What Is Archival Paper?

A woodcut of a papermaker

Many artists verbalise virtually working to archival standards.  But what is archival newspaper for artists?

This transportation service is a review of

• what causes newspaper to deteriorate
• what is classed every bit archival newspaper - and what archival newspaper agency for artists; 
• how to larn too hold skillful character fine fine art newspaper over time

What happens to newspaper over time?

Paper tin deteriorate over fourth dimension unless:

• the production procedure eliminates affair which causes it to change
• storage too treatment sustain the character of the original newspaper over time

You've belike all seen how newsprint discolours too becomes really brittle over fourth dimension and crumbles if exposed to air and/or sunlight.

Other papers also deteriorate every bit well. For example, many of the pastel artworks past times original pastellists inward museums are shown inward depression lights. This is NOT because of the character of the pigment inward the pastels (although some may good live fugitive) hence much every bit the fragility of the newspaper or solid position down used when the artwork was produced.  Similarly nosotros tin reckon watercolours inward museum exhibitions where the pigment is fine too the newspaper is inward a less than pristine condition.

If y'all desire your artwork to hold upwardly over fourth dimension it's necessary to ensure that it's produced on newspaper which volition non deteriorate over time.  However that's easier said than done.

So why does newspaper deteriorate?  Below are a listing of things which bear on the character too status of newspaper over time.

Things which are bad for newspaper character too status over time

• Chemical composition:
• short cells are to a greater extent than unstable
• lignin - this is the component division of woody constitute fibres which movement newspaper to degrade.  It's an acidic organic polymer which causes newspaper made from forest pulp to yelllow too its mechanical strength to weaken.  Wood is chemically pulped inward gild to carve upwardly lignin from cellulose.

the British Trade Standard Definition for the newspaper merchandise of an uncoated woodfree too acid costless newspaper tin include 10% Thermo-Chemi-Mechanical Pulp too 1% lignin, it is clear that British Standards are non ever what 1 mightiness expect. The lignin produces acids every bit it degrades, thereby introducing a destructive forcefulness into the paper.RK Burt - How long is long life?

• wooden drawers which comprise lignin!  (In gild to forestall the migration of acid from forest to newspaper these involve to live lined alongside acid costless newspaper or boards)
• traces of bleaching left in/on the newspaper volition movement newspaper to perish yellowish too brittle
• optical brightening agents tin make a brighter whiter canvass of newspaper - only this tin modify over fourth dimension too the canvass may good yellowish over time. 
• Light: discolouration next exposure to sunlight (ie ultraviolet (UV) radiation) and/or high lighting levels
• Humidity:  Mould spores tin embrace newspaper if allowed to grow because the atmosphere is every bit good humid (ie 60%+)
• Temperature: high temperatures incerease deterioration
• Pest attack: - they tin spoil, tear and/or swallow paper! 

Rats, mice, silverfish too cockroaches are the most mutual problems only termites, birds too possums may also live encountered. Moths, ants too spiders are non probable to harm a newspaper collection only may attract other pests that do.National Archives of Commonwealth of Australia - Integrated Pest Management

• Time: All material deteriorates over time. The number is how long does it convey too what impact does it guide hold over a specified catamenia of time.

What does archival newspaper mean?

Paper too other supports which are intended to final a long fourth dimension tin live variously described - such as

• "Conservation-grade" (acid-free, buffered newspaper made from wood-based pulp) or 
• Archival-grade (aka Museum-grade ie cotton fiber rag newspaper made from cotton fiber pulp).

Archival character tin mean:

• the standards position downward past times Museums - which tends to live really high too relates to centuries.  (See the National Archives of Commonwealth of Australia documentation for a 'plain English' guide to archival matters). However if y'all desire to operate to a high only non the highest standard too hence at that topographic point are things y'all involve to know.
• the standards position downward past times the International Standards.  However you need to read the modest print
• permanent" newspaper is ISO 9706 - nevertheless this criterion does NOT require tests that ensure a fine fine art newspaper volition retain the optical properties expected of such newspaper eg brightness.  That's because it's designed for uses other than fine art.

