Question: In your article, Top Ten Ways to Preserve and Protect Your Photos, you wrote:
When labeling photos [snip…] And if you are like me (overly organized and neat), you can print onto acid-free labels and adhere them to the photo.
I’m have been scanning and cataloging (via IMatch) all our old photos. I would like to print out small labels to place on the back of the original photos, identifying the filename. Are you still content with using acid-free labels, or do you have concerns that the adhesive or label affects the photo? Can you tell me what brand you’re using? Are they acid-free, or acidfree AND chlorine-free AND lignin-free????
Answer: Although I have used labels in the past ( and my mom still uses them), I actually do all of my photo printing now from a developer who actually prints the filename on the back of all my photos while developing. Because of this, I have now learned to name my photos using the people, place, and date (i.e. “Jeff & Robin Mitchell 9/1/2007 Christmas in Lehi” etc.). Costco.com does this and my local developer does this as well.
But if you do want to use labels (especially for those photos that have already been printed), I use the acid-free, archival safe labels from Avery (I can’t seem to find out if they are chlorine free, but if they state they are archival safe, I feel safe using them.).