We all have a series of prints we would like to archive and preserve for the future. But chances are, we’re probably not taking the time to archive these prints in the best possible way. So when I recently found myself working side by side with an expert in murseum collections, I couldn’t resist asking him more about the how the “pros” archive their best prints.
Let me back up a bit. Earlier this year, I started volunteering my time once a week to work at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, San Diego. I am part of a collections recoding process in which we photograph individual prints from the museum's permanent collection. Our mission is to digitally catalog the entire collection for organization purposes.
So, as I was working with the Director of Exhibitions and Design and Fine Art Photographer Scott Davis, I asked him about some of the products and practices professional photographer and semi-pros could use to archive their own "permanent collections”.
Archival Storage Box. One of the first items he recommended is an archival storage container for matted prints. Davis likes Solander boxes. The Solander box was invented by Daniel Solander, an assistant librarian at the British Museum sometime between 1763-1782 Solander boxes are easy to store and they will protect your prints from dust and the elements.
The Opus Company in Canada is known for its museum quality products and caries Solander Boxes in many sizes. You can also get Solander boxes from Light Impressions. Their Solander box is made with low-resin Basswood, lined with white acid-free coated paper over .098 thick binder board, and covered with strong durable pebble-grained black cloth. The box is a perfect long term storage container for your prints, whether they are matted or not.
Museum-Quality Mat Boards. Next, you should have a museum-quality board for each print. Your show have a board for the back and a board to mat and frame each image. Of all the museum boards on the market, Davis recommends Alpharag® Artcare™, a museum quality board suitable for displaying and archiving the finest prints. This brand of board passes the P.A.T. (Photographic Activity and is used by museums all over the world. If Artcare is beyond your budget, you can go with less expensive alternatives from Light Impressions.
Proper Storage. Finally there is storage to consider. All of your numbered Solander boxes should be kept on shelving in a room in which there are minimal fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Once again, specialized storage solutions are available at Light Impressions.
Why Does It Matter? Keep in mind that your fine prints are a collection of your best photographs in material form. If you happened to lose the digital file or the negative, these prints would be all that you have. Also people love to see prints large and small and if your work is to be in a gallery then you will need to be organized.
The value in proper print archiving is when the time comes to access your work you will have the confidence to know that your prints are in fine shape and color and quality have not degraded over time.