How long is long life? The British criterion ISO 9706 may live an inadequate benchmark for the Fine Art marketplace seat where expectations volition belike top the "Statute of Limitations" (6 years).R. K. Burt

• "archival" paper, the criterion is ISO 11108 - stipulates requirements for permanence too durability of documents too publications required for permanent retentiveness too frequent use.

It's of import to recognise that papers satisfying ISO 9706 are using a standard which was non designed for fine art.  Hence a PH neutral / acid costless newspaper mightiness NOT attain the criterion required for an artwork which should guide hold a life inward decades.

In my opinion, on the whole if y'all desire to your artwork to live preserved over time, it's belike safer to perish alongside papers which are made from cotton fiber rag or linen.  

The Australian National Archives guide hold a really useful contestation virtually archival newspaper for artwork 'Choosing the correct paper'.

Standards Commonwealth of Australia guide hold also really sensibly developed a watermark for papers which satisfy their requirements for both chemic too physical stability too character over time.

How to ensure skillful character newspaper status over time

How fine fine art newspaper behaves depends on what was used to perish far too how it is used too stored. 

Below are some suggestions - culled from diverse reference sources (see end) every bit to factors which assist to promote the longevity too skillful status of fine fine art paper.

Things which meliorate physical too chemic stability

Archival stability is a business office of chemic too physical stability.

• Chemical composition - chemically PH Neutral
• the removal of all lignin too whatever other chemicals which are acidic or destructive
• buffering to forestall the formation of whatever additional acids
• all fillers too sizing additives must also live acid-free
• Physical composition: long cells - to a greater extent than stable over time.  These are introduce in:
• cotton (ie natural cellulose) or linen rags
• 100% cellulose extracted from forest pulp

How newspaper is stored too handled makes a huge deviation to character too status over time.

• Storage:
• Watercolours, drawings, prints too posters should live stored flat.
• store inward containers which hold acid-free surfaces all to a greater extent than or less the paper
• store away from UV low-cal too whatever high levels of  artificial lighting
• store inward an atmosphere which is non every bit good dry out too non every bit good damp.  The target humidity hit should live betwixt 45-50%, only inward a higher identify 30% too below 60% is acceptable.  Keep humidity fluctuations to a minimum
• ideally shop at temperatures betwixt xviii too 20°C
• prevent pest attack (National Archives of Commonwealth of Australia has a really helpful document virtually pest management)
• Interleave finished artwork alongside acid-free newspaper to forestall transfers betwixt artworks
• use archival boxes for modest artworks
plastic storage must live costless of plasticisers, surface coatings too other harmful chemicals (ie 
• Minimise handling: Use clear labelling hence that y'all entirely grip what y'all involve to handle

Matting paper-based artwork

It's imperative that all surfaces which come upwardly into contact alongside a newspaper also attain the same degree of permanence.

• Use PH neutral / acid costless mats every bit a minimum - nevertheless regime annotation that ISO 9706 permits the inclusion of lignin too does non require newspaper to remain brilliant over time
• Ideally use museum degree mats
• ensure backing boards are also acid costless too PH neutral.

References:

Here are some reference sources which I'm adding to a website virtually archival paper:

• Artpaper | Archival Concerns: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Discussion of Fiber too Process past times Coral Jensen
• RK Burt | How Long is Long Life?
• Coloured Pencil Society of America | Paper - How It's Made & Other Facts by by Rhonda Farfan (Executive Vice President of Consumer Standards Emeritus)
• Global Geneology | Archival Document, & Artifact Preservation Products
• National Archives of Australia 
• Preserving newspaper documents too artworks
• Choosing the correct paper
• Wikipedia | 
• Acid-free paper
• Bleaching of forest pulp
• Lignin
• Papermaking
• Wisegeek | what is archival paper

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