You hear the terms acid free and archival paper quite a bit especially when being used in regards to art and photos. But many get confused with the difference between the two.

Acid free paper is just that, it’s acid free. These papers are made using an alkaline technology so the pulp of the paper is neutral and above 7. The paper is buffered with calcium carbonate to neutralize acid compounds that may come from natural aging or the atmosphere. Papers treated with an alkaline reserve make them last longer.

Acid free paper is used for a number of things that you want to last, like storing photos, displaying artwork, stamp collecting and more. If you use non-acid free paper then you run the risk of damaging your item because it can change the chemical composition of the photo or artwork which affects the color and clarity. Non-acid free paper can also cause chemical burning where it gives off a microscopic fuming of sulfurous acid that causes the paper to become brown, dry and brittle.

Archival paper is acid free and shouldn’t contain any brighteners making it whiter. It also should not contain any ground wood or unbleached pulp but it should meet limits on the metallic content. Although there are no universal standards in what makes paper archival, it should meet these general accepted properties.

Archival-grade paper, also known as museum-grade or museum quality paper is used by many artists. It’s superior in quality and stability when compared to other papers especially in fine art. An archival print is designed to last a 100 years or more.

I hope this helped to clarify the difference between acid free and archival papers. Thanks for stopping by!!

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