AFTERCARE
Framing

An archival frame consists of 7 basic parts: the frame, the glass (or glazing), the window mat, the back mat board, the backing board, the moisture barrier and the dust cover.

Polaroids should never be framed in wood, as wood is acidic and will damage the contents of the frame including the film. Framing Polaroids in metal frames is the only archival option. Aluminum frames, which are lightweight and come in a variety of styles, are a great choice.

As was previously mentioned in the Fading section, glass or Plexiglas that contains UV filtration is the safest long-term protection against fading but steps have to be taken to ensure that the transparency never comes into contact with the glass; this is where the window mat comes in.

Window mats, as well as all boards in the frame (the back mat board and the backing board) should be made of cotton rag or chemically purified wood pulp. These boards should test negative for lignin and it should be pH neutral (pH 7) or slightly alkaline (pH 8.5). A simple way to choose both these boards is to look for board that has passed the Photographic Activity Test, which are marked as PAT Certified. Window mats should be a minimum of 4-ply and the other boards between 6-8 ply, as they provide greater support and protection against the spring clips, which are commonly used by framers.

A moisture barrier will protect the Polaroid from general humidity but also from any added moisture from things such as being hung on an outside wall, for instance. DuPont's Melinex® 516 is a material approved as a moisture barrier by the Library of Congress for archival storage and isn't difficult to find on the Internet. A moisture barrier will not protect against seasonal changes or long-periods of high humidity, but it will protect against short-term climate changes.

And finally, the dust cover is simply archival paper that is attached to the back of a frame with double-sided tape or is held in place by the spring clips of the frame. This paper acts as the first defense in keeping your Polaroid dust-free.

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