It's normal to want to keep the pictures for as long as possible.These photos are printed on thermal paper, which eventually fades.If you want to make sure you always have photos of an ultrasound, try taking a picture of it using your phone or camera.Keeping the originals in an acid-free photo album can help preserve them.
Step 1: Don't touch the edges of the photos.
If you have oils on your hands, they will oxidize faster than if they were not.Pick up your pictures by their edges.If you're showing the pictures to others, make sure you put a protective plastic sleeve on them.
Step 2: Don't allow the photos to touch one another.
If your photos are in a stack on top of each other or in the photo album where they touch one another once the album is closed, re-position them so that they are no longer touching to prevent damage.If you put the photos in an album, make sure there is a blank page next to the photo.Regular paper should be placed between the photos to help preserve them.
Step 3: The photos should be kept in the dark.
Light will cause the pictures to fade.Store them in a drawer or a clean box to prevent this.Photo boxes can be found at craft stores, big box stores and online.Make sure the photos are protected if you're storing them in a drawer or closet.Either put paper on top of the photo or wrap it in tissue paper.
Step 4: Use a heatless laminate to protect the photos.
The heat will ruin your photos if they are printed on thermal paper.A pack of self-laminating pages can be purchased from an office store, big-box store or online.These will not ruin the photos.All you have to do is peel off the backing and position your picture between the sheets to use the self-adhesive laminating sheets.Make sure you press out the air bubbles slowly.When flattening the sheets, start at a corner of the photo.Once your photo is laminated, use scissors to cut it out.
Step 5: The frames should be placed to prevent air and oils from touching them.
Air particles and oils from your fingers will cause the photos to degrade faster than if they were not exposed to light.The back of the picture frame is fastened to help preserve the photos.You can buy picture frames for photos on the internet.The frames don't protect the pictures any differently from other frames, but they are designed to be the same size and have special wording on them.
Step 6: If you want the photos in a book, put them in an acid-free photo album.
The high-quality paper helps protect the pictures and you can decorate the pages you want.It's important to make sure your book is acid-free.Lignin is a compound found in wood, and the same thing happens with plastic, which breaks down and releases acids.To prevent the pictures from being damaged, use photo corner squares to keep them in place.
Step 7: The scans can be used to create digital replicas of the photo.
Scan your photos onto your computer to make sure they don't disappear.Before you start your scanning program, make sure your computer and printer are connected.If you don't have a scanning device at home, you can go to an office supply store or a shipping store and the employees will help you.The photo should be put down on the printer.
Step 8: You can save the scanned copies to a portable device.
You can save the photos to your computer if you are scanning at home.Make sure you bring a flash drive with you if you scanned the photos somewhere else.You can email the scanned photos to someone else.
Step 9: You can take a picture using your phone.
Attach the edges of the picture to the screen with your phone and make sure the lens is in focus.You will get even better results if you use a more professional camera.If you want your picture to come out clearly, you may need to hang it against a window or in the light.There are several apps for your phone that can be used as a scanning device.
Step 10: If you have a digital version of the photo, you can order extra copies.
Whether you took a picture using your phone or a camera, created a Scan, or both, you can now print out paper copies.You can use your home printer to make as many copies as you want, or you can order copies to be printed on photo paper.Drug stores and big box stores often allow you to order prints of photos and pick them up once they are finished.You can use the original photo to make a photo book, picture frame, or send it to friends and family.
Step 11: You can design a book of your photos.
Several photo companies can turn your photos into a book.You can design the pages you like by visiting their website and uploading your photos.They will ship the book to your house once it is finished.These companies include Shutterfly, Mixbook, and Snapfish.Drug stores and big box stores can create photo books for you.