Have you ever heard someone talk about archival paper?

Have you ever heard someone talk about archival paper?

When I was a beginning photographer, I had no idea what that meant—or whether it even mattered. It does. A lot. You’ve probably seen old family photographs that have faded, yellowed, or done both at once. That change isn’t just time passing; it’s often the paper itself.

Most everyday photo printing, even from a good camera, isn’t done on archival paper. The materials simply aren’t made to last. Archival paper, on the other hand, is designed for longevity. It’s typically acid-free and made from natural fibers like cotton, which helps preserve tonal range, detail, and color over decades rather than years.

Archival paper does cost more, but it’s one of those quiet choices that reveals its value slowly. A photograph printed on archival paper should look much the same years from now as it did the day it was printed—or purchased as a fine art print from a professional photographer.

When choosing where and how your photographs are printed, it’s worth asking what paper is being used, or taking a closer look at the materials your lab offers. I print all of my work on archival paper and store it in acid-free boxes, so the paper itself never becomes the reason an image changes.

Some things are meant to endure. The paper is part of the photograph.

For more information, please visit the Printful Glossary.