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Avoid Damaging Your Picture Frames and Photos in Four Simple Steps
By guest | October 28, 2009
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If you want to continue to enjoy your photo and picture frame for years, it’s important to know how to protect it from permanent damage.Although there are many ways you can ruin your photo and picture frame, there are four simple things you can do to keep your picture frame looking good for years.Many people don’t realize how easy it is to protect your pictures until it’s sadly too late. With these few important tips you can keep your frame and picture looking good for years.
Avoid Your Picture Frame From Getting Direct Sunlight
We all know the kind of damage the sun can do to your skin and your photos are no different. The sun’s powerful UV rays can badly damage your pictures so reduce the risk of long-term damage and fading pictures by keeping your picture frames away from direct sunlight.
If it is impossible for you to avoid exposing your picture frame to direct sunlight, there are a couple of things you should do. The first thing would be to make a copy of your special photo so if the picture is damaged by sunlight you still have a good photo.The second thing you should do is use UV glass or UV acrylic which will dramatically reduce the UV exposure on your photo.Although your photo will be protected, your picture frame will still likely fade in the direct sunlight. Some of the picture frames that are most sensitive to fading are those made out of natural materials like paper, fabric and wood. You should also be careful with stained or colored frames like red, green or blue picture frames.
Watch Out for Moisture
We all know about moisture damage caused by flooding, but have you considered damage caused by steam? Pictures and picture frames are damaged by this type of moisture. Make sure you avoid displaying pictures in a hot steamy bathroom or in a kitchen next to a stove or kitchen sink. If you choose to display pictures in these locations, be sure you have extra copies of your photos made and choose a frame that won’t get damaged by moisture. The best frames for moist areas are metal picture frames that are made out of aluminum and won’t rust.
Be cautious of picture frames with a sealed back. A sealed back frame is either taped closed or has a paper glued to the back of the frame to protect it and give it a professional finish. A sealed back on a frame does not protect your photo but instead can damage it by trapping moisture inside. Moisture is naturally in the air in the form of humidity. When the temperature outside the frame differs from that on the inside, moisture builds. If there is a sealed back on your picture frame, there is no way for the moisture to escape so it’s absorbed by your photo.
If you live in a climate with high humidity, you should consider getting some spacers or mats so your pictures will never get stuck to the glass.When a photo has consistent contact with the glass in high humidity, the photo can stick to the glass and become damaged. Spacers or mats keep the glass from resting on the picture and gives the picture some room to breathe.
Be Careful of Using Spray Cleaners
This may sound like an obvious suggestion, but there are many people who do not realize the damage that can be done to their photos by spraying glass cleaner on their picture frame glass. Anytime you’re cleaning your picture frame, remove the picture from the frame if you plan to use a spray cleaner.The sprayed liquid cleaner can seep underneath the glass and stain your photo. If you don’t want to take the time to remove the picture, use a cloth with the cleaner instead of spraying the cleaner directly onto the glass.
Extra Frame Care Tips
Another tip to avoid damaging your picture frames is to never stack your frames without properly protecting them. If you are moving or need to store your frames, be sure to protect them with bubble wrap or thick towels. Metal and wood picture frames are difficult to repair, so take extra precautions to properly protect them when storing.
By remembering these tips you can protect your picture frames and special photos so you’ll never have the disappointment of ruining something you love. Keep these tips in mind and you will have picture frames that retain their beauty and look good for many years.
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Topics: Senior Portrait Photographers, pictures | No Comments »
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