HOW TO CARE FOR
YOUR FINE ART PRINTS
STORAGE
Remove prints from any corrugated
card carriers, and store them away from light.
Never store unmounted prints on top of each other;
they should be separated with ph neutral (acid free) tissue paper.
Ideally, they should be stored in individual folios with ph neutral
tissue on
each side, or mounted in ph neutral mount board, and then covered
with tissue.
Prints should not be kept on the floor, as they require air circulation.
Wooden shelving is better than metal,
as metal shelving can cause water condensation.
Prints should be rotated from display to storage on a three month
cycle.
Framed prints in storage should be checked and cleaned by your
framer on a
regular basis. An accumulation of dust containing airborne mould
spores can
cause deterioration of the print.
HANDLING
Always handle prints with
clean hands,
as the natural oils in your hands will cause permanent damage
to the paper.
To avoid creasing, always lift and carry a print with both hands.
Creases and folds stretch the fibres of the paper and are permanent.
Never touch the image. A fingerprint is ? -------- permanent.
Keep children away from the prints, especially in the framer's
gallery.
Never use pressure sensitive tape on the print.
HEAT
Never store or hang a piece of art over or next to a radiator
or fire.
Heat (plus smoke and soot) can quickly cause extensive damage.
HUMIDITY
Humidity is a major cause of damage to paper and prints.
The main danger is mould, which grows when the relative humidity
is greater than 70%. Museum curators believe that a relative
humidity
of 50% is best for valuable works.
Always maintain proper humidity levels,
and never hang or store prints in damp basements or cellars.
Never allow a print to rest directly on glass.
If if has not been mounted, it will be in contact with the glass,
condensation will form, and the print will be destroyed.
Always ensure air circulation behind framed prints,
and check outside walls for damp when hanging the prints,
as moisture can seep through walls and into prints.
Do not be in a hurry to hang prints after redecoration of a room.
Wallpaper paste and emulsion paints put gallons of water into
a room.
Give them time to dry properly.
LIGHT
All light will cause fading in works of art, especially those
on paper.
The damage is caused by the ultra violet part of the spectrum.
Fading cannot be stopped by keeping art in subdued light.
Less light means less fading, but fading is not reversible.
According to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Mass.,
the optimum amount of light is 5 foot candles, which is the equivalent
of a 150
watt bulb, five feet away from the object being illuminated.
Newer place art in direct sunlight, or opposite a window.
Reflected light is also very damaging to artwork.
Fluorescent lights are the most potent source of ultra violet
light,
but they can be shielded by using an appropriate filter.
Artwork can be protected by using ultra violet absorbing glass,
in either clear
or non reflective forms, it is also possible to treat the windows
of your house
or gallery so as to render them ultra violet "Proof".
If you have a substantial
amount of valuable artwork, this may be the most cost effective
solution.
TYPES OF FINE ARTWORK
INK JET PRINTS
A fine art ink jet print is as delicate as an original watercolour,
and should
be treated as such. Do not touch the surface of the image,
or allow it to get wet. When handling the print,
do so by holding both ends of the print, using acid free tissue
to protect it.
Get it into the safekeeping of your framer as quickly as possible.
Avoid direct sunlight, reflected light and fluorescent light
when displaying.
Rotate it from display to storage on a three-month cycle.
SERIGRAPHS
Serigraphs are created by silk screening.
Many coats of special ink are applied by silk screening to create
a serigraph.
To avoid smudges, do not touch the image, allow anything to rub
it,
or allow it to get wet. Clean with a soft feather duster.
Get it into the safekeeping of your framer as quickly as possible.
TEXTURED CANVAS PRINTS
A finely textured replica of an artist's original should be treated
as carefully
as the original. Dust with a soft feather duster.
If necessary clean gently with a soft lint free cloth slightly
dampened
with distilled water.
Do not hang in direct sunlight, or subject it to extremes,
or sudden variations of temperature or humidity.
Do not allow the surface to be rubbed or scratched,
and avoid contact with anything other than it's protective shipping
cover.
|