Instant photos, also known as instant film or Polaroid photos, have become iconic in photography. Their instantly developed and self-contained format makes them ideal for capturing spontaneity and allowing you to quickly obtain a physical print to share or display. But how long do instant photos last before fading or degrading? Here we’ll explore the lifespan and longevity of different types of instant film to help you get the most out of your instant camera.
Overview of Instant Film Types
There are a few main types of instant film still in production today:
- Fujifilm Instax Mini: Available in color and monochrome, these small instant photos have an image area of 62 x 46mm. The most popular instant film today, available for Instax Mini cameras.
- Fujifilm Instax Square: A square 1:1 aspect ratio format, Instax Square has an image area of 62 x 62mm. For use in Fujifilm’s Instax Square cameras.
- Fujifilm Instax Wide: With an image area of 99 x 62mm, Instax Wide offers a larger instant photo more reminiscent of vintage Polaroid prints. For Fujifilm’s Instax Wide cameras.
- Polaroid Originals: Produced for vintage Polaroid cameras like the SX-70, 600, Spectra, and 8×10, Polaroid Originals instant film aims to recreate the iconic Polaroid look and format. Image area varies by film type.
There are some key differences between these film types when it comes to image longevity. Let’s look at how long you can expect instant photos from each of these formats to last with proper storage and display.
Fujifilm Instax Mini
The Instax Mini format is by far the most popular instant film today. Adopted by Fujifilm’s wildly successful Instax Mini cameras like the Instax Mini 9 and Mini 90 Neo Classic, Instax Mini offers vivid color instant prints in a very portable and affordable package.
According to Fujifilm, Instax Mini color photos last up to 50 years before fading when stored in a photo album. Kept out of direct sunlight in a temperature of 20°C (68°F) or lower, Instax Mini prints should remain vibrant for up to five decades before image degradation becomes noticeable.
Fujifilm also makes an Instax Mini monochrome black and white film. Monochrome photos are inherently more archival than color images, as the pigments used don’t fade over time like color dyes can. As such, black and white Instax Mini film is said to last up to 100 years with proper storage conditions.
Tips for Preserving Instax Mini Photos
To get the most longevity out of Instax Mini instant photos, keep these tips in mind:
- Avoid direct sun exposure by displaying photos indoors or only putting them in sunlight for short periods of time.
- Use archival-safe albums, frames, and display methods without acidic, magnetic, or adhesive components.
- Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels around 20°C and 40-50% RH.
- Store any photos not on display in an album or print sleeve in a closed box.
- Handle prints gently and avoid touching the emulsion whenever possible.
Fujifilm Instax Square
The Instax Square format was introduced in 2017 and produces 1:1 square instant photos. With an image area of 2.4 x 2.4 inches (62 x 62 mm), Instax Square is excellent for portraits, artistic compositions, and other images suited to the square format.
Instax Square film has the same lifespan claims from Fujifilm as Instax Mini. Kept at 20°C and out of direct sunlight, Instax Square color photos can last up to 50 years before noticeable fading occurs. And similar to Instax Mini, Instax Square black and white photos are said to be archival for up to 100 years if stored properly.
Preserving Instax Square Photos
Follow the same recommendations for storing Instax Mini film to maximize the lifespan of your Instax Square instant prints:
- Keep photos out of direct sun exposure in an album or frame.
- Maintain room temperature around 20°C with 40-50% relative humidity.
- Use archival albums and framing methods without harsh chemicals or materials.
- Gently handle prints and store those not on display in a closed box.
Fujifilm Instax Wide
Fujifilm Instax Wide film offers a larger instant photo closer to the size of vintage Polaroid prints. With an image area of 3.4 x 2.1 inches (99 x 62 mm), Instax Wide is well-suited to landscape shots, group portraits, artistic prints, and other images that benefit from a bigger instant photo.
Instax Wide is said by Fujifilm to retain its image quality for up to 50 years for color film and 100 years for monochrome film when stored properly. So you can expect the same lifespan for Instax Wide prints as Instax Mini and Square.
Storing Instax Wide Photos
To keep your Instax Wide prints looking their best, be sure to:
- Display photos out of direct sunlight.
- Use archival frames and albums.
- Maintain room temperature around 20°C with 40-50% relative humidity.
- Keep unused prints a photo safe box.
- Handle film gently and avoid touching the emulsion.
Polaroid Originals Instant Film
Polaroid Originals produces new instant film packs for vintage Polaroid cameras including SX-70, 600, Spectra, and large format 8×10 cameras. They are designed to recreate the iconic look and characteristics of original Polaroid instant photos.
Due to its goals of mimicking the delicate chemistry of original Polaroid instant film, Polaroid Originals does not provide extensive information about the longevity of its films. However, collectors and long-time users report the new Polaroid Originals film can last decades if properly stored.
SX-70 and 600 type color photos seem to fade sooner than Instax film with noticeable color shifts in 1-5 years, especially if exposed to sunlight. But kept in albums out of direct sun, they can potentially last decades before fading. Monochrome photos and large format prints may last longer, but direct longevity comparisons to Instax are hard to confirm.
Storing Polaroid Originals Prints
To preserve Polaroid Originals instant photos, be sure to:
- Display prints out of direct sunlight.
- Store in archival albums and frames.
- Maintain cool, dry room conditions.
- Keep unused prints a photo safe box.
- Handle film gently and avoid touching the emulsion.
How Does Instant Film Age and Degrade Over Time?
So how do instant photos actually fade and degrade as they age? A few key processes can contribute to the slow deterioration of image quality over decades:
- Dye fading – Instant film uses dye-based colors in layers to create images. These dyes can fade at different rates, causing color balance shifts.
