Why do photographs fade or lose color?
Photographs fade, change color or become damaged due to light, heat, handling and storage conditions. The fading and color loss is due to the dyes used to produce the photographs. Photos taken within the last 50 years appear particularly at risk for this loss of quality. The sad fact is that without proper care and storage or without restoring and preserving the photographs digitally, most of the pictures will not be worth keeping in the next 25 years due to deterioration. There is a wealth of good information on the internet regarding photo preservation and deterioration. One leading site worth a visit is Wilhelm Imaging Research.
