I bet you have black and white photographs that have lasted a very long time, possibly even more than 100 years, and are in relatively good shape.  Conversely, our color photographs always fade or change colors.  Sometimes they have yellowish-green cast, sometimes they turn bluish-red.  Unlike black and white photos, the color photographs will always show signs of color deterioration over time, and we can’t prevent it from happening.

Experts tell us that black and white photographs are processed with metallic silver as the image former and it is a permanent element as long as nothing corrupts the silver.

However, the color in color photographs is formed by dyes.  We all know that dyes are not stable and do change color or fade.  Just look at your living room furniture or drapes that are constantly hit by sunlight.  The fading happens gradually over time.  If you have arm-chair protectors on a chair that sits by a window that gets sunlight and you lift them up you will see a distinct color difference.  The same thing happens to our photographs, especially if they are displayed in a room that gets a lot of light.

Heat will just compound the fading problem, even at normal temperatures found in our homes, such as 70-75 degrees (F).  Even if the room were this temperature and dark, fading would occur.  And who wants to live in a cold house just to protect our photographs!!