- Emulsion yellowing – The instant film emulsion can slowly yellow over time, especially if exposed to light. This leads to an overall warmer or yellow color cast.
- Chemical degradation – Components of the developer paste layer can break down over decades, hurting image stability.
- Environmental factors – Heat, humidity, and pollutants can accelerate chemical changes and emulsion breakdown.
Storing instant photos properly limits exposure to light, heat, humidity and air pollutants to slow these aging processes. Using archival methods avoids harmful chemicals that can also damage prints over time.
Do Instant Photos Fade Faster Than Regular Prints?
Due to the delicate chemical process used to develop instant film, instant camera prints do tend to fade faster than standard photographic prints made from film negatives or digital files. However, the lifespan of any print depends greatly on how it is stored and displayed.
Traditional analog photographic prints also use dyes similar to instant film to hold color. But they incorporate them in a more stable way as part of the paper developing process. With proper archival storage, high quality photographic prints can remain vibrant for well over 100 years before noticeable fading occurs.
Digitally printed photos using inkjet printers and quality photo paper can last 50 years of more before fading when stored in albums away from light. Even longer with specialized archival printing techniques. But some home inkjet prints may fade in as little as 1-5 years if left exposed to sunlight.
Overall instant film fades faster than traditional photographic prints. But instant photos housed in albums and kept out of direct light should still last decades before any major degradation in color or image stability occurs. Processed and stored properly, even delicate instant film images can persist for many years before their chemistry starts to give out.
Factors That Shorten Instant Film Longevity
Some factors can dramatically shorten the usable lifespan of instant photos. Be sure to avoid the following risks:
- Direct sunlight – Prolonged exposure to UV and visible light accelerates fading.
- High heat – Temperatures above around 30°C can quickly contribute to chemical breakdown.
- High humidity – Humidity levels above 60% RH encourage emulsion issues.
- Air pollution – Gases, ozone, smoke, etc can interact with and degrade instant photo chemistry.
- Improper handling – Touching the emulsion with bare hands can shorten life due to oil, sweat and dirt.
- Inferior storage – Non-archival albums, frames, plastic sleeves, wood, and metal can emit chemicals damaging to prints.
Storing prints in a controlled environment in archival materials are the best ways to maximize instant photo longevity and prevent premature fading.
Signs of Instant Film Aging and Fading
How can you tell if your instant photos are starting to fade or otherwise degrade? Here are some signs to look for over time with older instant prints:
- Colors look washed out or shifted in hue, especially reds/oranges
- Whites take on a yellowish tint
- Darker colors start to fade more noticeably
- Images lack contrast and pop
- Chemical odors develop in stored prints
- Emulsion becomes sticky or gooey
- Spots, streaks or uneven fade patterns appear
Some early color shifting in the first 1-5 years is common with instant film. But major changes in density, contrast, and color balance are signs of excessive fading. Once an instant photo develops these issues, the degradation unfortunately can’t be reversed.
Can You Prevent Fading of Instant Photos?
There’s no way to completely prevent instant film from gradually fading and aging over time. The delicate chemical process inherently limits the lifespan of instant photos’ vivid colors and stable emulsions.
However, proper storage and care makes a huge difference in preserving instant prints for as long as possible. Avoiding light, heat, humidity, pollution, and improper handling enables instant film to last for decades with minimal fading compared to improperly cared for prints.
You can also digitize prints via scanning or photography to create a permanent digital backup less susceptible to fade over time. This allows the longevity of the print itself to be extended significantly.
Tips for Preserving Instant Photos
Here are some key tips for getting the longest life and best image stability out of instant film prints:
- Store photos in archival albums away from light when not displayed.
- Display prints under low light conditions out of direct sun.
- Maintain cool and dry room conditions, ideally around 20°C and 40-50% RH.
- Avoid touching the emulsion or allowing dirt, oils, etc to contact prints.
- Handle photos gently by their edges only.
- Digitize prints via careful scanning or photography to create a digital backup.
- Store unused instant film refrigerated whenever possible to slow chemical change.
- Avoid dramatic temperature or humidity swings – allow photos to adjust slowly.
Following archival best practices allows you to enjoy instant photos for many years before signs of aging appear. Let your instant camera prints last a lifetime by caring for them properly from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Fujifilm Instax photos last?
Fujifilm claims Instax color photos can last 50 years and Instax black and white photos can last up to 100 years before fading when stored properly. Keep photos out of direct sun in albums at room temperature for maximum longevity.
Do Polaroid photos fade faster than Instax?
Yes, Polaroid Originals instant film seems to fade noticeably faster than Instax film, with color shifts sometimes visible in just 1-5 years. Keeping Polaroid photos out of sunlight and properly stored helps maximize their lifespan.
Do instant photos fade worse than regular prints?
Yes, the delicate chemical process of instant film means it fades faster than more archival photographic printing techniques. But proper storage of instant film still allows decades of use before noticeable fading occurs.
How do you prevent fading of instant photos?
Store photos out of direct light in an album at room temperature. Maintain cool, dry conditions and avoid touching the emulsion. Handle gently only by the edges. Digitize photos to back them up. Follow archival methods to maximize instant photo lifespan.
What causes instant photos to fade?
Dye fading, emulsion yellowing, and chemical degradation all gradually damage instant prints over time. Light, heat, humidity, and pollution accelerate these processes resulting in fading and image deterioration.
Conclusion
Instant photos offer a fun, tangible way to capture and share memories. While instant film fades faster than other print processes, proper storage can still extend the lifespan of instant photos to decades without noticeable degradation. Keep your instant prints safe from light, extremes of temperature and humidity, and exposure to pollution and skin oils. Follow archival handling and framing methods for best results. Digitize irreplaceable prints to back them up. With some basic care, instant film lets you enjoy physical photos long into the future that will last a lifetime.