I hope you can give me some advice on handling a problem that has
become a real nuisance.  I have a number of pioneer photo albums in
which I have photos of various trips and family photos.  The first of
these albums I put together was following a trip in 1999.  I have a
large album from this trip and it is still just like it was when I
finished it.  No problem with moisture or condensation.  Subsequently
in 2000 I took another trip and made another album, though it was 2
years before I got around to putting it together.  All the pages of
this album have moisture collecting on the photos.  I thought it was
because I did this in the summer and the air conditioner might be
putting moisture in the air and creating too much humidity.  I had a
collection of other small trip photos and I waited until December to
put these in an album when the air conditioner had not been on for a
month or more.  I am having the same problem.  I looked at the album a
week or so after I fnished with it and there is moisture beading on
the photos on almost every page.  I store these albums in a closet
that is not near the bathroom or kitchen or near any moisture source. 
On some pages of the albums I have pictures that I have cut from
guidebooks rather than photos and these pages show no collection of
moisture.  I have contacted the Pioneer company and they say they have
never before heard of anyone having this problem, and the environment
must have very high humidity.  Not so. I have tried removing the pages
and carefully wiping the photos using the cool setting on ahar dryer
to dry the plastic page protectors., but when I check in a few days of
a week, the  condition has reoccured. What can I do to remedy this
situation and prevent it in future albums?  Thanks so much

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 14 Jan 2003 19:31 PST

Dear char34-ga:

My wife is an avid scrapbooker and travels all over the US to expos,
shows and conventions. She is well versed in problem issues concerning
the storage and display of photos. We can provide you with a number of
possible solutions but I need to ask a few questions first:

Is your album the kind that has a plastic sheet the peels back
allowing you to place the photos on a "page" and then roll the film
back over the photos? (attaches by static cling)

Is your album the kinds that uses any kind of adhesive to set the
photos?

Is your album the kind that utilizes plastic "pockets" in which you
can place the photos?

What kind of film were you using on the second album and was it the
exact same kind/brand as the film in your earlier album?

Are your photos reproductions, such as those made by a home-type photo
printer and PC, if not, where were they developed?

Let me know and I can post some solutions for you.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Question by char34-ga on 15 Jan 2003 09:38 PST

Thank you for considering my problem.  The albums referred to are not
the type with peel back sheets.  The albums do not use any kind of
adhesive.  I attach the pictures with double stick tape.  The albums I
referred to are 12 x 12 pages with heavy paper (acid,lignin and PVC
free) with clear polypropylene page protectors that the entire 12 x 12
sheet of paper slips into like an envelope. As to the film, I don't
remember.  I usually use kodak or fuji film at 100 or 200 speed.  None
of my photos are reproductions.   Most of my photos were developed at
Longs Drugs or Raleys Market. Some of the photos in all albums were
taken by my husband, he uses a monolta 35mm camera, I use an Canon
Elph advanced photo system (APS) camera.

Dear char34-ga;

Thank you for answering my questions and for allowing me an
opportunity to respond to your interesting question.

ENVIRONMENT:
A little background on what can cause moisture in photo albums and
scrapbooks:

When humidity reaches a certain percentage, usually around 65%, mold
and fungus growth can begin. Hand oils can nurture fungus spores and,
in conjunction with humidity, will cause molds to grow. Mold and fungi
both need air and also generate a certain about of carbon dioxide
which can rapidly produce beads of moisture on the inside of a plastic
container or sleeve. Rapid changes in humidity can also be to blame.
The paper products in an album contain thousands of fibers that act
like a sponge drawing in moisture during peak periods of humidity
(suggesting that you may never actually see the beads of water until
it is too late) that expands the fibers. When humidity quickly
decreases, this is like squeezing the water out of a sponge and can
produce beading as the paper dries and the fibers shrink. A relative
humidity of around 40 - 50% with a temperature of around 65-70 degrees
F is ideal for most albums. Rarely do you find these optimum
conditions in basements or attics.

LOCATION:
You should take to care to avoid storing a photo album near exterior
walls, near bathroom or areas near heat sources like a hot water tank
or where hot water pipes run in the wall or beneath the flooring. The
area should be clean and free of insects and rodents as their
byproducts, waste or decaying bodies can often produce localized heat
as they decompose. The best place to store your albums and photographs
is in a windowless closet in special storage containers.

CONTAINERS:
Plastic sleeves allow viewing of the image through the enclosure while
reducing damage from handling. Plastic sleeves also effectively
enclose the photos, protecting them from moisture and sulfides in the
air. Unfortunately, under certain conditions plastic enclosures can
trap undetected moisture. Be sure to use archival quality plastic
enclosures made of polyester, Mylar, polypropylene, tiacetate or
polyethylene. All are chemically stable and have a neutral pH. Mylar
is the best since it is inert, chemically stable and crystal clear. It
contains no plasticizers and will not become brittle or yellow. Avoid
enclosures made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is NOT chemically
stable, and its plasticizers will cause deterioration over a period of
time. Consider buying moisture-proof albums like those at offered on
eBuyPhotos.com.

