Magnetic albums - 6 steps to save your photos

 

Do you have any of those peel and stick albums? You know the ones...... we often call them magnetic albums, they were very popular in the 70's and 80's.

Technology and science has moved on a lot since then, and we now know that these albums are causing our photos to deteriorate more quickly.

Your photos are sandwiched in a chemical layer of acidic cardboard, non photos safe glues and pvc plastic....

You may also find the photos are stuck solid in the albums, despite them being marketed originally as repositionable.

So...this is a heads up for you to go check you albums and take steps to save your photos from fading!

Your have 2 options:

A. You can scan the photos in situ, on a flat bed scanner, and reprint them. This will take you a little time and some editing afterwards in a photo editing program such as Photoshop.

B. You can remove the photos from the album and redo in a new photo safe scrapbook album

Steps to take when removing photos...

1. To test the stickiness of the album, pick a photo that you don’t mind sacrificing, and try lifitng a corner gently.

2. If it lifts easily, gently remove from the album

3. If it’s stuck more tightly get some plain dental floss, and try working the thread under the edge of the photo to loosen it.

4. If this doesn’t work, you could try using a hair dryer on a low setting to soften the glue, then try seeing again.

Make sure you label and categorise as you go, don’t wait until you have a whole album's worth of photos in a pile! If there is any writing in the original album identifying names dates etc, make sure you copy them and keep them with the photos.