While it may be more convenient to use PDFs, screenshots, and photos on your phone or the cloud, many technology experts believe we’re moving closer to a digital dark age. A digital dark age is a period where information about our lives that is not physically documented could be lost forever. At the end of the 2010s, MySpace lost over 12 years of music and photos during a data migration, resulting in a massive gap in social media history—not to mention the loss of countless personal memories.
To enjoy peace of mind for your photos, printing them is the best way to shield them from being lost. Physical photos take up space, however. So, how do you prevent clutter from building in your home? If you’re ready to learn how to save old photos, discover helpful tips from Shana Scott, an archives technician from Anderson Archival.
The Best Way To Save Old Photos
“Preserving old photos comes down to storage materials and location,” Shana says. Starting with materials, the best way to save old photos you already have physical copies of is to use archival-quality boxes. These boxes are specially designed to preserve pictures for the long term—they’re made with acid-free materials that won’t cause your photos to fade over time. Other practices for storing old photos include:
- Storing photos flat
- Removing tape and staples
- Avoiding acidic containers like cardboard shoe boxes
- Using plastic sleeves for further protection
- Scrapbooking with acid-free paper
You can tell if materials are safe for photo storage if they have labels indicating they’ve passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT), which determines how damaging a material is to photos. At the very least, you want the materials to be acid-free and plastics to be made of uncoated polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene.
“If you’re looking at archive-quality materials,” Shana adds, “You may also notice some materials saying they are buffered or unbuffered. When materials are buffered, extra alkaline is added to it to counteract the natural acidity of the photos and keep them from deteriorating longer.”
Are you planning to store negatives of your photos as well? They should always be stored separately from the photos, best in envelopes or plastic sleeves specifically for negatives.
Why Does Acidity Matter for Photos?
“Whether it’s paper or photos, acidity is one of an archivist’s biggest enemies,” Shana shares. “Just about everything has some level of acidity to it, which gets absorbed by the photos and damages them over time.” Combine that acidity with high temperatures, humidity, and light, and you’ll have photos that fade, discolor, or curl.
How Do You Digitize Old Photos?
If your older photos show wear and tear or have sentimental value, digitizing them can add an extra layer of reassurance. For better image quality and organization, we recommend using a flatbed scanner, bulk photo scanning service, or digitization specialist over a photo scanning app on your phone.
What’s the Best Place To Store Photos?
“The worst place to store photos is your basement or attic,” Shana says. “These tend to have major temperature and humidity problems that will damage your photos.” You should avoid anywhere that gets hot or humid or may have bugs or pests. The best place to store photos will have a temperature between 65° F and 70° F. Avoid anything higher than 70° F.
When looking for the best place to store photos, look for somewhere dark, cool, and dry to shield your photographs from warping, curling, or fading.
Tuck Away Your Photos With Compass Self Storage
Now that you’ve learned how to save old photos, head to a Compass Self Storage facility near you to tuck away your printed memories. We understand space is often limited in your house or apartment, and your photos deserve quality storage. Many of our storage facilities offer climate-controlled storage units, which are perfect for shielding photographs from extreme heat, sunlight, or humidity.
Whether downloading and printing photos from the cloud or saving family albums while cleaning out a loved one’s home, take care of your memories with our team today.