ENCLOSURES:
To limit the possibility of moisture and extend the life of your
precious albums, you should always store your albums in boxes and
never in plastic bags or on left exposed on shelves. Your storage box
should be acid free with an 8.5 pH where possible and, if you want to
be really conscientious, make sure it has a 3% calcium carbonate
buffer added. In addition - AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - all materials
should be absolutely free of ground wood and lignin when possible. The
storage container should be designed to provide physical support and
stability while protecting your materials from adverse chemical
reactions. Don’t over stuff your boxes either. A great idea is to find
storage boxes with slanted backs so you can easily view the contents
without squeezing the albums together. The costs associated with these
boxes may be a bit high in some places but it will definitely preserve
your albums and perhaps extend their lives by a significant number of
years.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
There are a number of preventative measures you take to prevent
moisture from occurring in your albums. You can purchase desiccant
materials that will absorb some moisture and protect your photos. Gel
packs are nice to have in your storage boxes but now Meade actually
makes a desiccant paper that you can place inside the album as well.
Archival tissue placed between pages will also help to some degree as
will the use of conservator’s gloves when handling the albums.

RECOMMENDED TYPES OF MATERIALS
2 Gram Silica Gel Desiccant Paks - Pkg. of 50 for $14.95
Pure Cotton Conservator's Gloves ---pair---$2.95
Archival Tissue - NONBUFFERED ---$4.95 pkg. 10
Acid & Lignin Free Tissue- BUFFERED ---$5.95 pkg. 10
Microwave/Oven Rechargeable Desiccant---$5.95
http://preservesmart.com/products.htm#SilicaGelDesiccants

Desiccant Paper by Meade
http://www.meadspecialty.com/mspd/specialtypaperhome.nsf/Web+Pages/5DA02357F5C2C418852569BB0057B929?OpenDocument

START OVER
At the very least you can start your albums over. In spite of all this
advice I have given you, it is possible that the photo paper or the
albums you are currently using may have been contaminated at some
point with water, mold or both (perhaps in shipping or manufacturing).
I suggest you take your photos and have copies made. Tell the
developer NOT to place the old ones in the same package as the new
ones, and discard the old ones once your copies have been made.
Discard your old album and place your new photos in a new, dry,
moisture-proof album and begin storing them in your new boxes in a
suitable place.

I hope you find that that my research exceeds your expectations. If
you have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga



INFORMATION SOURCES

EBUYPHOTO.COM
http://www.ebuyphoto.com/albums.html

THE PRESERVATION STATION
http://preservesmart.com/



SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

Desiccant paper

Desiccant gel pack

Moisture barrier albums

Storage photo albums

---

Request for Answer Clarification by char34-ga on 18 Jan 2003 00:20 PST

Thank you very much for all the info you provided.  I am working with
the gel packs and they are helping to clean things up.  I looked up
the sites you referred to and on the Mead paper site, it appears that
they provide materials for industrial use only.  I ordered a catalog
and am awaiting it's arrival.  Can you enlighten me about whether or
not they have a product suitable for photo albums available, or
someone else who does.  Also the storage boxes your refer to, do you
know  where they might be available.  Once again thanks

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 18 Jan 2003 08:45 PST

Here's one source for Mylar and Melinex 516 sleeves:
GAYLORD
http://www.gaylordmart.com/search.asp?sid=343A3422FEF247759D2E9E59411089
(I should also have mentioned that Mylar is very hard to find these
days but "Melinex 516" is a Mylar equivilent and you can safely use
those containers as well)

BCE MYLAR
http://www.bcemylar.com/acidfreeboxes.html
(These acid free corrigated boxes are ideal, especially if your albums
are placed in Melinex bags or sleeves)

LUMIEIRE PHOTO
http://www.lumierephoto.com/storage.html
(A good site for a number of archival supplies - boxes, sleeves, etc)

ARCHIVAL METHODS
http://www.archivalmethods.com/product.cfm?productid=67
(These chemically safe boxes are fantastic for album storage)

You will find many more sources using this successful search strategy:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Melinex++storage+boxes

Here's a place where you can not only purchase Desiccant paper you can
ask for free samples and literature:
MULTISORB
http://www.multisorb.com/contact/samples.html

The sheets that I mentioned are relatively new. Here is a list of
companies that produce desiccants and who may have what you are
needing (this site primarily targets pharmaceutical desiccant needs,
but they are all the same and perform basically the same function):

http://www.devicelink.com/company/pmp/category/Medical_Packaging_Supplies/Desiccants.html

I hope this gives you everything you need and much more.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 19 Jan 2003 08:04 PST

Dear char34-ga; 

Thank you very much for your generosity.

A word of note about one of the comments at the bottom of this page
which suggests that you should vacuum package your albums and place
them in the freezer; THAT IS A VERY, VERY BAD IDEA and I do not
recommend it. As I mentioned earlier, sudden and dramatic changes in
temperature can actually cause the problems you are already
experienceing. While the freezer may work for some artifacts and
antiquities, in your case where condensation is already present,
freezing them could be tanatamount to throwing them in the fire.
Besides, it would make it very difficult for you (or anyone else) to
look at and enjoy your albums without having to repackage them
refreeze them each time.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

The answer is very comprehensive and I believe will solve my problem. 
I appreciate that tutuzdad-ga took my problem seriously  and I am
impressed with the thoroughness of the researach done on my behalf.

1) Could there be more condensation due to something in that closet,
like a hot water tank or something?
2) In packaging you often find those little packets of silica gel, to
keep the atmosphere in the package dry - you could try those?

If you really feel that the photo album is worth saving, why not
make an aitight enclosure with a pressure gauge and then vacuum
the entire enclosure. Adding a bit of dessicant crystals
in a breathable bag would also help.  There are other methods
as well such as separating the photo's and vacuum sealing using
plastic bags(the photo's being covered by a black paper to avoid
light/uv exposure) and then putting it in the freezer.  Apart from
avoiding moisture condensation, it could also help in preserving
the color quality of photo's by reducing the rate of any chemical
reaction that could occur.  I've already tested this method and
it seems to work fine.