1. What is the standard size of cels?
2. Is BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) bags any good for cel storage?
Thanks in advance.
Cel storage
Cel storage
Hey there! I recently started collecting cels and am a total noob at cel storage. I'm going to get my cel supplies next week and I hope you guys can help me out with a bit of basic cel storage information. I have a few questions that I need advice on.
1. What is the standard size of cels?
2. Is BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) bags any good for cel storage?
Thanks in advance.
1. What is the standard size of cels?
2. Is BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) bags any good for cel storage?
Thanks in advance.
The standard size for Japanese anime cels is about 9" x 10.5". (Of course you'll eventually start adding pans to your collection, which will leave you completely confused, as there doesn't seem to be much of a standard for those. 
) I don't know if you're collecting sketches from any CG series, but they tend to be slightly taller than from cel based animes - about 9.5" x 10.5" in my experience. I only collect them from one series, though, so someone else will have to tell you if there is any variation between studios.
The chemical structure of Polypropylene is a complete mystery to me, so for all I know, it's inherently biaxially oriented.
However, it is generally considered the best choice for cel bags, as Mylar can eventually stick to the paint and peel off flakes.
) I don't know if you're collecting sketches from any CG series, but they tend to be slightly taller than from cel based animes - about 9.5" x 10.5" in my experience. I only collect them from one series, though, so someone else will have to tell you if there is any variation between studios. The chemical structure of Polypropylene is a complete mystery to me, so for all I know, it's inherently biaxially oriented.
However, it is generally considered the best choice for cel bags, as Mylar can eventually stick to the paint and peel off flakes.-
Cordelia
- Kuwabarakuwabara - Oh My God!
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Hi
Standard size of cels is abt W10.5" x H9.2". Backgrds are abt W14" x H10". For these standard cels/ backgrds, I use Prat Start 1 Presentation Case, 14" x 11". For oversized cels, I use Prat Start refillable presentation book, 19" x 13". These are available at dickblick.com or utrecht.com. They often have sales and will notify you if you sign up.
BOPP archival bags should be fine. I get my supply at bagsunlimited.com, they have a mind-boggling selection of plastic sleeves. When you bag your cels, do cut holes to let your cels breathe. I snip the corners away or cut away one side of the bag. Acrylic paints release gas over time and can cause the acetate to warp. You can read more abt this at the cel care section at rubberslug.
Standard size of cels is abt W10.5" x H9.2". Backgrds are abt W14" x H10". For these standard cels/ backgrds, I use Prat Start 1 Presentation Case, 14" x 11". For oversized cels, I use Prat Start refillable presentation book, 19" x 13". These are available at dickblick.com or utrecht.com. They often have sales and will notify you if you sign up.
BOPP archival bags should be fine. I get my supply at bagsunlimited.com, they have a mind-boggling selection of plastic sleeves. When you bag your cels, do cut holes to let your cels breathe. I snip the corners away or cut away one side of the bag. Acrylic paints release gas over time and can cause the acetate to warp. You can read more abt this at the cel care section at rubberslug.
-
sensei
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Yes, Polypropylene is a good choice. I get mine from Light Impressions and opt for the 1.5 mil. "ultra clear" bags. The best bet is to get bags slightly larger than you need: you can always fold them to fit the actual size of your cel.
I'm personally a skeptic about "letting cels breathe" as I've gotten perfectly preserved cels that were totally sealed up sometime prior to the founding of Rome, such that when you opened them you could actually smell photocopy toner (the stuff that makes trace lines stick to plastic). However, chemically active paints will react to trace lines that they are in contact with, and keeping them dark and in a climate-controlled environment will slow this process down. It's a good idea to change cel bags when you get new items, especially if the paint has wrinkled the back of the old one. Clip a corner off the new cel bag (not with the cel inside) simply so it doesn't trap air inside and lies flat.
Also, try to store your cels so they are not lying on top of each other in a pile. That will eventually stress the ones on the bottom. I store my cel books standing like regular books on a shelf; others hang theirs from coathangers in closets. I have an archival box with my very biggest cels bagged and separated by mats, then I lean the box on its end up against a closet wall so the weight is distributed toward the sides (and the mats), not down toward the poor guy on the bottom.
Good luck! And thanks for asking! One thing collectors need to keep in mind is their responsibility to maintain unique art works in at least the condition that they received them. As cels and sketches often are intrinsically unstable, that's tricky, yet important to do.
I'm personally a skeptic about "letting cels breathe" as I've gotten perfectly preserved cels that were totally sealed up sometime prior to the founding of Rome, such that when you opened them you could actually smell photocopy toner (the stuff that makes trace lines stick to plastic). However, chemically active paints will react to trace lines that they are in contact with, and keeping them dark and in a climate-controlled environment will slow this process down. It's a good idea to change cel bags when you get new items, especially if the paint has wrinkled the back of the old one. Clip a corner off the new cel bag (not with the cel inside) simply so it doesn't trap air inside and lies flat.
