We all have old photos that we treasure. Pictures of a grandmother or great-grandmother that we wouldn't part with for the world. But perhaps those old black and white shots are beginning to fade, the image is beginning to disappear. Even the early colour photos we took in the 1960s or 1970s are beginning to go. What can be done?
Every photo deteriorates. Black and white prints turn brown, colour photos lose their reds, negatives stain or become mouldy. The problems stem from the chemical processes that continue after a print has been made. Other factors that can affect the life of a print include the kind of paper the print is mounted on, the type of album the photos are displayed in; even the glue in the drawer the pictures are kept in.
According to the National Photographic Archive, copying rather than restoration is the best action. A damaged photo can be scanned onto a computer and patched up. A new negative or print can be made by most photographers, but be sure to see previous work before you commit your photo to them.
Before a print has gone too far, prevention is always the best policy, says David Davidson, lecturer in photography at DIT. Store your pictures in non-acid paper albums and envelopes, keep the prints out of direct sunlight and at a comfortable, stable room temperature, keep the pictures dry and away from damp, he says. Otherwise, a colour print can have a life as short as 14 years before the image noticeably deteriorates.
If the photograph is beyond copying, the best option is to take it to a restoration specialist, who can use techniques such as retouching, bleaching and re-developing.