[older photographs on acid-free paper?]

I'm not sure if they would be acid free or not. If you want to be on the safe side, you can always make a copy of the photo.

Piggy-backing Deb's post here...since the original never arrived on my server. Interesting topic that required a little research LOL

Diane.....I would very much doubt that the photos from the seventies or eighties would be acid-free. I have just tested some on the back with an acid tester pen (Marvy Uchida Neutral7). The first were from the 1970's, traditionally processed on Kodak paper. They are showing a PH level of 2 or

3, which means the paper is pretty acidic.....and the picture colours have faded somewhat. I have tested some Kodak Photo Paper I have in stock (may be Ultima or Glossy) and it also shows the same high acid content....about the same PH as the original processed ones. :*(

I then tested Epson Premium Glossy Paper and found that the A4 sheets seem to be acidic (PH3 or 4) while the 4 x 6 of the same brand is less so, with a PH of 6+...... 7 is neutral. Interesting results!!!! I also got a neutral result from photos printed on Georgia Pacific A4 Photo Paper bought from Asda.

Next, I tested photos from the mid-1970's...printed on Agfacolour paper, while we lived in Australia. The paper PH is showing PH of 8...yet the photo colours have gone a strange pinkish colour. They like the ones tested above had been stored in a magnetic type album...yet the effects on the photos are totally different. Raises questions whether the albums or the processing was the problem...or a combination of both. Anyway these are all being scanned, fixed a little and archived to DVD, or re-printed for scrapping. I don't ever use an original photo anyway :o)

And finally, I have tested photos printed the other day on my new toy....Canon Selphy 720.....and they are NEUTRAL....yeah!!!!! Guess I will be using this one for all my photo printing. HTH

thanks so much, marilyn ~ that is so cool and so helpful! i am scanning a lot of the photos and having them reprinted. i've noticed that strange pinkish-orange tint from some of the seventies photos ~ they clean up nicely when i run them through Paint Shop Pro 8 ~ probably still not quite the original colors but very close ~ i probably could better restore them if i spent more time with each photo, but i'm eager to start making pages!

tell me, where can i find a Marvy Uchida Neutral7? currently, i've been getting my photos printed at CVS ~ would you trust them?

thanks so much! :)

diana

Marilyn wrote:

No problem Diana...you should be able to purchase one in any local scrapbook store. They may have different brand names...just ask for a PH testing pen for paper. Sorry.....can't answer you question on CVS for re-printing photos...I am in the UK and printing at home on a Canon Selphy 720 or an Espson Stylus Photo RX500 :o) Someone else here may use them and make comment....or suggest an alternative for you.