The proper handling of prints is an important step in insuring optimal print quality and longevity. It is critical to not only pay special attention to how prints are treated after they are made, but also how the paper is treated prior to printing. There are several important steps you should take, and things you should know, to keep your images looking great.

Storage / Handling Of Paper

How you handle an unprinted sheet of paper is perhaps more important then how you handle a printed one. Once the ink has bonded to the paper, there isn’t much that can affect it, however, there are a whole host of issues that can prevent bonding, causing prints to rapidly fade and deteriorate over time. The most critical aspect of paper health is the storage of it. It is important to inspect the condition of the box and the location of which the paper is being stored in, as this will usually be a good indication of the condition of the paper inside. Try to purchase paper from a photo supply store that has a good track record and sells their stock on hand quickly. Paper that has been sitting around on a shelf for years probably isn’t in as good a health as one that has been recently produced. Almost all packages of fine art paper will have a date of production on it, try to find it and select the most recently made box you can find. Read more