5 strategies for SAFELY composing on Photographs & Snapshots
(and EVERYTHING ELSE!)
By after several easy “rules” (don’t usage regular ink pencils / don’t write in the middle of your photographs / etc.), and once you understand exactly what the very best types of pencils & markers are for YOUR specific requirements (regular #2 pencils / Stabilio-All Pencils / etc.), you’ll be entirely prepared for PROPERLY writing on photographs, snapshots, and all sorts types of archival sleeves & enclosures!
Writing on Photographs
Tip number 1: First, W cap never to DO
It’s a JUNGLE on the market!
Old photos & snapshots curently have sufficient to cope with with regards to long-lasting success (being saved in shoeboxes in attics
or basements, basic neglect, etc.), so DON’T threaten them further by composing in it because of the INCORRECT pens & markers!
(Please click the image to find out more.)
Documenting your individual photographs & snapshots is an step that is important preserving your family’s history. Once you’ve sorted during your picture archive, you might want to label several of your photographs with important info such as for example names, times, places and such to help keep an eye on your cherished memories.
You can’t, however, utilize simply any pen that is old marker in your photographs (see pix above), as making use of the “wrong” kind of pen or marker can really DAMAGE your photographs & snapshots!
Yeah, Avoid using a pen! The inks can smear, and so they usually have non-archival natural natural oils and solvents inside them that may bleed until the front side!
(Please click on any image to see our quick movie on Stabilo-All Pencils.)
You will find, in reality, a zillion “wrong ways” of marking your materials, a number of that could completely harm and even destroy old photographs as well as other products in your loved ones archive or collection.
We only at Archival techniques echo the advice of museum specialists & collections specialists from around the whole world in advising one to NEVER make use of standard markers that are permanent low priced pens, highlighters and such whenever marking your materials.
Just Just What IS our advice?
If you’d love to mark your photographs, negatives, polypropylene or polyester sleeves , household items or collectibles, ALWAYS make use of the RIGHT sort of pencil or marker, as described below.
Writing on Photographs
Tip #2: Work With a Pencil!
Pro archivists will recommend utilizing a soft no. 2 pencil from the straight straight back of photographic images which are “fiber-based.”
“Fiber-based” merely means the picture ended up being printed on photographic paper rather than the more recent synthetic- or resin-backed forms of color photographs you typically get in more contemporary family members photo archives (and BTW, pencils may not be utilized on images which are synthetic- or resin-backed while they simply don’t work with that variety of area).
Can’t read it as it’s too small (look at box that is red just the right)?
Good!
“Less is much more,” while you don’t desire to impinge on the photographs—even the backs—too awfully much.
Two reasons that expert archivists suggest utilizing a regular no. 2 pencil is 1.) its “reversible” in that it may frequently be effortlessly erased, and 2.) pencil lead is reasonably inert, with none regarding the greasy gunk that makes within the ink in lots of forms of pencils.
This gunk (a term that is highly-scientific by professional conservators—just kidding) in pen ink usually contains goofy (another highly-technical term) natural oils, solvents as well as other nasty stuff can bleed, smear, contaminate the image you’re writing in, and/or move onto other things it really is in touch with. Pen and marker ink is also” that are usually“non-reversibleit can’t be effortlessly erased), which conservators frown upon (and you also should too!).
Neither of the prospective ink dangers is an issue when working with a pencil!
Helpful Hint: it doesn’t matter what archivally-safe pencils or markers you will do use, always work with a clean, difficult surface thereby applying a LIGHT TOUCH whenever composing in order to avoid “pressure transfer,” which may cause anything you are composing become noticeable regarding the image part. THE EDGES of your images (see pix above)—not in the middle—just to be safe in a similar vein, it is also always best to write NEAR!
Writing on Photographs
Suggestion # 3: Use a Stabilo-All Pencil
Stabilo-All Pencils are a good all-around choice as they begin to permit you to compose plainly & legibly in the backs of photographs or even the sides of movie negatives / on polypropylene or polyester sleeves / as well as on cup, steel, or paper areas. They truly are water dissolvable and will be cleaned away from smooth areas having a cloth that is damp or effortlessly erased whenever utilized on paper.
therefore, simply how come Stabilo Pencils are offered in THREE VARIOUS colors…?
…because they’ll arrive on darker mounts & record album pages, and that can be employed to accent information that is certain.
(Please click on either image to find out more.)
Stabilo-All Pencils can be found from Archival practices in 3 different colors as well as in 4 package that is convenient
• 6-Pack of Ebony / White / & Red Stabilo Pencils (2 of each and every color)
• 12-Pack of Ebony Stabilo Pencils
• 12-Pack of White Stabilo Pencils
• 12-Pack of Red Stabilo Pencils
understand that pix through the top of the web log? Yeah, now it is surrounded because of the RIGHT pencils, including
a white Pencil that is stabilo-All that up very well regarding the dark-colored straight back with this photograph’s mount.
(Please click on either image to learn more.)
A bit tricky as they usually all have a polyethylene-coated surface as mentioned, standard #2 graphite pencils work well on paper photos but not on plastic-coated contemporary photographs, which makes writing on the backs of these newer photos.
