Both are also subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity levels. Family photographs and paper should be protected from excessive heat, humidity and pollution. Attics and basements are the worst storage areas because of the extreme heat and humidities normally found in those areas. It is better to store family collections on the upper shelf of a closet in the main part of the house. Photographs and papers should be protected from light.
Color photographs are especially vulnerable to deterioration.
Exhibited items should not be placed in the direct sun or in bright areas, and it is best not to exhibit any particular photograph or document permanently. Important materials that will be kept over the long term should be stored in archival-quality enclosures. For papers, this usually means low-lignin buffered folders and boxes. For photographs, stable plastic enclosures are usually best. Books can be air-dried, or frozen and then dried at a later date.