How do I prevent foxing on a print?

Three things matter most. Keep relative humidity stable, ideally between 40-55% (avoid bathrooms, kitchens, unheated spare rooms). Don't leave the print in direct contact with cardboard, untreated wood, or non-archival mounts — they transfer acidity into the paper over time. And store flat in archival sleeves, not rolled in tubes for more than a few weeks.

Can foxing be removed from an old print?

Sometimes, by a professional paper conservator who can bleach or chemically reduce the marks. There's always some risk to the surrounding paper and inks, and the result depends on how deep the foxing has penetrated. Better to prevent than to treat — and never attempt removal at home with household bleach.

Will modern archival prints develop foxing?

Very unlikely on a properly made archival print kept in normal indoor conditions. Modern paper (cotton rag or α-cellulose like Hahnemühle) is manufactured with low metal content, controlled pH, and acid-free buffering — three of the conditions that drove foxing on older paper. Combined with UV-filtering glazing and stable humidity, a contemporary archival print should remain foxing-free indefinitely.

Glossary

Foxing

Definition

Small reddish-brown spots that appear on aged paper, caused by humidity, oxidation, and trace iron impurities. Common on older prints; preventable on modern archival paper.

Foxing is the name for the small reddish-brown or yellowish spots that develop on older paper over time. The spots cluster across the surface, sometimes in patches, sometimes fairly evenly. Each one is a few millimetres across; collectively they give an old print a freckled, blotchy appearance.

The exact cause is debated. The most likely combination of factors is humidity, oxidation, and traces of iron or other metals in the paper itself. Mould may also play a part — some foxing spots show fungal traces under a microscope, others don’t. What’s not in doubt is that foxing develops over years or decades of exposure to fluctuating humidity, particularly when prints are stored in damp environments or unframed in cellulose-rich folders.

Modern archival paper is much less prone to foxing because it’s manufactured with deliberately low metal content, controlled pH, and acid-free buffering. A print on 100% cotton rag or α-cellulose paper, framed with UV-filtering glass and kept in a stable environment, should remain foxing-free indefinitely.

Three things make foxing more likely. High humidity — anywhere above about 65% relative humidity for prolonged periods, which is why bathrooms, kitchens and unheated rooms are the usual culprits. Direct contact with cardboard, wood, or non-archival mounts, which transfer acidity to the paper over time. And long-term storage rolled in tubes without humidity control; better to store flat in archival sleeves.

If you spot foxing on an older print, a professional paper conservator can sometimes bleach or chemically reduce the marks, though there’s always a risk to the surrounding paper and inks. Better to prevent than to treat. Our prints ship on Hahnemühle 310gsm and frame with UV-filtering acrylic, and with sensible placement they’re as foxing-resistant as the materials allow.

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Frequently asked

Common questions about foxing

How do I prevent foxing on a print?: Three things matter most. Keep relative humidity stable, ideally between 40-55% (avoid bathrooms, kitchens, unheated spare rooms). Don't leave the print in direct contact with cardboard, untreated wood, or non-archival mounts — they transfer acidity into the paper over time. And store flat in archival sleeves, not rolled in tubes for more than a few weeks.
Can foxing be removed from an old print?: Sometimes, by a professional paper conservator who can bleach or chemically reduce the marks. There's always some risk to the surrounding paper and inks, and the result depends on how deep the foxing has penetrated. Better to prevent than to treat — and never attempt removal at home with household bleach.
Will modern archival prints develop foxing?: Very unlikely on a properly made archival print kept in normal indoor conditions. Modern paper (cotton rag or α-cellulose like Hahnemühle) is manufactured with low metal content, controlled pH, and acid-free buffering — three of the conditions that drove foxing on older paper. Combined with UV-filtering glazing and stable humidity, a contemporary archival print should remain foxing-free indefinitely.

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