Some people think that the photos you print at home won't last as long as those printed at the photo lab. The truth
is, when you use the right supplies—those designed specifically for your printer—your pictures can last
even longer than traditional lab-processed photos.
No matter how your photos are printed, they're subject to environmental conditions—such as light and
humidity—that can cause wear and fading. Here's what you can do to protect your treasured memories, so they'll
remain brilliant for years to come.
It starts with HP original supplies
Use papers and inks designed specifically for your HP printer. The supplies created at HP labs are made with the best
ingredients in the world, and they're formulated specifically to work with HP printers.
For photos that last over 100 years1, use HP's best paper:
HP Premium Plus photo paper.
There are six special layers in each piece of HP Premium Plus paper. Each layer has a special job—from controlling ink
absorption to building a moisture barrier to creating a smooth, glossy photo surface.
HP invests in thousands of hours of testing its products at Wilhelm Imaging Research, the industry standard for fade-resistance
testing. Tests show that when using the latest
HP inkjet print cartridges,
photos printed on HP Premium Plus photo paper resist light fading more than twice as long as photo lab-processed color photos.
Learn more about Wilhelm testing on HP Premium Plus photo paper.
Quick tip: After printing, make sure your photos are completely dry before stacking them, or they might stick together. Many
new products offer quick-drying prints, but it can't hurt to let them sit as long as 24 hours just to be on the safe side.
When storing your prints, be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight and humid rooms, such as basements or bathrooms, and away
from intense heat. Cool, dry, and dark are the ideal conditions for long-term photo storage.
Prints stored in an album last longer than those in frames, but avoid albums with self-stick, "magnetic" pages and PVC plastic
overlays. These albums cause rapid fading and discoloration. Instead, look for albums that are acid- and lignin-free. These
chemicals can yellow and damage pictures.
If you want to display your photos, put them in frames under glass, preferably with an anti-UV coating. Aluminum frames are
ideal, as they are lightweight and are not affected by humidity. Be sure to put an acid-free mat between the frame and the photo
to prevent your prints from sticking to the glass over time.
Read more about archival-quality and preserving photo prints.
Another way to preserve your photo memories is by creating a digital archive of your prints. Your digital photo files, if
stored correctly, will remain in excellent condition.
DVD is the best option because each disc holds 4.7GB of data, which translates to more than 15,000 high-quality pictures.
That's about seven times the capacity of a CD. And HP's innovative double-layer recording technology lets you use double-layer
DVDs to record almost twice as much data as you can on single-layer DVDs. See our
CD/DVD comparison chart.
Remember: Even though digital information isn't subject to fading, you could lose your images if the disk becomes damaged. Don't
count on being able to just drop your disc of digital images into a box somewhere and forget about it, or you may lose your
treasured memories forever. Create a schedule so you back up your images frequently. That way, if one disc is damaged, you won't
lose your entire photo archive.
Learn more by reading Storing digital photos and
Transferring photos to DVD.
Take a free online class
in digital photography! Explore the many features of your digital camera, find tips for cropping and editing your
images, and discover new ideas for sharing your photos in creative ways.
1Based on Wilhelm Imagine Research, Inc., light fade testing under glass (as of January 2005) on
HP Premium Plus Photo Paper. For more information on additional permanence testing factors, visit
http://hp.com/go/premiumplusphoto.
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