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There are a few discussions about staorage methods, and I've decided on plastic sleeves, but I haven't found too many specifics on the best ones to buy. I know to look for PVC/acid/lignin free, but my concern is the signature sticking to the sleeve. Are either of these OK? The Avery sleeves say won't stick to print...

https://www.staples.com/Avery-Heavyweig ... uct_656173

http://www.michaels.com/recollections-s ... 21676.html

What specific brand do you guys recommend? (I'm in the US, by the way...)

Thanks in advance!!

I usually get my sleeves at Staples, but have them from a whole bunch of manufacturers. As long as they're marked archival, I don't have a problem with Sharpie-inked signatures sticking to the sleeves. Metallic or paint pens, though, will eventually stick and/or flake off, so I've taken to putting a piece of paper between the signature and the sleeve. Not the ideal solution, other than to have a photo signed where there's no need to use a metallic pen (e.g., get a photo with a non-dark background.)

Awesome, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question! I'll grab the Averys then.

Here's what I use. They're acid free and archival safe!

4"x6"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0066 ... UTF8&psc=1

8.5"x11"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0728 ... UTF8&psc=1

Trading cards
https://www.amazon.com/Avery-Gathering- ... rd+sleeves

You guys are the best! It really is kind of you guys to take the time to help out.

Is it worth it to pop in the extra to buy an acid free archival binder too, even if the autos are in sleeves? Better safe than sorry?

Thanks a million again!

I've never heard of archival binders. Really, if you want to go overboard, get a system where your sleeves will hang down (e.g., suspended from the hole side) rather than place them as a book to lessen the stress of one photo in a sleeve being pressed against another and to lessen the stress being placed on the bottom.

But I use regular D-ring binders. D-rings, because you can fit more in and when you open up the binder the sleeves lay that much more flatter rather than get bunched up.

Thanks again for getting back to me.

I just figured that we're working so hard to get these, any little bit of extra "defense" helps. Overboard? Probably, LOL. But a couple extra bucks could make the difference years down the road... or not.

I was looking at these:

https://www.amazon.com/We-Memory-Keeper ... ival+album

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ching.html

The navy one could easily be stored on the side as to let the autos hang from the 3 holed side.

It's a lot of cash, but sometimes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In your opinion, is this total overkill?

Thanks again so much!!!

Absolutely, 100% do NOT get anything from Staples. I made that mistake a couple years back. They may be marked “archival” but that actually means nothing, since they are not actually acid free. I got my storage supplies from: http://www.printfile.com and I highly recommend them, as they fully stand by their product. After that, all you need to do is grab a 3 to 4 inch, 3-ring binder from any local store and you are set!

Thank you for the tip! Curious, what went wrong when you said you made that mistake a few years ago?

Thanks for the help!

snooner wrote:Thank you for the tip! Curious, what went wrong when you said you made that mistake a few years ago?

Thanks for the help!

No problem, I hope I was able to help! Unfortunately, several of my signatures ended up sticking to the plastic sleeve and peeling off. It was horrible...