Dictionary of Terms
The Technology Centre produces this guide to provide furtherinformation on the meaning of various phrases. In many cases, these phrases do not have standard definitions. The definitions in this Dictionary apply only to Creative Memories. Other manufacturers may have different definitions.
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Accelerated Aging: A test that uses elevated temperature and humidity to predict long-term product performance; typically, products age 10-20 years in six months to one year real time.
Acid Burn: A brown line or brown colouration on paper that is a result of prolonged contact with acidic cardboard or other materials.
Acid-Free: Acid damages photographs, memorabilia, and artwork. Acid-free materials have a lab-tested pH between 7.0 and 9.5.
Archival: An ambiguous term used to describe everything from backup copies of computer files to documents that will remain accessible for an indefinite time in the future. The term is no longer used in International Standards for imaging materials or at Creative Memories.
ASTM D-4236: The international standard that requires labels for art materials to list components that may produce chronic, adverse health effects.
ASTM International: Worldwide organisation that develops technical standards for materials, products, systems and services.
Bleed-Resistant: Material that resists colour transfer when placed in water or in a humid environment.
Buffered: Buffered materials resist the effects of acids in the environment or in memorabilia. Photo-safe buffered material has an alkaline reserve of at least two percent calcium carbonate.
Dark Storage: Storage in the absence of light, such as inside a closed Creative Memories album; recommended for photographs and memorabilia.
Digital Print: Print produced from a digital file, typically using an inkjet, dye sublimation or electrophotographic printer.
Dye Sublimation: Printing process that uses heat to transfer colourant from a donor ribbon to the final print. Snapshot-sized photo printers and photo kiosks frequently use this process; also known as dye diffusion thermal transfer.
Dye-Series Paper: Paper that is acid-free, lignin-free and buffered, and passes the Photographic Activity Test.
Fade-Resistant: Material that resists colour change when exposed to light.
Fiber-Based Print: Photograph produced directly on a non-resin coated paper, typically seen in heritage or fine art photography. See Resin-Coated (RC) Print.
Foil: Metallic sheeting applied to the surface of some Creative Memories albums, paper and stickers to produce a shiny appearance.
Inkjet: Printing process that deposits very small droplets of ink onto paper producing a full-colour print from four inks and a photo-quality print from six or more inks; dominant printing technology for the home market.
International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO): Worldwide organisation that develops standards for various industries including the photographic industry.
ISO 11540: The international standard intended to prevent children from choking on caps for writing instruments.
ISO 18902: The international standard stating that materials used for photographic albums, framing, and storage materials must be acid-free, lignin-free, buffered and bleed-resistant to ensure that photographs do not prematurely deteriorate.
ISO 18932: The International standard that requires that adhesives used for mounting photographs be both photo-safe and permanent.
Laser-Cut: Method of using a high-power carbon dioxide laser to precisely cut intricately detailed stickers, allowing them to be easily removed from the backing sheet, and the intricate details to appear on the album page.
Lignin-Free: Lignin is a naturally occurring component of wood pulp that causes paper to turn brown and become brittle with age. Photo-safe lignin-free paper products have the lignin content reduced to less than one percent.
Magnetic Album: An album with pages that have pre-applied adhesive and a hinged plastic sheet that covers the page. The pages in these albums tend to be acidic and will likely damage photographs over time.
Memorabilia: Any non-photographic material that goes into your scrapbook keepsake album, including items of personal significance such as wedding invitations, newspaper articles, and ticket stubs.
Milled: Process of adding colourant to paper in the pulping stages, rather than printing colour onto the surface of the paper after it is manufactured.
Permanent: Adhesive intended to irreversibly mount photographs and other materials so that they become an integral part of the album; ink that is fade-resistant, water-resistant and resistant to chemical solvents.
pH: A numerical measurement of acidity and alkalinity, zero being very acidic, 14 being very alkaline, and seven being neutral.
Photographic Activity Test (PAT): Test that identifies materials likely to react adversely with photographs. One of the routine tests that is part of Creative Memories’ product development process.
Photographic Print: Print produced on traditional light-sensitive photographic paper; may be produced from an exposed negative or from a digital file.
Photo-Safe: Material that is acid-free, lignin-free, buffered, bleed-resistant and meets other International Organisation for Standardisation 18902 requirements so that it will not accelerate the natural aging of photographs. Photo-safe is frequently misused to describe materials that only meet acid-free or Photographic Activity Test requirements.
Polyethylene: Photo-safe plastic in Creative Memories album straps.
Polypropylene: Photo-safe plastic in Creative Memories Page Protectors, Portrait Sleeves, Photo Mounting Sleeves, Photo Mounting Corners and coverholders.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A common plastic that is not photo safe and should not be used in photo albums. PVC contains plasticisers (or softening agents) that can migrate out of the vinyl and cause photographs to fade or become discoloured. PVC is characterised by a strong "plastic" smell.
Preservation Calculator: Tool to show the influence of temperature and relative humidity on the longevity of photographs.
Recommended Storage Conditions: Temperature and relative humidity that minimise the natural aging of photographs and memorabilia; 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) or less with 20 to 50 percent relative humidity; see also Dark Storage.
Resin-Coated (RC) Print: Photograph on polyethylene-coated paper. See Fiber-Based Print.
Shelf Life: The length of time that a product will function at an acceptable level. All stickers, adhesives and pens have a minimum shelf life of one year after shipping from Creative Memories; however, these products will generally last longer if properly stored.
Stain Resistant: Material that is generally resistant to stains such as peanut butter, coffee and cola. Stain resistant materials can be cleaned with relative ease.
Technology Centre: In-house organisation that verifies long-term performance and photo-safety of Creative Memories products.
