How to store inkjet prints

[mich]

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Whilst storing wet prints in the proverbial 'shoe box' didn't cause major problems(did it for decades), inkjet prints seem to be way more sensitive to mechanical wear.

As I'm  considering doing my own inkjet prints in the future, I'm very keen to hear about your personal experiences and suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your input!

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[Doug A]

I store inkjet prints flat in archival boxes. I print on double sided paper which stays flat with changes in humidity. And I put interleaving paper between the prints. 

[mich]

53 minutes ago, Doug A said:

I store inkjet prints flat in archival boxes. I print on double sided paper which stays flat with changes in humidity. And I put interleaving paper between the prints. 

Any special paper? I guess it should be acid-free? Another option might be plastic film like the one that Whitewall uses when they send their prints, but I'm not so sure about the long term effects of platicizers. That of course includes the use of photo albums with plastic sheets as well.

Edited January 31, 2019 by mich

[Doug A]

There is special acid free interleaving paper made especially for this purpose. I buy it from Red River Paper but I am certain there are other sources.

[mich]

8 minutes ago, Doug A said:

There is special acid free interleaving paper made especially for this purpose. I buy it from Red River Paper but I am certain there are other sources.

Looks good, thanks a lot!

[leica dream]

I use Epson Premium Glossy paper with Epson genuine inks then store prints individually in plastic sleeves. The most important factor I have found is to ensure that prints are absolutely dry before storage. I leave mine spread out over night to ensure they are dry. I have had no problems whatsoever with this storage over many years - I am so confident that once printed, the original negatives or digital images are destroyed and cannot recall any case where I wished I had retained the original. I would certainly not want to sit in front of my screen to look through photographs so my iMac is just part of the workflow from camera to finished print.. 

[mich]

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1 hour ago, leica dream said:

I use Epson Premium Glossy paper with Epson genuine inks then store prints individually in plastic sleeves. The most important factor I have found is to ensure that prints are absolutely dry before storage. I leave mine spread out over night to ensure they are dry. I have had no problems whatsoever with this storage over many years - I am so confident that once printed, the original negatives or digital images are destroyed and cannot recall any case where I wished I had retained the original. I would certainly not want to sit in front of my screen to look through photographs so my iMac is just part of the workflow from camera to finished print.. 

From what I read, 24h may even be a rather short period to get the prints completely dry (no own experience yet). I browsed the internet for infos about archival plastic films and found some shops which offer archival museum quality Polyester, Polypropylene and Polyethylene sleeves, so this sounds great because that should enable easier access to the prints.

[pico]

To maintain 100 years of archival tradition, store your prints in shoe boxes under grandma's bed.

[mich]

8 minutes ago, pico said:

To maintain 100 years of archival tradition, store your prints in shoe boxes under grandma's bed.

You don't want to wake the witch! 😈

[Jeff S]

I have a dedicated photo framing, storage and supply room.  Work prints are loose in portfolio drawers, including some like these from Ikea...

https://m2.ikea.com/us/en/p/alex-drawer-unit-on-casters-white-40196241/

I also have larger custom portfolio drawers from SMI that were designed to fit under a large work table and that hold bigger, finished prints.  A wall mounted mat cutter frees up the work table top for matting and framing assembly.  There are also wall mounted shelves and a peg board for viewing work prints for editing purposes.  

From time to time, I select a series of prints to place into Itoya Art portfolio binders with clear archival sleeves.  These are nice for presentation as well as for print sequencing and selection purposes.

This arrangement is similar to my film days when, in addition to a darkroom, I maintained a separate place for matting, framing and storage.  Now my office doubles as a ‘lightroom’ for computer, printer and paper supplies.

Jeff

 

Edited February 2, 2019 by Jeff S

[mich]

Jeff, this is exactly what I'm going to do. My old office already looks like a construction site, only furniture left is a computer desk and a chair. This spring I'm planning to finish the refurbishing job(well, hopefully 😄). These mobile drawers look interesting and as I haven't decided on the furniture yet, these drawers look like a neat accessory.

[Jeff S]

My office (with computer, printer, etc) is separate from the work room described above.  But each has furniture and storage appropriate for the  purpose. Not expensive, but functional yet still attractive. And since both were initially bedrooms, each has some nice closet space for additional ‘hidden’ storage.  It really suits my needs.  The wall mounted mat cutter is a treat to use and, as a bonus, cleared table space formerly taken by my old desktop cutter.  SMI modified my larger portfolio drawers to my own design and dimensions.

Jeff

[mich]

I can feel a growing danger of an acute GAS attack ... 😃

[Jeff S]

The cost was minimal compared to the GAS expenses many experience over cameras and lenses, which I left mostly behind years ago.  I’ve learned over time that spending money on the back end of the workflow offers far more bang for the buck and longer term benefits than on the front end... and often provides greater impact on the print results and enjoyment.

The bigger issue, though, has always been buying a house that provides enough space and flexibility to accommodate this hobby along with other interests...the stereo listening room, the exercise space, the library for my photo book collection and the wall space for the photo collection, etc.  My career forced relocations and the need to recreate those spaces in 5 different houses (and darkrooms in the 4 before this one). But, hey, that’s part of why I worked hard to retire (11 years ago) and settle down, hopefully here for a while. Life is short.

Jeff

Edited February 2, 2019 by Jeff S

[mich]

3 hours ago, Jeff S said:

 Life is short.

Jeff

You preach to the choir! 😉

[Pyrogallol]

In theory it should not be necessary to worry about storing digital photography prints, just print another one which should be identical. What matters is long term storage of the computer files that hold the picture and having software to read the files in future years.

As said elsewhere chemical film or plate negatives (black and white more so than colour negatives) can survive for decades without being looked at but digital files need constant attention to keep their storage systems upto date.

so maybe look after the digital prints after all, the data files may vanish into the ether.

[pgk]

Best place to store any photographs is on the wall, framed and behind glass. May affect their longevity but by far the most enjoyable solution. Problem is having sufficient storage space for this - I'm running out all the time. That said, my unframed prints are card mounted using archival materials, and then put into polyester sleeves (www.secol.co.uk). Then stored in 'chart' drawers. This ensures that the printed surface has nothing in contact with it. If I'm still here when they are a hundred years old, I'll report back to tell everyone whether this worked or not.

[mich]

3 hours ago, Pyrogallol said:

In theory it should not be necessary to worry about storing digital photography prints, just print another one which should be identical.

 

Why investing time and effort when you can get it right from the beginning? 😃

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[mich]

43 minutes ago, pgk said:

Best place to store any photographs is on the wall, framed and behind glass.

Problem is having sufficient storage space for this

I see you have thoroughly analyzed the problem! 😁