Handling old photos - How to prevent unnecessary damage to old photos through mishandling

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are completely unaware of the damage it is possible to cause to an old photo just by holding it in their hands. Not just old photos either - any photograph or negative of any age can be irreparably damaged simple by coming into contact with your fingers.

I'm sure we've all seen an episode of CSI: Miami where the camera zooms in to show a close-up of a finger print on a glass or other object. Well, that's because we leave fingerprints on everything we touch, transferring acid, grease and general grime to that surface.

In the case of old photos, slides and negatives fingerprint acid can eat into the surface over time causing a lot of damage. You may not be able to see fingerprint damage to an old photo at first glance, but once you scan it and are viewing it on screen the damage will pop right out at you. This is especially apparent on small 35mm slides and negatives where a careless thumbprint could cover the majority of the image area!



Ideally, you should handle your old photos as little as possible, but when you do handle them, never grip them between your finger and thumb. Hold them by the edges so that you are not pressing on the flat surface of the image. Better yet, invest in a pair of lint-free soft cotton gloves for handling your old photos with.

Finally, if you allow someone else to hold your precious old photos(although I highly recommend that you don't), make sure you instruct them in advance how to handle them.

Mark