Make your photo prints last longer
Don’t let your favourite snaps fade or yellow with time. Jonathan Parkyn explains how to keep your precious photo prints looking bright and vibrant for longer
There’s a lot to love about digital photos. They’re portable, with most of us carrying entire photo libraries in our pockets. And they’re convenient, too. Mobile devices, social media and online storage make it easy to snap, share and store our images online, so they’re always accessible.
But the truth is there’s nothing quite like a physical print – a tangible memory you can hold in your hand, frame and display, or organise into albums that you can browse through whenever you like. Printed photos make thoughtful gifts, too. And you don’t need to pay a subscription service to access them, or worry that they’ll vanish forever if you lose or break your phone.
The problem is that photo prints aren’t indestructible. Over time, colours fade or turn yellow. Corners curl with wear and accidents can leave unsightly scratches or creases. Even a sunlit window sill or damp cupboard can shorten their life.
However, a few simple choices when printing and storing your photos can make all the difference. Here, we explain how to future-proof your treasured memories by picking the right paper and inks, optimising your printer’s settings, and more.