Print Care Guide for Photographers: How to Clean and Protect Photo Prints
- TeamBay
- Apr 7
- 8 min read
When you hand a client a finished print, you're not just delivering a photo - you're delivering an experience. The durable impact of a MetalPrint. The texture of a Canvas. The depth of Acrylic. These details matter, and they reflect directly on you as a photographer.
So you've delivered the print... what now? Let's make sure your work stands the test of time through proper care.
Proper photo print care is what ensures that experience lasts for years. This guide covers everything you and your clients need to know about cleaning, handling, and storing Bay Photo print products. Keep it. Share it. Bookmark the sections that matter most to your current workflow.
General Photo Print Care Tips for All Products
These foundational guidelines will help protect any print:
Keep away from direct sunlight. UV exposure can fade color over time, even on UV-coated surfaces.
Store and display in a temperature-stable and moisture-controlled environment. Extreme heat, cold, or humidity swings may cause warping or bubbling.
Handle with clean, dry hands. Oils and moisture from skin can be common culprits for surface damage.
Avoid leaning unframed prints against uneven surfaces for extended periods. This causes cold-forming (the print taking the shape of whatever it's resting against).
MetalPrints
MetalPrints are images dye-infused directly into specially coated aluminum. The coating makes the material non-porous, and the hard surface holds up exceptionally well in high-traffic or high-humidity environments like kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial spaces. MetalPrints are among the lowest-maintenance and most hygienic products in your lineup.
Cleaning
Wipe with a soft cloth or microfiber towel (avoid paper towels).
Use water or a non-ammonia glass cleaner to remove fingerprints or smudges - this surface can handle it.
Non-abrasive household cleaners work fine for tougher marks.
Storage & Handling
Remove all tape carefully before pulling the print from the packaging.
When removing Framed MetalPrints from packaging, lift straight up from two edges (avoiding putting pressure on any one corner).
Handle edges and corners with care - avoid drops or impacts, which can dent the aluminum.
Key Cautions
Although MetalPrints are scratch-resistant, avoid abrasive scrubbing pads that could scratch the coating. Soft cloth only.
The non-porous surface resists bacteria and moisture, making it an ideal option for clients with pets or kids, or in commercial display spaces with high foot traffic.
Acrylic Prints
Acrylic Prints deliver exceptional color depth and a glass-like finish that makes images pop off the wall. The trade-off is that the face is scratch-sensitive and requires gentler cleaning than metal. That said, when stored or displayed appropriately, your Acrylic Print should only need occasional gentle dusting over time.
Cleaning
Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth - microfiber is ideal.
For streaks or dirt, use a small amount of mild soap with water. Rub gently, follow with a clean, damp cloth, then blot dry.
Novus #1 Plastic Clean & Shine is a safe, purpose-made cleaner for acrylic surfaces if you want a product specifically designed for this material.
Never use ammonia or alcohol-based cleaners - these will cloud and damage the Acrylic over time.
Never use paper towels or rough materials on the face.
Storage & Handling
Key Cautions
Acrylic is scratch-sensitive on the face - always use soft materials. One bad wipe with a rough cloth can leave permanent marks.
Canvas Wraps
Canvas Wraps have a warmth and texture that clients love - but they should be considered on the delicate side, needing an extra level of fragility and care. With a textured surface, dust can collect, and the face can dent or warp under pressure.
Cleaning
Dust with a dry microfiber cloth using light, gentle strokes. Avoid applying pressure.
Do not use liquid cleaners directly on the Canvas surface. Moisture can cause the fabric to warp or the ink to lift.
Storage & Handling
When unpackaging your Canvas Wrap, handle from the edges rather than gripping around them to the face.
Store in a cool, dry space - away from humidity and temperature extremes.
Avoid stacking Canvas Prints face-to-face or placing heavy objects on top. Even mild pressure can dent the surface permanently.
When transporting, sandwich the face and back of your Canvas with cardboard or a rigid protective layer, or wrap your Canvas in soft material and protect corners and face from impact.
Key Cautions
Framed Prints
Framed Prints are a complete presentation product - printed image, mat, acrylic, frame and finished backing altogether - and each component has its own care needs. Acrylic in particular requires attention to avoid scratching or introducing moisture.
Cleaning
Clean acrylic with a non-ammonia glass cleaner - but never spray directly onto the acrylic. Spray onto a cloth first, then wipe.
This prevents cleaner from seeping behind the frame and contacting the print.
Wipe the frame with a dry or lightly damp cloth, depending on the material. Keep liquid away from joints and corners.
Storage & Handling
Handle by the sides of the frame, not the glass.
Take extra care with corners when moving - corner damage on frames is usually permanent.
Store upright or laid flat in a padded or protected position. Do not lean frames against each other without padding in between.
Key Cautions
Never spray cleaners directly onto the surface. Liquid can migrate behind the protective acrylic and damage the print underneath.
Keep frame edges dry to avoid swelling or finish damage over time.
