Feb 17, 20232 min read

10 Ways to Make Your Prints Last

Updated: Feb 19, 2023

When you've invested so much time, money, and energy into creating custom artwork, it's really important to know how to make it last as long as possible (hopefully for generations!). Read below for some tips on how to best care for your printed photos so they last and last!

1) Keep out of direct sunlight

UV light is damaging and can cause prints to fade over time.

2) Don't touch your prints

It can be sooo tempting but you don't want to damage the surface of the prints or leave traces of oil from your fingers.

3) Avoid heat and humidity

These factors can cause even the finest prints to warp and age quicker than they should.

4) Store your albums flat

Storing your album vertically (like on a bookshelf) can cause the binding to loosen over time. To make them last as long as possible, always store your albums flat.

5) Mat your prints before you frame them

This will give your print the most protection when being framed and will ensure that it doesn't touch the glass/acrylic.

6) Use frames with UV blocking glass/acrylic

This will provide the best protection against harmful UV rays and will help your print last as long as possible.

7) Avoid acidic materials

This may seem obvious but a lot of people struggle with this. Acidity will cause your prints to yellow and fade over time and there are many materials that are more acidic than you might think. Wooden boxes for example are naturally acidic and are unsuitable for storing your prints and albums.

8) Vellum sheets

Storing your prints for a while? Try using sheets of vellum in between your prints to keep them protected from any scratches while in storage.

9) NEVER use cleaning products on acrylic

You might be tempted to use Windex or other cleaning products on the acrylic protecting your framed prints, but this will make it cloudy! To clean, simply use a damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt.