Print Care
Planetography will exchange any flawed or damaged print or frame without cost to you. Please see Return Policy for more information.
Digital prints can be expected to last 71-150 years without significant fading when framed behind glass according to Wilhelm Research, an independent research organization. However, prints made using the digital process do not come with a print-life warranty.
The Ilfochome paper used for prints from slides is the Ilford Classic Deluxe. If laminated with Ilfoguard and properly cared for, Ilford will warranty the prints against fading for 200 years. Without lamination the paper still has an exceptional life-span. The dyes are resistant to fade and color shift that is prevalent with other types of photographic paper. However, care must be taken to not shorten that lifetime. For details on the warranty and the materials see the Ilford web site.
Framed prints have a fair amount of weight. Make sure to use an appropriate picture hanger rated for the weight of the framed image, and appropriate for the type of surface on which you are hanging the print. All images come ready to hang, however the hangers are not provided. Standard picture hangers will work fine for most applications.
Elements which can shorten the lifetime or your print are:
The most intense form of ultraviolet (UV) light is direct sunlight. It is very important to avoid hanging pictures where they will be exposed to direct sunlight. Avoid excessive illumination and fluorescent lights. Tungsten lights will not significantly shorten the lifetime of your prints. Frame your print with UV filtering glass, especially if it will be exposed to fluorescent lighting or indirect sunlight. For adequate protection, UV glass should filter out at least 97% of UV light. The UV filtering glass which we offer filters 97% - 99% of the UV light. Even high quality UV filtering glass cannot provide adequate protection from direct sunlight.
Ilfoguard lamination provides excellent UV protection and also protects against moisture while preserving the glossy appearance of the print. UV/Matte spray will protect images, but gives the image a matte, instead of glossy, appearance. The spray does not provide the same level of protection as does the lamination. Hang your prints in a climate controlled room which will not be subjected to high temperatures or high humidity. Ilfoguard lamination provides the best protection against humidity, so if you live in a high humidity climate you might want to add it to your prints.
Be careful to avoid getting water on the print surface. Water or other moisture will cause the emulsion to swell and show spots when it dries again. It will dry, but will leave a reddish area. Never touch or wipe the surface of the print when it is wet, because the emulsion gets very soft when wet. If you do get your print wet accidentally, flush the entire surface of the print with distilled water. Hang the print by the corner and allow it to completely dry. This process may damage the print or the bond between the print and the foam core board.
Matte spray, lamination and glass all protect prints from minor water splashes.
The surface of photographic prints should not be touched with your fingers. Oils from your fingers will remain on the print and are difficult to remove. When handling your print, use cotton gloves specifically made for the handling of photographic material, available from camera and art stores.
Fingerprints can be removed with a number of fingerprint removal sprays sold specifically for cleaning photographs. Remember that some of these sprays make the emulsion slightly wet. Wiping the emulsion when it is wet may cause damage to the print. Matte spray, lamination and glass all protect prints from fingerprints.
To clean a print which has been sprayed or laminated use a very soft, just damp cloth and be very gentle.
The use of these sprays on ink-jet paper is not recommended.
If your Ilfochrome print gets scratched, it might show a blue area where the scratch is. Unfortunately, this means that the emulsion has been removed from the print. There are dyes available specifically for Ilfochome prints that you can purchase from your local fine photographic supplier that can be used to touch up the print. If you have a professional photo finishing company in your area, check with them to see if they can help by touching up the print for you.
Scratches on ink-jet paper cannot be repaired.
A print can be damaged in moving by denting or bending the mounting materials from the back, scratching the frame, breaking or scratching the glass, or damaging the print directly from the front. In addition, excessive heat or humidity during transport can damage the print, frame or mounting. Be sure to use boxes specifically designed for moving framed art. Never put prints together face-to-face or back-to-back without padding between them. Print-to-print contact may damage the print, frame, or glass.
For the safest move, use the packing materials in which your print was originally shipped.