Regular pencils will even perhaps not focus on polyester or polypropylene sleeves, which you might desire to used to protect your photographs or snapshots (see pix below).
Both in of those instances pencils that are stabilo-All in quite handy!
Stabilo-All Pencils WILL compose from the straight back of plastic-coated modern pictures & snapshots
(bottom center), and on archival sleeves used to accommodate & protect your pictures (m /> (Please go through the image to learn more about museum-quality sleeves.)
Therefore if you’re to locate a simple way to composing regarding the backs of the pictures or even for marking negatives or archival sleeves, think Stabilo-All Pencils!
Writing on Photographs
Suggestion no. 4: Utilize The RIGHT Permanent Markers
Yeah…um…NO!
Another simple yet effective method to label your polyethylene-coated photographs & archival sleeves is to utilize waterproof Lumocolor Permanent Markers and TechLiner Drawing Markers, that are ideal for properly marking many different materials and areas (see pix below).
Mainly because pencils function top-notch ink that is acid-free will likely not bleed through and harm your photographs. MAKE SURE, nevertheless, to check the pencils’ drying time from the surface that is intended stacking your photographs or placing them into 3-ring Print Pages, acid-free envelopes, archival sleeves, or other enclosures, as ink that is nevertheless damp may smear.
Yeah, now THAT’S a lot more like it. I’m yes even Aunt Mildred would approve (but only when you write regarding the BACK of her pix!).
(Please go through the image to learn more.)
The Lumocolor Permanent Marker includes a neutral-scent ink that is waterproof, smudge-proof, and it is safe to make use of on CD/DVDs, plastics, and all sorts of kinds of other areas. These markers will compose on plastic-backed photographs, as well as on polyester / polypropylene / & polyethylene bags and sleeves, in addition to gloss-coated documents.
The TechLiner Drawing Marker features an acid-free, free-flowing ink this is certainly ideal for usage in writing areas. This ink is developed with permanent, waterproof pigments. Drying time will be different based on paper area and, as stated, we advice you test that for drying time and such in front of utilizing it on glossy paper areas. This marker is present as a set that is three-pen line widths of 0.1 / 0.3 / 0.5.
Writing on Photographs
Suggestion # 5: Don’t Really Write On Your Own Photographs AFTER ALL!
Our new Caption Pocket 4?6 Photo Pages each have detachable acid-free insert on which you are able to compose important info. It is possible to print
away info on acid-free Permalife Paper from the comfort of your pc printer, and trim the paper then to your size regarding the insert and use that rather.
(Please click on either image to learn more.)
Being a tip that is final there are numerous approaches to determine the whom / what / where / whenever of the photographs & snapshots (and other things you have got in your archive or collection!) WITHOUT EVER WRITING ON THEM ANYWAY!
Ac />of photographs & snapshots, and you will compose on or label them any method you’d like!
(Please click for each image to learn more.)
an amount of our snapshot kits come with either acid-free All Purpose Index Cards (see pix above) and/or with acid-free 4?6 Archive Envelopes (see pix below), and each gives you room to write whatever information safely you will need (but make use of one of many SECURE pencils or markers described above anyhow!).
Helpful Hint: when composing on envelopes, sleeves or any other enclosures, ALWAYS compose your details BEFORE you put your photographs or items within the envelope / enclosure. This can assist in preventing “pressure transfer” essay help sites of whatever you’re writing from perhaps damaging your material.
4?6 Archive Envelopes can be found individually so when an element of the 4?6 Archive 900 Kit.
Each envelope gives you the chance to include a great deal of recognition & organizational information.
(Please go through the image to learn more.)
Exactly the same is true for acid-free File Folders (see pix below), Negative File Folders, and all for the different sorts of sleeves along with other enclosures you should use to archivally keep your photographs & snapshots (and simply about ANYTHING ELSE in family archive or collection!).
Ac />which will come in a true quantity of colors to fit your preferences and decor.
(Please click for each image to learn more.)
So, there you have it—all the ways you can SAFELY write in your photographs / snapshots / sleeves & enclosures / and simply about OTHER THINGS in your collection or archive!
And when you have got nevertheless have relevant concerns, please don’t hesitate to make contact with us. We’re always right here to resolve each your archival questions!
“Hey, Archival Techniques? Yeah, I would like to draw throughout the walls but can’t find my package of crayons. Are you able to please deliver me personally several of those archivally-safe permanent markers you had been speaking about, as I’m sure mother & Dad will require my ‘artwork’ to endure a lifetime.”
E Mail Us
When you yourself have any extra concerns on preserving your old pictures and whatever else in your collection, or do you need more details on some of our museum-quality archival storage and presentation materials, please contact us only at Archival practices. We’re constantly there to greatly help with any archiving, storage space, or presentation concerns you might have.
We might additionally prefer to encourage you to definitely follow us on Twitter , Twitter , Pinterest , and our big collection of informative and crisply-illustrated (and sometimes funny!) blog sites for up-to-the-minute information, Archival possibilities for the Week (take a good look at this archive for more info!), and stories of great interest. Likewise, our exclusive videos that are short a number of the archival items and procedures that you might need to “see for action,” therefore please take a peek!