How to keep those memories safe

Editor's note: Vonnda Shaw, a conservation technician at the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, wrote today's Mom Daily.

So you've finally downloaded or printed off those holiday photos and you're wondering what to do with them. Here are some tips for keeping your precious family photos looking great for years to come.

If you print out your digital photos at home, here are a few things to keep in mind:

-- Avoid using dye-based inks. The printer ink should be pigment-based. Those kinds of inks don't fade as easily, whereas dye-based inks are more susceptible to light damage.

-- Use the paper and ink that are designed for your printer. The manufacturers have tested their inks and papers and have made them so that they retain images longer. Most printer makers sell various kinds of printer paper, such as standard and premium grade papers.

To find out more about various printers, inks and papers, go here. This group, based in Grinnell, Iowa, performs aging tests on printer models to find out how long the images last under certain conditions.

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