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.

If you're putting your photos into a photo album, follow these rules:

-- Avoid albums that contain lignin. Lignin is a chemical compound found in wood that breaks down and becomes acidic. As the lignin ages, it can turn your album and the photos in it yellow and brittle. Many products don't say whether they are lignin free. However, if the album label says that the paper is 100 percent cotton or is made out of cotton rag, then it's safe for your photos.

-- You might see something on the album that says the paper is "acid-free", but sometimes even paper labeled "acid-free" can contain chemicals harmful to photos. Acid-free papers may still contain lignin. Acid-free simply means that at the time the album is made the paper is not acidic.

-- If you're buying a photo album with plastic photo pockets, keep in mind that you don't want the plastic to contain polyvinylchloride, or PVC. Over time, chemicals from the plastic will degrade the photos. What you should look for are albums made with polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene. Try to find a label on the album that says what it's made from. Unfortunately, the labels don't always say.

Another thing to avoid is magnetic photo albums where the pages stick to keep the photos in place. The adhesives on the pages can damage and discolor photos over time.

If you have older photos, how you preserve them depends on what you want to do with the photos. Keep these steps in mind:

-- If you want to display the photos, it's highly recommended that you scan the original and print a reproduction for display.

-- When displaying an original photo, make sure that it's matted and framed using acid-free, lignin-free products.

-- Also, make sure that the photo is not touching any glass because the photo could stick to the glass if the humidity gets too high.

-- It's best to frame a photo with glass that filters out ultra violet light. UV rays can fade a photo.

-- Try to keep the photo out of direct sunlight or even out of high-intensity room lights. Both kinds of light damage photos.

Vonnda Shaw is a conservation technician at the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, a division of the Nebraska State Historical Society. She and her husband Tom, a Dad Team member, have a 3-year-old son. For more information on how to preserve your photos and other family treasures click here or here.