Make & keep
Display a copy of your favourite photo strip
Let the room enjoy the portrait while the original rests elsewhere.
A strip on a wall becomes part of everyday life: passed on the way to breakfast, noticed by visitors, kept near a desk. A reproduction can provide that pleasure without asking the unique original to remain permanently on display.
The preservation advice
The National Archives recommends displaying copies and keeping originals in a box as the best protection from light. NEDCC also favours occasional or rotating display over permanent exposure for photographs.
Evidence: Preservation guidance · Preservation guidance
Make a faithful display version
Copy the full strip, including its border, and use a separate file for print adjustments. Check the reproduction beside the original in neutral light. If you enlarge it, write the new size into the file name or record so the copy is not mistaken for the physical dimensions of the original.
Keep the original easy to find
Put the catalogue reference on the back of the reproduction’s mount, rather than marking the original to match the frame. Retain the original’s enclosure and any associated notes. If the display copy fades or gets damaged, you can replace it without turning the most meaningful object into the test piece.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- US National Archives — displaying family archivesPreservation guidance
- NEDCC — care of photographsPreservation guidance