Q & A for Cel Panel at AX 2006

rallihir · Post by **rallihir** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:03 pm

In my discussions with Ron Stark at SR Labs who will be taking part in the cel panel at AX, we decided to solicit questions from the cel audience (you!) about your topmost questions and queries in cel and anime art conservation. So in keeping with this, please submit any questions you would like to have Ron answer at the cel panel to this thread or the one at Rubberslug. I am hoping to have about 15 minutes of didactics, 15 minutes for the Q&A, and the rest of the time for cel sharing but everthing's flexible. Please submit all your questions by June 20th so that I may collate them and send them onto Ron.

Thanks

rallihir

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:04 pm

May I ask where you got discussions with Ron Stark at SR Labs who will be taking part in the cel panel at AX we decided to solicit questions from the cel audience you?

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:38 pm

I'd like to know how the professionals remove stuck sketches without damaging the cel!

Although not as burning a question, I'd like to get some idea of how much various framing items cost (either through S/R labs, or individual internet purchases): museum glass, double-sized frames, things of that nature...

Elfstalker · Post by **Elfstalker** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:01 pm

I don't know if S/R Labs does this, but I would like to know about cel appraising/ authenticating. If they do cel appraisals, what are their criteria?

animeobsessed · Post by **animeobsessed** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:12 pm

ReiTheJelly wrote:I'd like to know how the professionals remove stuck sketches without damaging the cel!

Stuck sketches was the first thing that came to my mind too.

klet · Post by **klet** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:57 pm

momo wrote:Are you referring to anime cels b/c I for one have yet to find a professional "service" that does this.

Someone here on beta or over on RS (in fact, I believe it was rallihir) had mentioned getting some hanken/opening sketches unstuck by SR Labs, so they do offer that service.

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:28 am

Two more questions!

I would also be interested to hear how they remove dirt and other unwanted additions from cels. Is there any way or getting layers unstuck to clean between them? I have many multi-layered cels that could do with a good cleaning...

Another question: is it possible to clean exterior trace lines? Some of my cels that have light colored (skin-tone, white, etc.) hand-painted trace lines on the front have accumulated dirt on them over the years. Is it possible to clean the lines without removing them?

I'd also really be interested in seeing a base-price sheet from S/R Labs. How much do their services start at?

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:48 am

I'm not going to be able to be there, but could you please ask him what the ideal relative humidity is for long term care of cels and sketches?

That would be great to know.

rallihir · Post by **rallihir** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:23 am

Thanks everybody for your questions. I'll be compiling these and sending them to SR Labs next week, but there still is time for a couple last minute questions, and of course, you have the opportunity to ask them yourself at the AX panel.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:49 am

Could someone please share any of the answers to the questions that were given at the AX Cel Panel?

Anything at all?

rallihir · Post by **rallihir** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:00 pm

Keropi wrote:Could someone please share any of the answers to the questions that were given at the AX Cel Panel?

Anything at all?

Keropi,

Unfortunately, the cel panel agenda did not go exactly as planned. A lot of time was spent addressing the first four questions, so we did not get to all of them. But, here is what I have...

1. Paint deterioration and best bag storage - Basically, there is no way to prevent slow oxidation or photodegration of the paint since the paint and xerographic lines are on top of each other. The damage can be minimized by decreasing exposure to light of all kinds. Fluorescent light in particular can be bad because of the spectral quality of the light. Some lights will damage the cel acetate. Also, it is a good idea to use UV resistant acrylic rather than glass. As for the bag controversy, Ron believed that it was best not to use any bag at all, except for temporary storage, rather cels should be stored as loosely as possible with acid free paper separating the cels.

2. Stuck sketches - Apparently professionals have special methods to remove sketches. SR labs uses a steam pencil (a rather expensive $3000 device) that uses a very thin stream of steam to heat the specific portion of the cel/sketch interface and allows the user to slowly pull the pieces apart with minimal damage. He says, if the cel is that important to you, let a professional separate it.

3. Cell appraising - Yes, SR labs does cel appraisal. They do a researched market appraisal. Also, none of the staff collect or own cels to avoid conflict of interest.

4. Best cleaning solution for cels - Basically, there are no good general solutions. All portions of the cel have different materials that have sensitivities to different types of solutions. Water can be used. As for multiple layers, again, he recommended against trying to separate these at home, and if the cels was special enough, it would be best to have a professional service do the separation as they have special tools.

That was about as far as we got. Ron had many anecdotal stories about damaged cels, backgrounds, and sketches that his lab had dealt with over the years. We probably could have used an extra 30 minutes for the discussion. If I get to do this again next year, I'll watch the program more closely and may ask for more time in the panel.

Hope this helps.

Craig

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:02 pm

Who is he telling this to?

Goldknight · Post by **Goldknight** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:35 pm

I thought it was very informative. Just now saw this question.

Looks like Craig has it covered. But it was ashame we didn't have more time. So many questions....so little time. I remember feeling like....oh no.....I need to get home and change how I store them. I learned:
Cel Bags = Evil

I felt no less humbled when I walked out of there and learned a great deal on things that I need to change.

miz ducky · Post by **miz ducky** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:23 am

What's wrong with cel bags?

Can anyone recap what was covered?

i was there for a little while, but his stories about why he's so smart got kinda long, and only 2-3 questions were answered in 30 min.

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:20 pm

About Cel Bags: The plastics maybe will melt together if the temperature got too hot or cold...

Really I don't like the idea that none of their staff, actually collects Cels. Considering the hours that we spend looking at cels and prices. More than likely, any of us knows more about the value of the Cel then the appraiser in their staff.

And I expect that they probably won't tell you the secrets of cel separation, since it's their trade secret.