Sealing Photos

• 1
  Laminator
  
  Use a laminating machine to seal your already developed photographs. Choose a high quality machine that has heated rollers to assure the photos remain protected during the process.
  
  
• 2). Choose an acid-free laminate page. It is important that the adhesive be non-corrosive or it will damage your pictures. Appropriate lamination materials are available at office supply stores, art and photography stores and online. Explain that your are using the lamination for photos.
  
  
• 3). Allow the laminator to fully heat before beginning. Place the photo into a laminate pouch and guide it through the machine. Allow photo to cool before trimming.
  
  

Archiving Photographs

• 1). Seal your photos during development. This process, also known as "archiving," sets the photo in a way that protects colors for up to 100 years.
  
  
• 2
  Your Darkroom
  
  Choose acid-free papers and chemicals during your development process.
  
  
• 3). Develop your pictures, then use an acid stop bath. Fix the prints in a fixer without hardener while agitating. Repeat with fresh fixer.
  
  
• 4). Use a selenium toner and then soak prints in a washing aid, such as Berg Bath, for five minutes while agitating. The photo is sealed during this phase. Finish development by washing prints for thirty minutes.
  
  
• 5). Allow prints to dry completely before displaying or storing in an appropriate album.