask how long they keep negatives and always try to archive your images.
William Heroy Owner of Old Photo Specialists Founded in 1973
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http://www.oldphotospecialists.com OR email us at oldphotospecialists@triad.rr.com
Old Photo Specialists is a highly specialized restoration studio. We provide a variety of services including original restoration, digital restoration, archival black and white and sepia tone printing, hand oil tinting, oils on canvas and a large variety of photography services. We educate our clients on how to take care of, preserve, and archive their precious family photos.
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Old Photo Specialist
909 N. Elm St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 271-6960