Response to Problem of oxidation on B&W prints

I do custom phogographic framing as well as my own photography. I specialize in photography with the framing. For the past 5 years Bainbridge has had available their line of Artcare mat & mounting board, both in 100% rag as well as pulp boards of various types. This has some kind of 'micropore chamber' that actively traps pollutants that will effect the print. In accelerated againg tests in atmospheres containing sulfur dioxides and other normal pollutants, prints matted & mounted with these boards perform much better than the normal 100% rag, acid free, buffered boards. Take a look at the current issue of View Camera magazine where Michael A. Smith has an article on the matboard. Dramatic differences are shown. This is NOT light fading as the testing is done in the dark. It is the result of aerial pollution and (possibly) outgassing from the prints and/or framing as well. At any rate, I have been using this board for 5 years now & wouldn't want anything else, especially after seeing test results from a number of different sources. It may be one option in trying to protect prints as they are shown.

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