How to Store Large Prints ?

<p>I will be starting to do alot of larger printing on my Epson 3800. I work from a tiny bedroom. Whats the best way to store both matted and un-matted 17 X 25 prints ? Eventually some of these will be framed but in the meantime they will get dirty, dusty etc. <br>

I looked online and there is a company that sells these airtight boxes that museums use, but its very expensive. Just curious what some of you do who dont have studios. </p>

<p>I have a map chest. I layer the photos with archival tissues. Seems to work pretty well. <br mce_bogus="1"></p>

<p>I use boxes from various sources, but Archival Methods is a good site to get them. I also use JerrysArtarama (or Artorama). For temporary storage, I also have one of the V shaped upright storage racks that I put prints and matting board in. They stay pretty flat, but I wouldn't keep them that way for long periods of time.</p>

<p>Flat and non-smudge (secure, not stored printed side to printed side, etc) is essential. Otherwise, the enemies are sunlight (UV), extreme heat, extreme humidity, extreme temperature fluctuations and dust. Assuming you'll not be storing them forever, like a museum, then any arrangement that significantly mitigates these factors should be fine. An unstained wooden box, located away from heat/air vents and direct sunlight might do (essentially a smaller version of a map cabinet). Long term storage (years) may further require something more "archival". Those types of products guarantee against things like plastics which release corrosive gases over time, etc.</p>

<p>Given that the 3800 prints up to 22 inches long, you could trim an inch or so off the print and get an 18x24 storage box for under $25:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/tan-truecore-dropfront-box-18-x-24-x-3/archival-flat-storage-boxes/">http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/tan-truecore-dropfront-box-18-x-24-x-3/archival-flat-storage-boxes/</a></p>

<p>If you had to leave the prints 25 inches long, you could get an 22x28 storage box for $45:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/tan-truecore-dropfront-box-22-x-28-x-3/archival-flat-storage-boxes/">http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/tan-truecore-dropfront-box-22-x-28-x-3/archival-flat-storage-boxes/</a></p>

<p>I've been using all sizes of Light Impressions boxes for 25 years. The boxes aren't dirt cheap, but they're inexpensive relative to the cost of reprinting a bunch big prints that havn't been properly stored.</p>

<p>Batches interleaved and placed inside archival poly.bags, between 4 and 8 prints per bag. Bags labelled and laid flat in a drawer of a large 6 drawer plan chest.</p>

<p>Archival boxes, museum stuff etc. is very expensive for most of us already struggling with the cost of printing and this is the reason so many in photo.net are looking for economical alternatives.<br>

Large prints get wrinkles and other blemishes from handling them, having a rigid backing is essential to their preservation.<br>

Some of my work is preserved between a backing and a mat with something that protects the print surface - a sheet of polypropylene seems to be a decent solution.<br>

Another cheaper solution is to prepare suitable individual envelopes made of transparent polypropylene and the taped to corrugated cardboard. The polypropylene envelope creates a barrier protecting the print for acids that can migrate from the cardboard backing.<br>

If any of you have other solutions please let me know.</p>

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