Platinum and palladium based photographs are by far the most permanent photographic images known to humankind. However, the process is rarely practiced due to the materials and procedures involved. These handmade images are touted by museums and collectors for their rarity, permanence, and beauty.

In contrast to materials composing typical photographs, platinum and palladium are perfectly inert metals, unable to form oxides and completely immune to fading from light. Because of these characteristics and others, there is no known limit to the lifespan of a photographic image made from platinum and palladium.