Also, try to store your cels so they are not lying on top of each other in a pile. That will eventually stress the ones on the bottom. I store my cel books standing like regular books on a shelf; others hang theirs from coathangers in closets. I have an archival box with my very biggest cels bagged and separated by mats, then I lean the box on its end up against a closet wall so the weight is distributed toward the sides (and the mats), not down toward the poor guy on the bottom.
Good luck! And thanks for asking! One thing collectors need to keep in mind is their responsibility to maintain unique art works in at least the condition that they received them. As cels and sketches often are intrinsically unstable, that's tricky, yet important to do.
-
cutiebunny
- Yosutebito - Hermit
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I second Sensei's advice concerning changing the bags of newly arrived cels. You never know what type of material those bags are made from, so, better to change it to something that you do know, than leave it in the mysterial material.
Mystery material...I like that
I use polypropelene as well, and I am fortunate enough to live near some Japanese stores that frequently get the bags(I've bought out their supplies every time...). I use the A4L size bags for most standard sized cels, the B4s for standard cels and standard backgrounds, and the B4Ls for those big pan cels and backgrounds that will not fit anything else. I think the largest bags I've seen are the B4Ls, so if you have anything larger than that, you'll have to come up with some origami type way of cutting bags so that they fit. It's particularly fun when you own items that are about 2 feet wide. My advice is that, if you're buying in bulk, buy B4 size bags. Most things can fit in there, and if not, chances are it wouldn't fit in a B4L either.
Oh! If you receive an item with staples in it, carefully take the staples out. The staples are prone to rust and that can damage your artwork. Also, if you're buying sketches, make sure to take the tape off asap. Sensei has great advice on how to do that.
Since I own several types of artwork, I have different methods for keeping each type. For the many backgrounds that I own, I store them in B4 size polypropelene albums that I've picked up at the Japanese store. Each background has its own bag, and since you can fit two per plastic sheet, each folder can hold 40 backgrounds. With cels, I use Itoya folders and let them freely hang.
I, too, have mixed feelings on 'cutting holes' in cel bags to allow them to breathe. I've received perfectly preserved cels that have been in bags with no airation. I personally feel that it depends on how the cel is treated. There are many Japanese collectors who do take really good care of their items, and if you purchase items that were formally in their collections, chances are you'll own a well preserved item. I change the bags on my items every so often, especially when I see wrinkles in the cel bag.
Mystery material...I like that
I use polypropelene as well, and I am fortunate enough to live near some Japanese stores that frequently get the bags(I've bought out their supplies every time...). I use the A4L size bags for most standard sized cels, the B4s for standard cels and standard backgrounds, and the B4Ls for those big pan cels and backgrounds that will not fit anything else. I think the largest bags I've seen are the B4Ls, so if you have anything larger than that, you'll have to come up with some origami type way of cutting bags so that they fit. It's particularly fun when you own items that are about 2 feet wide. My advice is that, if you're buying in bulk, buy B4 size bags. Most things can fit in there, and if not, chances are it wouldn't fit in a B4L either.
Oh! If you receive an item with staples in it, carefully take the staples out. The staples are prone to rust and that can damage your artwork. Also, if you're buying sketches, make sure to take the tape off asap. Sensei has great advice on how to do that.
Since I own several types of artwork, I have different methods for keeping each type. For the many backgrounds that I own, I store them in B4 size polypropelene albums that I've picked up at the Japanese store. Each background has its own bag, and since you can fit two per plastic sheet, each folder can hold 40 backgrounds. With cels, I use Itoya folders and let them freely hang.
I, too, have mixed feelings on 'cutting holes' in cel bags to allow them to breathe. I've received perfectly preserved cels that have been in bags with no airation. I personally feel that it depends on how the cel is treated. There are many Japanese collectors who do take really good care of their items, and if you purchase items that were formally in their collections, chances are you'll own a well preserved item. I change the bags on my items every so often, especially when I see wrinkles in the cel bag.
Pretty much all of my cels come pre-bagged. Usually there's a adhesive strip along one side to close these up, I prefer to keep them unstuck though if they haven't already been. Most of them seem to be Heiko Crystal Pack sheets (self-stick T-Type).
I always use Itoya Profolios for storing my cels. I put one cel per page to prevent the book from bulging or bending from over-stuffing. They sit upright on my shelf between two improvised book-ends (Xbox 360 boxes, heh). I've had to use the 11" x 14" Profolios for my Words Worth cels, they are just about 1 or 2mm too big to fit in the 9" x 12".
I always use Itoya Profolios for storing my cels. I put one cel per page to prevent the book from bulging or bending from over-stuffing. They sit upright on my shelf between two improvised book-ends (Xbox 360 boxes, heh). I've had to use the 11" x 14" Profolios for my Words Worth cels, they are just about 1 or 2mm too big to fit in the 9" x 12".