Sandwich? What on earth has that got to do with photos?
Do you have magnetic photo albums storing your old memories? They’re not as safe as you think they may be.
Old magnetic or “sticky” albums contain unsafe components that act as a chemical sandwich for your photos. Here’s what is actually taking place while your photos are innocently sitting in those albums:
Acidic Adhesive
The glue causes photos to yellow, become brittle, or become brown over time. Additionally, it could potentially eat through the photo’s back.
Plastic Damage
The plastic film can stick to the photo emulsion and trap dust or moisture. Plus, the chemicals in the plastic are attacking your photos from the front.
Photos Get Stuck
In some cases, the adhesive can become so strong, especially in humid conditions, that photos become difficult to remove and may tear upon attempts to detach them.
Bottom line … the acids from the plastic and adhesive are harmful to your photos and will cause them to deteriorate.
Here’s my challenge to you: remove the photos as quickly as possible! Even if you’re not ready to scan them or put them into safer photo albums, storing them in a photo box is safer for them than in those old magnetic albums.
What are you doing to protect your family photos and history?
Okay, shameless plug here … If scanning your photos is on your someday-project list, check out my scanning services here.
Fun Fact
Old Color Photos Turn Red Because the Cyan Dye Is Unstable
Ever wonder why old family photos from the 70s and 80s have a strong magenta/red cast? It’s a chemical failure. In “Type C” colour prints, there are three dye layers (Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow). The Cyan dye is notoriously unstable. Over time, it fades away, leaving only the magenta and yellow dyes, which combine to create a reddish-orange cast. Your childhood memories are literally chemically degrading.
This is why archival storage matters. Heat, humidity, and light all accelerate cyan dye fading. Photos stored in albums in climate-controlled environments last much longer than those stuck to refrigerators or left in attics. Modern inkjet prints using pigment-based inks are far more stable, with some manufacturers claiming print longevity of 200+ years under proper storage conditions. But those old drugstore prints from the 80s? They’re on borrowed time.
