tips for the care of your print

[versione italiana qui]

we print in-house on a fine art printer that uses pigment inks, which fade much slower than dye inks and better protect colors from humidity and light. despite this, colors can fade over time so it is best to use some precautions to best preserve your print.

exhibiting

hang in a cool and shady environment. do not hang or expose to direct sunlight or strong artificial light which will cause the chemicals on the paper to react, causing the colors to fade irreversibly as a result. underestimating the side effects of exposing under strong light is the most common mistake made. stay away from ozone or ultraviolet ray emitters such as televisions, monitors, fluorescent lights or close lamps. stay away from what can suddenly get too cold or too hot like radiators, fireplaces, air conditioners, as extreme temperature fluctuations can deteriorate and negatively affect the paper over time, when expanding or contracting the paper fibers.

when humidity is too high the print can be damaged by insects or mold as well as when the air is too dry the paper can become brittle. if you choose to display the print in high humidity rooms (like bathrooms) do it at your own risk, but at least protect it with a frame that is properly sealed in the back. air circulation or good ventilation in these rooms helps reducing the damage that humidity brings. exposing next to a humidifier is not suggested as well.

better not to hang outdoors.

framing

framing can be diy or custom.

when opting for buying a ready to hang frame choose a ultraviolet glass or acrylic for extra protection from ultraviolet rays. the mat and the backing board also would better be acid free, as for cotton rag for example, to avoid discoloration or damage of the print. what you should as well avoid when framing yourself is to have the surface of the print touch the protective glass or acrylic, as there should always be some space in front of the paper.

when choosing between glass or acrylic, keep in mind that acrylic is lightweight and less likely to break while the glass is easy to cut and less prone to scratches. they can both feature an anti reflective coating. in glass the coating is barely visible, like for the museum glass.

handling

fine art prints can be very sensitive to the oil and moisture of the skin, so you want to reduce any exposure to them. it is preferable then that you do not touch the print with your bare hands to limit any damage over time. better wear cotton gloves instead. if you have no gloves you should wash and dry thoroughly your hands before handling the print. while handling use both hands to avoid creasing or scratching the surface, touching only the edges of the print.

cleaning

to clean the print that is not framed dust gently with a clean and soft rag. do not use any cleaning supply that is wet as the liquid can damage the paper permanently. compressed air should be avoided, but if you really have to at least keep the nozzle at a distance from the print surface, do not blow directly on it.

to clean the frame use a soft rag and remove the dust gently. for the glass or acrylic use a lint free rag. if you want to use any other cleaning supply refer to the instructions provided by the frame vendor.

storing

when not on display, store your print flat in a metal or archival box. if you use a folder this should be rigid and acid free, like those made of cotton rag or specifically designed for archival purposes. if you store more than one print together, separate them with acid free tissue paper as acid can speed discoloration of the paper.

better avoid rolling the print as the fibers will be damaged for good and any creases cannot be recovered. same as for when on display, protect the print from direct sunlight, dirt, extreme temperatures and humidity while being stored.

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