A Question About Cel Bags

toonybabe · Post by **toonybabe** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:46 pm

I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but I have a specific question about cel bags. What is better to use for cels: Mylar or polypropylene? I have heard that Mylar is the most durable and is used by the Library of Congress to preserve documents, but I have also heard that it creates static which could harm the cel paint. I keep my cels in suspended files in a file box so they do not sit on top of each other. Right now I have some in Mylar bags and some in those bags Rinkya gives you with your cels. Eventually I want to put all of my cels in the same kind of bag. What kind of bags do you use and are you happy with how they work?

klet · Post by **klet** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:27 am

From what I understand, mylar for sketches and polypropylene for cels. I remember hearing that mylar is bad for cels, but I'm not sure if that's true or not. Polypropylene won't harm sketches, but mylar is better for preserving paper.

redwolf · Post by **redwolf** » Mon May 28, 2007 7:43 pm

I've heard that mylar can stick to the paint of your cels and pull off the paint when you try to take the cel out. My biggest cel is in a two by three foot mylar bag, but I backed the cel paint with polypropylene bags. The rest of my cels are all in polypropylene bags.

rallihir · Post by **rallihir** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:02 pm

There are pros and cons to both types of bags. The polyolefin (mylar) bags are highly impermeable and probably the best for any type of specimen conservation. There are two potential issues with mylar. One is that the latex or acrylic paint used for cels is continously outgassing solvent. In a sealed mylar bag the solvent does not have a chance to escape and can theoretically affect the paint and trace lines. The second issue is with stickiness. Mylar bags are particularly prone to sticking to cel paint. One conservationist I know from the SF Asian Art Museum recommends the use of a product called siliconized mylar. I'm not sure where to source this material. But it contains a special non-stick surface on the inside of the bag.

Polypropylene deteriorates over time as is evidenced by the exposed plastic surfaces of cel bags that are next to the painted cel surface. Poly bags should also be vented and changed over time.

I've been told the best way to store cels is individual layers in a multidrawer stationary cabinet. These are type of cabinets you might see in an art supply store where they keep paper. Of course, not many people have the room to have cel cabinets. As for me, I use polypropylene for most cels and try to have them under the least amount of stacking pressure possible. To effect this, I hang them in a closet. Seem to work to minimize sticking to the bag.

minigt · Post by **minigt** » Tue May 29, 2007 4:20 am

Again this has probably been asked before, but can anyone recommend where to get cel bags - that ship internationally?

Ta

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Tue May 29, 2007 6:10 am

You can try www.bagsunlimited.com, they have polypropylene, polyethylene and mylar bags in all sort of sizes.

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Tue May 29, 2007 6:40 am

rallihir wrote:As for me, I use polypropylene for most cels and try to have them under the least amount of stacking pressure possible. To effect this, I hang them in a closet. Seem to work to minimize sticking to the bag.

I hang my cels as well and have not had a problem with sticking cels. I use the polypropylene bags as well. THe only cels that are not hanging are the huge over sized cels that i still have to get a portfolio for(but even then i dont think ill be able to hang them due to the size of my closet... lol)

toonybabe · Post by **toonybabe** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:01 am

Thanks for all of the advice! I think I get it now...Mylar for sketches/gengas/dougas and poly for cels. Thanks again everyone!