Handling Originals
Because digital restoration involves working with an image at magnified range, one of the first things one notices is that many old photographs are in much worse condition than they appear to the naked eye. When images are digitally enlarged, all manner of damage and deterioration becomes visible. The following image looks reasonably good at a conventional size, but get in close and the picture changes considerably.
There are two main factors which impact the life of a photograph: its format and its environment. There's not much you can do about the format. You can, however, adopt some simple procedures that will stave off environmental damage.
Enemies of the state of a photograph: light, humidity, heat, and handling.
Dark, dry, cool environments are best. Archive quality storage systems are ideal, and today's products
are more various and affordable than ever. One of the best reasons to create digital versions of our
most cherished images is to display copies and store originals.
The oils from our skin can cause some of the worst damage to the surface of an image over time. Never handle a photograph except by its edges. Finally, resist the temptation to write on a photograph, even on the back. The chemicals from lead and ink can invade the picture and hasten deterioration.
Preparing the Files for Submission
If you are scanning a print or negative, we suggest setting your output resolution to a minimum of 300dpi/ppi (do not go lower than 300dpi/ppi or higher than 600dpi/ppi) and save as a jpeg with "minimal" compression or "100%" quality.
Additionally, if the image you are scanning is less than 4x6, increase your physical size to 150%. If your scanner does not let you control the exact resolution, you can often increase the resolution of an image by selecting higher "resolution" or "quality" when you save the image.
"Web optimized" or highly compressed images of 200KB or less generally are insufficient for high-quality editing -- and rarely create acceptable prints. In most cases, we will reject images lower than 200KB.
Concerns and Solutions . . .
Torn, broken, or cracked photographs
If the main support of a photograph sustains serious damage, carefully place it in a polyester sleeve with an archival board support. If a photograph has a flaking binder layer or friable surface treatments, such as the pastel coloring often seen on crayon enlargements, place it in a shallow box, not a polyester sleeve. Do not use pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes to repair torn or damaged photographs. Consult a photographic materials conservator to perform repairs.
Soiled photographs or negatives
Brush soiled photographs carefully with a clean, soft brush. Proceed from the center of the photograph outward toward the edges. Do not clean photos with water- or solvent-based cleaners, such as window cleaner or film cleaner. Improper cleaning materials will cause serious and often irreversible damage, such as permanent abrasion, alteration, staining, or loss of binder and image.
Photographs or negatives adhered to enclosures
High-humidity environments or direct exposure to liquids will cause photographs to adhere to frame glass or other enclosure materials. This can be a difficult problem to solve, and great care must be taken to reduce the possibility of further damage. If a photograph becomes attached to adjacent materials, consult a photographic materials conservator before attempting to remove the adhered materials.
"American Institute of Conservation - CARING FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS"
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