Every print we make leaves the studio in a glassine sleeve inside a rigid board mailer. That protects it on the way to you. What happens after that is up to you, and it matters more than most people realize. Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308gsm is a durable paper, but it is not indestructible.

Framing: what to use and what to avoid

Use UV-filtering glass or acrylic if the print will hang in a room with natural light. Standard glass transmits UV radiation that fades pigment inks over time. Museum-grade UV acrylic is lighter than glass and filters more UV, which is why most conservation framers use it. Avoid frames with no glazing at all. Dust and humidity will reach the surface. The frame itself can be anything you like, but the mat should be acid-free. A non-acid-free mat will yellow and eventually transfer acid to the print.

Light and placement

Direct sunlight is the fastest way to fade a print. Even UV-filtered glass does not block everything. Hang prints on walls that do not receive direct sun, or use a frame with the highest UV-filtering acrylic you can find. Indirect natural light is fine. Artificial light from LED sources is generally safe, as LEDs produce very little UV. Halogen and incandescent bulbs produce more heat and some UV. Keep prints at a distance from them.

Humidity and temperature

Cotton rag paper is sensitive to humidity. In a very dry room it can become brittle at the edges; in a very humid room it can cockle and, over time, develop mold. A relative humidity of 40-55% is ideal. In Japan, summer humidity can be a problem. If you live in a house without air conditioning, store unframed prints flat in their glassine sleeves inside a sealed box with a silica gel packet. Replace the silica gel every six months.

Storing unframed prints

Keep prints flat, not rolled. Rolling a 308gsm sheet will crease it permanently. Store flat in the original glassine sleeve, inside a rigid box or portfolio case. Do not stack heavy objects on top. If you are storing multiple prints together, interleave them with acid-free tissue. We include a small sheet of tissue in every order for this reason.

If something goes wrong

If a print arrives damaged, photograph it immediately and contact us. We keep the print file for three years and can reprint. If a print is damaged after it leaves the studio. A spill, a frame accident. Get in touch anyway. We cannot always reprint at no cost, but we will always try to help.

A well-cared-for print on cotton rag paper can last well over a hundred years. The main enemies are UV light, humidity, and acid. Avoid those three things and the print will outlast most of what is in your house.