The prints you get back from the local photo printer may put a smile on the face of grandma or grandpa but would be unsuitable for hanging in a gallery, and not necessarily because of the artistic merits of the photograph but because of how the photograph was printed. Art galleries, collectors and museums require photographic prints to be archival quality, meaning they will last for many years without fading or deteriorating.
What is meant by archival?
An archival-quality print is one that will retain its true colors after years of exposure to light. The dyes used to print a photograph on paper react with light, humidity and pollutants in the air, and over time these elements can fade or stain the dyes. Different dyes and papers react differently and are capable of retaining an acceptable appearance for longer periods of time. However, there is no standard test for calling a print archival, with only a consensus that prints guaranteed to last over one hundred years without fading can generally be called archival.
Before digital prints
Before digital photography and digital printing appeared on the scene, there was little concern over labeling a print archival. Traditional photographic printing and the subsequent labeling of the print was enough to satisfy the art dealer or museum curator. Labels such as "platinum print" included the method of production in the name and assured collectors of the permanence of the print. This partly had to do with the fact there are a limited number of photographic papers, using a limited number of materials, available with manufacturers' guarantees of permanence based on testing by the manufacturer.
The digital print
Digital prints suffer from having too many variables in the production process. There is a wide range of papers and inks to choose from with each varying in permanence and archival qualities. Because of these variables, it has become necessary to label digital prints as archival to assure any art dealer or collector that the paper and ink used to print the photograph will last many years without fading.
Archival quality papers and inks
Manufacturers of photographic papers and inks often state on the packaging what the typical lifespan is expected under normal viewing and storage conditions. If the information is not included with the packaging, most manufacturers list this information on their website. As there are no clearly defined expectations for the lifespan of a photographic print to be considered archival, it is left to the individual photographer to determine whether the papers and inks used can be called archival. Most photographers, as well as art collectors, consider one hundred years to be the minimum standard for calling paper or ink archival.
The prints you get back from the local photo printer may put a smile on the face of grandma or grandpa but would be unsuitable for hanging in a gallery, and not necessarily because of the artistic merits of the photograph but because of how the photograph was printed. Art galleries, collectors and museums require photographic prints to be archival quality, meaning they will last for many years without fading or deteriorating.
What is meant by archival?
An archival-quality print is one that will retain its true colors after years of exposure to light. The dyes used to print a photograph on paper react with light, humidity and pollutants in the air, and over time these elements can fade or stain the dyes. Different dyes and papers react differently and are capable of retaining an acceptable appearance for longer periods of time. However, there is no standard test for calling a print archival, with only a consensus that prints guaranteed to last over one hundred years without fading can generally be called archival.
Before digital prints
Before digital photography and digital printing appeared on the scene, there was little concern over labeling a print archival. Traditional photographic printing and the subsequent labeling of the print was enough to satisfy the art dealer or museum curator. Labels such as "platinum print" included the method of production in the name and assured collectors of the permanence of the print. This partly had to do with the fact there are a limited number of photographic papers, using a limited number of materials, available with manufacturers' guarantees of permanence based on testing by the manufacturer.
The digital print
Digital prints suffer from having too many variables in the production process. There is a wide range of papers and inks to choose from with each varying in permanence and archival qualities. Because of these variables, it has become necessary to label digital prints as archival to assure any art dealer or collector that the paper and ink used to print the photograph will last many years without fading.
Archival quality papers and inks
Manufacturers of photographic papers and inks often state on the packaging what the typical lifespan is expected under normal viewing and storage conditions. If the information is not included with the packaging, most manufacturers list this information on their website. As there are no clearly defined expectations for the lifespan of a photographic print to be considered archival, it is left to the individual photographer to determine whether the papers and inks used can be called archival. Most photographers, as well as art collectors, consider one hundred years to be the minimum standard for calling paper or ink archival.
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