Epic Prints
Epic Prints share the appearance of a durable hard surface with MetalPrints, but they are actually mounted Fujiflex Photographic Prints with a protective laminate. This layer adds a level of protection that holds up well when displayed or stored with care.
Cleaning
Wipe gently with a clean, dry soft cloth or microfiber towel.
Water and cleaning solutions should be avoided.
Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive scrubbers, or rough materials.
Storage & Handling
Handle by the edges and avoid placing face-down on rough surfaces.
Store flat or hang - avoid leaning for extended periods to prevent cold-forming.
Key Cautions
Keep dry, avoiding water or cleaning solutions.
Non-abrasive materials only. Scratches on the surface are difficult to reverse.
Photographic Prints
Photographic Prints - whether Lustre, Glossy, or another stunning silver halide surface - are the classic standard of the industry. They're beautiful and versatile, and although Deep Matte Velvet is particularly more forgiving than other surfaces, most benefit from careful handling to stay pristine.
Cleaning
Dust lightly with a dry microfiber cloth only.
For uncoated surfaces, use minimal contact and light pressure.
UV Coating and Laminates add light protective layers, but still avoid water or any liquid cleaners.
Storage & Handling
Store flat whenever possible to prevent curl or edge warping.
Always handle by the edges - fingerprints on the face of an uncoated Photographic Print can be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
Store in archival-quality sleeves or boxes if prints won't be used or framed right away.
Key Cautions
Skin oils are the biggest threat to Photographic Print surfaces. Clean hands, edge handling, and protective storage go a long way.
Avoid stacking loose prints face-to-face without protective interleaving.
Fine Art Prints
Fine Art Prints are possibly the most delicate product in Bay Photo's lineup. They carry no protective coating, which preserves their archival character and surface texture, but makes them highly sensitive to touch, moisture, and contamination.
Cleaning
Minimal contact is the goal. If dusting is necessary, use the lightest possible pass with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
Never use liquid cleaners of any kind on Fine Art Paper surfaces.
When in doubt, try an air duster at a reasonable distance from the print while on a flat, hard surface, so as not to damage the print from pressure.
Storage & Handling
Always handle with clean cotton gloves or by the outermost edges. Skin oils and even minor moisture from fingertips can leave permanent marks.
Store flat in acid-free archival folders or boxes.
Never roll or fold. Never stack without archival interleaving paper between prints.
Key Cautions
These prints are uncoated by design. That's what gives them their gallery-quality feel - but it means there is no protective layer between the image and the environment.
Adding a Frame with UV-protective acrylic or glass could extend longevity and reduce exposure risk.
Wood Prints
Wood Prints bring a natural, organic quality to an image - the grain of the wood becomes part of the composition. The inks are UV-cured for extended longevity and color richness, but without coating, Wood Prints still need a level of care and prevention from moisture on the surface.
Cleaning
Dust with a dry microfiber cloth using light strokes. Avoid pressing into the surface.
Do not use liquid cleaners on Wood Prints. Moisture penetrates natural wood and can cause warping, grain lifting, or finish damage.
Storage & Handling
Store in a dry, temperature-stable environment. Wood is especially sensitive to humidity swings.
Handle by the edges - avoid touching the face of the print directly.
Protect corners during transport or storage. Edges and corners are vulnerable areas.
Key Cautions
Keep away from damp rooms, basements, or anywhere with fluctuating humidity. Consistent moisture exposure will warp the panel over time.
Direct sunlight can fade the print and dry out the wood over time. Display in indirect light when possible.
Albums
Albums are heirloom products - meant to be handed down, not just displayed. Proper storage and handling protect both the cover and the spreads inside.
Cleaning
Clean the cover with a lightly damp cloth, depending on the cover material. Always test a small, inconspicuous area first.
For page spreads, avoid liquid entirely. Use a soft, dry cloth if needed and handle with clean fingertip pressure - not fingernails.
Storage & Handling
Store Albums laid flat in a cool, dry environment. This is the best way to prevent warping or cover deformation over time.
If upright storage is necessary, keep the spine supported. Avoid letting Albums sag or lean at an angle.
When turning pages, use fingertips at the edge - not fingernails, which can scratch or dent spreads.
Avoid overextending spreads when opening. Open to natural resistance; forcing a spread flat can stress the binding.
Key Cautions
Keep away from moisture and humidity. Cover materials - especially leather and linen - can absorb moisture and develop mold or staining over time.
Direct sunlight fades cover materials and page spreads. Store Albums away from windows.
Prints Are Their Most Stunning When Well Cared For
Every product Bay Photo makes is built with longevity in mind. The substrates are sourced for quality, the processes are refined over decades, and the output is something you can stand behind when you hand it to a client.
But the care doesn't stop at the lab. When you share this information with your clients - even in a simple printed card or a short email - you elevate the actual value of what they're holding. You're not just giving them a print. You're giving them something worth caring for.
If you have questions about a specific product, substrate, or use case, TeamBay is always available to help you choose the right format for the right environment.
Ready to invest in your next print order? Explore Bay Photo's full product lineup.
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