Cardboard backing for storing cels

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:16 am

Hi

Where can I get cardboard backing for storing cels? These prevent your cel from flexing when you flip your art portfolio.

Previously, I got them from sellers as part of the packaging. The ones I have now are from cartons and they're so thick they'll make my portfolio bulge.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:41 am

This ebay seller is great! He sells the boards and cel bags.

http://stores.ebay.com/Intense-Anime_Ba ... idZ2QQtZkm

Golden Boy · Post by **Golden Boy** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:55 am

Hi,
I bought some boards from Intense Anime, because like you I wanted to view my cels without flexing them. Although they are stiff enough to prevent bending the cel, I found the boards were too small for my needs (i.e. they didn't fill the whole page sleeve.) I now use 11x14 Letramax Black on Black Ultra thin mounting boards. They fill the sleeve nicely and there's no way to accidentally bend the cel. They don't come cheap as singles or packs of 5 or 25. I usually just wait for a sale and then buy in bulk.

On a related note, using any kind of backing with a fixed page portfolio, such as Itoya, makes the book fan out as well as increase its weight. So I've started switching to a multi-ring binder system to control the number of cels and thus the weight. And since the pages aren't fixed the binder/portfolio won't fan out. I'm currently researching 11x14 archival museum boxes that have the binder rings. Another benefit is that pages can be reorganized within books or moved to other books. And specific pages can be put into a separate portfolio to bring to conventions or cel gatherings.

The only problem with the new system is the cost, especially for large collections. So I'm changing over bit by bit, waiting for sales or buying in bulk. For me, with the all the money spent on cels, I felt I should spend a decent amount for storage and display. Hope that helps and please excuse my long-winded monologue.

just my two centavos,
gb

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:51 am

Cordelia wrote: Previously, I got them from sellers as part of the packaging. The ones I have now are from cartons and they're so thick they'll make my portfolio bulge.

Oh so you're the other person digging through the dumpster looking for cardboard boxes!

Actually if you can find like clothing store boxes or big boot boxes... Those should be big enough if you work or live by stores.

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:03 am

Golden boy can you post a link to the place you buy your boards at?

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:05 am

dickblick! http://www.dickblick.com/zz134/03/

err... $2-$3 for cardboard... /sigh

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:11 am

Wow! With the number of cels I have that would cost me thousands!

Golden Boy · Post by **Golden Boy** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:19 am

vapalla wrote:Golden boy can you post a link to the place you buy your boards at?

Hey Vapalla,
So far, I've gotten the BonB boards at a not so local (an hour away) art store. The have a web-site, Sterling Art, but their inventory isn't online.

I have found them online, Mister Art, but the cost is about the same when you include shipping (especially in bulk).

And like I said, this is definitely a more expensive option. Hope that helps.

gb

Golden Boy · Post by **Golden Boy** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:23 am

RoboFlonne wrote:dickblick! http://www.dickblick.com/zz134/03/

err... $2-$3 for cardboard... /sigh

Hey Robo,
Actually, those boards would need to be cut to size. And I'm not sure if those are acid-free. The ones I am referring to are already 11x14 and ready to slip in. I do wish Dick Blick would carry these boards as I know it would be significantly cheaper.

gb

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:35 am

Ah! $1.25 a sheet! That's a great find.

I might consider switching from boot boxes...

p.s. I think I forgot to mention that I also cut the boxes to the size. And I'm not using the boxes and just the cardboard.

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:50 am

Thanks all for the suggestions! My local store has cardboards but juz not acid free. Will consider the options...shipping costs can be a pain

Yes gb, I'm using multi-ring portfolio as it prevents the pages from bending. In fact, mine is a presentation case and in an upright position, the pages hang down. Vertical position is better for the cels as they don't stack on one another.

Roboflonne, I don't rummage thru' the garbage but some of my sellers do

Golden Boy · Post by **Golden Boy** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:47 am

Cordelia wrote:Yes gb, I'm using multi-ring portfolio as it prevents the pages from bending. In fact, mine is a presentation case and in an upright position, the pages hang down. Vertical position is better for the cels as they don't stack on one another.

Hi Cordelia,
Glad to hear! Which presentation case are you using? Right now, I'm using an 11x14 Prat Start 1 Presentation case. Like you, I always keep it vertical with spine up to unweight the cels. Also, with the boards I use, I could if I wanted to, slide them into a bookcase with the spine facing you.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am now researching archival box binders. I am supposed to receive one today so I will you know what the results are. Unfortunately, once again I am drifting towards more expensive options. Oh well, I think my cels deserve it.

gb

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:23 am

I'm using Prat Start 2 11 x 14 presentation case.

I juz bought another one coz the current one is getting fat and pages are starting to bend a 'lil. I'm also getting a Prat refillable multi-ring file for my oversized cels.

Hehe, yupz for the amount of $$ spent on cels, might as well invest more to store them. It would break my heart to see their condition worsen due to my negligence

Look forward to hearing abt how your new box binders fare

Golden Boy · Post by **Golden Boy** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:40 pm

Okay, results are in and I must say it's nice, but pricey.

Since a majority of my collection won't be leaving my house, I thought I'd go with some sturdier storage that would sit nice and quiet on the shelf. And since I'm moving to a multi-ring binder/portfolio system, I started to research box/album binders.

The only one I found that is the right size as well as archival and acid free was the Century Showcase. They are retail around $53, but the cheapest I've found was at B&H. It arrived this afternoon and I think it is very nice. I was able to fit about 20 cels in sheet protectors with mounting/backing boards. You can certainly double the number by using both sides, but I chose not to. I've linked some pictures for any who are interested.

The Front is smooth and plain. The entire clam-shell box sits flat when showing the beginning, middle and end. And it sits nicely on the shelf with the spine up or on its side.

I guess if I had to nitpick besides the cost, it would be that I wish it would hold more pages and that there was a way to label each box.

So if anyone is interested in storing their cels (or really high-end cels for those with large collections) this way or if you have another alternative, come bug me.

gb

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:08 pm

I was doing research on boards and realised that acid-free doesn't mean archival. Because some boards only have an acid-free surface but not an acid-free core. Light may cause the acid components of the core to contaminate the acid-free surface.

To be safe, conservators recommend musuem grade boards which are made entirely with acid-free material i.e. lignin-free. These tend to be more expensive, so far I found some reasonably priced ones at www.bagsunlimited.com.

gb, glad to hear that you like your new archival boxes. I'm sure the money spent on conservation will go a long way

Anime-Beta TNG

Cardboard backing for storing cels

Cardboard backing for storing cels

Re: Cardboard backing for storing cels