a board or paper that conforms to the measurements of museum standards. This term is used in reference to the long-term storage or display of objects.
indicates materials have undergone laboratory analysis to determine their acidic and buffered content are within safe levels for long term preservation of photos• assumes materials should be permanent, durable and chemically stable• industry has not agreed on a definition for archival quality, so variations exist for determining a product's archival properties
Status given to materials that have undergone testing to determine that their acidic and buffered content are within safe levels.
The ability of material, such as processed prints or film, to resist deterioration sufficiently to meet standards for permanent records. See also ARCHIVAL STANDARDS, PERMANENT RECORDS.
The ability of a processed microform to retain its original characteristics and resist deterioration over time in use and in storage.
Archival Quality is sometimes also referred to as "Preservation" or "Museum Quality". A product that is referred to as "Archival Quality" meets or exceeds the standards for conservation set by the Library of Congress. ArtCity recommends Archival Quality for all framing projects that involve artwork with monetary or sentimental value. Many manufacturer's are increasingly incorporating archival materials in their mats and other framing products. We recommend Bainbridge Alphamats® and Crescent RagMat® for all your framing need.
A term used to describe materials that retain their original characteristics without loss of quality over an indefinite period of time. It can also be used to describe materials that, by their nature, are able to resist deterioration. The National Archives of Australia manages an ‘Archival Quality’ certification trademark to describe products with a level of chemical stability and physical strength such that they will survive for long periods and cope with a high level of handling.
This is a term used to indicate materials which have undergone laboratory analysis to determine their acidic and buffered content is within safe levels.
A non-technical term which suggests that a substance is permanent, durable and chemically stable. There is no guarantee that this is the case. It is safer to look for acid free and lignin free when purchasing scrapbooking components.
Neutral PH for permanence.
The ability of processed microfilm to retain its characteristics and resist deterioration for a lengthy period of time, i.e., generally 100 to 300 years.
An imprecise term suggesting that a material, product or process is durable, and/or chemically stable, that it has a long life and can therefore can be used for preservation purposes. The phrase is not quantifiable; no standards exists that describe how long an 'archival' material will last. The word permanent is sometimes used to mean the same thing.
Archival quality materials have undergone analysis to determine that their acidic and buffered content is within acceptable limits and that they are chemically stable at the time of sale. The use of such products could preserve your memories and photographs for years to come. At this time there is no set number of years a product must last to be considered archival quality.
The term refers to conservation materials and techniques that are accepted by libraries for the preservation and permanent housing of their old and rare materials. Archival grade materials must be absolutely inert, with no chemical interaction with the objects, and the techniques must be reversible , that is, removable without leaving any traces on the objects. They can be obtained from supply houses sepcializing in this type of item.
Refers to materials that meet certain criteria for permanence such as lignin-free, pH neutral, alkaline-buffered, stable in light, etc. A quality level for art materials, such as paper, that has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH, resulting in high-level aging properties. A non-technical term used to denote material that will last over long periods (several decades) with minimal deterioration because of its chemical stability and physical durability.
Materials, at the time of manufacturing, have had their acidic content considered safe for preserving.