The Importance Of Photographic Conservation

Photographic conservation
Photographs are usually stored in libraries and annals all over the world, but photographic management is still a fairly new subject, for the most part in the area of chemical treatment. Nowadays, we can prolong a lifespan of a photograph by simply good care and practice and using a fairly decent storage conditions.
In this essay, I will talk mainly on the guidelines on handling, storing and basic techniques.
In an ideal world, a photograph should not be touched at all! Clearly this would defeat the purpose of an archive as a worthwhile resource, but we can still manage to keep damage to a minimum if we take precautions and careful handling procedure.
Below are some of the recommendations on how to handle Photographs:
1. Before examining photographs, always use clean hands, and if possible wear gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints and dirt on

Mechanical wood pulp papers
4. Kraft papers
5. Old photographic product boxes
Filing cabinets should be made of metal with enamel coating. Old wood may be safe but all new wood must be avoided, especially if it has been bleached or freshly painted.
Cellulose nitrate film, which was produced mostly between 1889 and 1939, can be very dangerous. Nitrate film in archive should be isolated and placed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.
It is highly inflammable and can ignite in certain conditions. The biggest risk is when its placed with sizeable amounts of old, densely packed collection and the film should never be near a heat source.
If cellulose nitrate ignites, it produces gaseous products that catalyze further decomposition and could affect nearby materials. It can also burn under water, it has a highly toxic fumes, smoke and heat are formed very quickly. If the building is insured, the insurance might prohibit the use of cellulose nitrate.
There are also other environmental factors that could affect the preservation of photographs:
1. Temperature
2. Relative humidity
3. Air purity
4.