Fotoaldring

Fotoaldring is the term used to describe the gradual deterioration of photographic materials and imagery over time. It encompasses physical changes in traditional prints and transparencies and, in some contexts, the aging of digital photo files. The concept is primarily used in archival and conservation work to assess risk and guide preservation strategies.

In physical photographs, aging arises from chemical instability in materials such as paper, coatings, pigments, and dyes, as well as from environmental factors like light exposure, heat, humidity, and pollutants. Common manifestations include fading of tones, yellowing or embrittlement of the supporting medium, staining, surface cracking, and, in black-and-white images, silver image deterioration. Color photographs may show color shifts and dye fading. The rate and pattern of aging depend on the original processing method, storage conditions, and handling history.

Preservation efforts focus on slowing deterioration and maintaining legibility. This includes controlling environmental conditions (stable, cool, dry storage with low light), using acid-free and archival-quality enclosures, minimizing handling, and conducting regular condition assessments. Digitization with metadata capture is often employed to create access copies, reduce handling of originals, and aid long-term access and resilience.

In digital contexts, fotoaldring can also describe risks to digital photo collections, such as format obsolescence, data degradation, and hardware incompatibility. Mitigation strategies emphasize data redundancy, regular format migration, integrity checks, and robust backup practices to ensure continued accessibility over time.