Protecting Your Portraits to Preserve Them for Future Generations

Congratulations,

You finally have a lovely portrait of yourself, and the only thing left to do is to hang it on the wall. The photographer spent many hours working to get it to this point. The frame is the perfect complement to this work of art. But are there any precautions you should adhere to that will prolong the longevity of your investment? I’ve included ten things you can do to protect your investment throughout the decades to come.

1. Avoid direct sunlight: Sunlight can cause fading and damage to your portraits over time. Therefore, it’s best to avoid hanging them in direct sunlight.

2. Minimize exposure to humidity, heat or fire: High humidity, heat, and fire can also cause damage to your portraits. It’s best to avoid hanging them in areas where they may be exposed to these elements.

3. Handle with gloves: Oils from your skin can cause damage to the portrait over time. Therefore, it’s best to handle them with gloves.

4. Handle frames carefully: Frames can be fragile and easily damaged. Therefore, it’s best to handle them with care.

5. Use protective folios with plastic sheets: Protective folios with plastic sheets can help protect your portraits from dust, dirt, and other elements.

6. Use plexiglass with UV coating: Plexiglass with UV coating can help protect your portraits from fading and damage caused by sunlight.

7. Apply a fixative: Applying a fixative to your portrait can help protect it from smudging and other damage.

8. Avoid cleaning artwork surfaces: Cleaning the surface of your portrait can cause damage. It’s best to avoid cleaning them unless absolutely necessary.

9. Minimize how often you move them around: Moving your portraits around can cause damage. It’s best to minimize how often you move them.

10. Avoiding temperature fluctuation: Temperature fluctuation can cause damage to your portraits. It’s best to avoid hanging them in areas where the temperature fluctuates frequently.

I hope these tips help you protect your wall portraits. If you need any further assistance, please let me know.