Wide Format Imaging

In the museum conservative area, the other product choice is fine art medias that are 100 percent cotton, pH-neutral and acid free, Hufford says.

"Those medias have to be framed behind glass or Plexiglas, with a space between the glass and the Plexiglas," he adds. "And anything touching that print must be a neutral pH product. The backing board can touch it, the window mat can touch it. And then the way you mount that is with a Japanese hinge mount."

Those pieces that aren't museum conservative quality are generally referred to as gift and trinket class. This includes canvas and fine art media that don't include all the qualities listed above, as well as watercolor and photographic medias, Hufford says.

Even in this class, 60 to 80 years can be realized if properly finished. "The main point is that [long a life] still greatly exceeds the longevity of silver halide products, which is how photographs were made as little as eight to 10 years ago using silver halide sensitive materials, the traditional photographic materials," Hufford adds.

The View from Old Town At Old Town Editions, an 11-year-old company that produces limited edition prints for artists and photographers, and is located in the Old Town area of Alexandria, VA, production manager Patrick McMahon and studio manager Rachel Baron print works and recommend artists use a trusted shop next door for mounting and finishing.