Photographs Photographs and negatives are composed of three different parts or layers: a support base, a binder, and image material. The support for a photographs or negative may be glass (glass plate negatives), a plastic film (slide negative), metal (a daguerreotype), paper (a photo print), or a resin-coated paper (a digital print). Some plastic negative bases are inherently unstable and will have a negative effect on the life of the image. The binder layer or emulsion holds the final image material to the support and is most commonly gelatin but may also be albumen, collodion, or another material. The final part of a photograph is the image producing material, often silver particles, color dyes, or pigment particles suspended in the emulsion layer. Working with big photo collections: Consult a conservator early on. Wear gloves to handle negatives. Store in conservation safe materials. Take extra precautions with nitrates. Photographs and negatives are generally cared for by paper conservators or those who have specialized in photographs and negatives alone. More Resources (pdf) Care of Nitrate and Acetate Film Caring for Photographs Cleaning Photographic Materials Scanning Tip Sheet Digital Imaging Project Documentation Digitization Links   If you have any questions, ask a conservator.

Preservation Principles    Identify    Protect    Display    Store    Manage    Preserve Types of Material    Ceramics    Glass    Metals    Wood    Textiles    Paper    Paintings    Other Types of Objects    Books / Bibles / Scrapbooks    Photographs    Works of Art    Newspaper    Furniture    Firearms    Textiles / Clothing / Uniforms    Toys    Tools / Mechanical / Instruments    Dishes / Glassware / Silverware    Jewelry    Native American Items    Natural History Specimens More Resources    Preservation Documents  (pdfs)    Glossary of Terms    See what we've done Contact Us  (email) Staff   (directory)