Caring for a Platinum Print
Platinum/palladium prints, like all artworks, need proper care if they are to survive in top condition. This guide has been written to help you to protect your prints and keep them in perfect condition.
First, the good news: platinum/palladium prints are some of the most stable photographic prints in existence. The image is formed from pure particles of platinum and/or palladium embedded in and protected by the paper on which it is printed. Platinum is unaffected by almost all chemical substances and atmospheric pollutants. The lifetime of a well-made and properly cared for platinum print is as long as the paper on which it is printed – potentially hundreds of years.
There is a story (The Photographic Journal, 1929), I suspect a myth, that:
“When a sunken battleship was raised, which had been submerged for 12 months, some Platinotype prints were found in a cabin none the worse for their prolonged immersion in seawater, though the mounts had disappeared. The prints were subsequently shown at the Brussels Exhibition, and were, unfortunately, destroyed in the fire that occurred there.”
Even if not true, this story highlights the major risk faced by all artwork on paper. If you destroy the paper then you destroy the artwork. Protecting your print’s paper is therefore critical for long-term conservation.
Other than fire, there are five main threats to platinum prints:
- Handling
- Moisture
- Ambient chemicals
- Ultraviolet (UV) light
- Catalytic reactions
Damage may take many years to become apparent, but the risk can be minimised through some simple precautions.
Protecting Against Handling Damage
The surface of most photographs is relatively fragile and placing or dropping things on the print may cause scratches or gouges. Clearly this is best prevented simply by handling your print with due care and attention.
As an additional precaution, it is good practice to wear cotton gloves if you need to touch the surface of your print. This protects it from the natural acids and oils that are in your skin, and also from any other contaminants that you may have on your fingers.
Protecting Against Moisture
There are many reasons why moisture is bad for photographs. Water can damage the paper, cause mould to grow, and attract insects.
Thankfully it is relatively simple to protect your photographs against damage from moisture. If they are unframed then simply store them in a dry environment such as a drawer or print box with a packet of silica gel.
If your photograph is framed then hang it somewhere with low humidity – please do not hang a prized print in your bathroom, kitchen or conservatory and expect it to remain undamaged by the high humidity found in these places.
Protecting Against Ambient Chemicals
Household cleaners, ozone from photocopiers and laser printers, and vehicle pollution are just a few of the many chemicals that can damage photographs. Again, it can take many years for chemical damage to become visible, and the best protection is to have your print framed.
When cleaning framed prints, it is best not to spray cleaning fluids or aerosols directly onto the glass because these may seep into the space behind the glass and cause lasting damage. It is best to use cleaner applied sparingly to a cloth.
Protecting Against Ultraviolet (UV) Light
Some types of photograph (for example Polaroids) will fade rapidly when exposed to UV, while others take much longer. Although UV light will not affect the platinum or palladium in your print, it may eventually damage the paper.
Thankfully it is relatively easy to protect your print from UV light. If it is unframed then just keep it in a dark place such as a drawer or print box (remembering to put a packet of silica gel in there to protect against moisture). If it is framed, then never hang the print in direct sunlight.
In addition, there are several types of glass made with special coatings to reduce or eliminate UV damage. Although anti-UV glass costs more than ordinary glass, it is a very effective way to safeguard your investment.
Protecting Against Catalytic Reactions
A curious effect that conservationists have observed with platinum prints is that they have the ability to create a shadow image on paper that stays in contact with the print’s surface for a long time. It seems that the platinum acts as a catalyst for a chemical reaction on the surface of the adjacent sheet of paper, and that this chemical reaction slowly forms an image mirroring the original print. This process does not seem to damage the platinum print itself. This strange effect is important to be aware of because it means that although your platinum print is very stable, it may cause damage to the other prints it is stored with. Interleaving stored prints with sheet of acid free paper can prevent this damage.
Framing
The best protection you can give your print is to have it framed.
How you choose to frame your print is, of course, a personal choice. However, many low-cost framing materials contain chemicals that may eventually damage your print. What greater irony could there be than to have your fine print damaged by the very frame you have put it in for protection. It is therefore best to use a framer who uses archival framing processes and materials.
All boards and papers used during framing should be acid and lignin free. These may be called ‘Conservation Board’ or ‘Museum Board’. The frame itself should be made of archival materials.
As noted earlier, I also recommend that you request anti-UV glass to minimise the long-term impact from ultraviolet light.