Conventional photographic materials typically make use of a gelatin binder in one or more coating layers. Although the final image may be formed by silver particles, organic dyes, or other inorganic components, gelatin has been the material of choice for more than a century to serve as the image binder. Additional gelatin layers are also frequently present. They function, for example, as anti-curl layers or overcoat layers which improve abrasion resistance and/or alter surface texture. The gelatin layers are adhered to a common layer, and substrates made of acetate, polyester, glass, paper, or polyethylene resin coated paper have found widespread usage. The physical structure of the majority of twentieth century photographic films and prints can be understood by considering combinations of these basic material components. The environmental guidelines for safe use and storage of photographic materials presented in this paper are applicable to and inclusive of these common varieties of films and papers.