Old photos fade as time passes by. No matter how you take care of it, its colors will washed out and fade away. And you will notice that the black and white shades of your photographs lose their distinction and turns to a dull grey color. And most of the time that images and colors disappear. You need to repair photos to keep the memories last.
Why do old photos keep fading away?
Although memories are immortal the captured moments are not. The air, moisture, and sunlight all play a part in deteriorating your old photographs. Besides, smoke, household chemicals, and acidic adhesives of photo albums also affect the chemical composition of the photos. This factor leaves a discolored mark on the picture. Aside from that, a lot of old photos suffer from yellowish and brownish blotches. And you will wonder why does it happen, right?
Ever since photograph starter, there have been a lot of printing methods that people have used like albumen prints, gelatin-silver prints, and dye transfer prints. And each method uses different printing techniques but all contain three (3) layers.
3 layer of photos
- paper or equivalent backing
- binding substance
- pigmented materials
And each part of the photos is all sensitive to light and vulnerable to its surroundings. There is the reason that your old photos get damage even if you take good care of it.
Usually, the most common reason that your old photographs get damage is because of the sunlight. The UV light coming from the sun causes photo degradation to the 3 layers of the photos.
The sunlight can break down the chemical bonds that bind the pigment and dyes of the photographs resulting in rearranging or destroying the molecules. This effect alters the appearance of the photo which causes it to break down. And before this happens, you should repair photos to restore its beauty.
Repair photo to keep them from fading
Even though you can’t help your old photographs from fading, you can save it by following these simple steps.
1. You can display your photographs in a museum-quality frame that is made from acid-free materials and with UV resistant glasses. This type of frame has a wides space that ensures that your photos do not encounter the glass itself.
2. After a photo restoration, as much as possible avoid displaying the original copy of your old photos. You can make a high-quality scan of the original photo. You can display the replica of the photographs. And store the original in a cool, dark, and dry place. Usually, your basement, garage, or attic is the perfect storing place in your house.
3. Avoid heat exposure. As mentioned earlier, a photo is at high risk of damage when exposed to sunlight, open windows, or fireplaces. Keeping your old photos away from UV rays, air exposure, and smoke can keep your photos from fading away.
4. As suggested before, display a replica and store the original most especially if you have vintage photographs. Your old photographs are precious antiques as it contains your old memories and family histories. If you want to restore old photos, ask the help of a professional photo restoration company.
Is it possible to repair photos that are too old?
With the advancement of technology, it is possible to repair old photos. Many photo restoration professionals in Somerset can bring back the life of your old photographs.
The Photo Restoration Co. is photo restoration and colorisation company based in the UK. And we know that photographs can last for a long time if maintained with proper care.
Photo colorisation? Here at The Photo Restoration Co., we can help bring back the beauty of your old photographs by using up to date digital technology to piece together and restore your photos will mean you also have a digital copy you can print again and again.
The Photo Restoration Co. 