Lithograph Storage

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

just a quick question to anyone on here with a huge amount of art prints. i am quickly running out of room for my lithographs and giclees that are not framed. i see a lot of people on here have these portfolios with sleeves that fit them perfectly. where can i find one of them?

[SwiftDeath]

dickblicks is the best if you're in the US

http://www.dickblick.com/products/itoya-art-profolio-multi-ring-refillable-binders/

Iyotas are most common but there's plenty of others to choose from

Unfortunately the portfolio link seems broken but you can just search for portfolios on that site

[Matt16]

Best I've found is

http://www.artsupply.com/portfolio/itoyaartcare.htm

[Fox]

This is very helpful. I will definitely pick one of these up

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

ive seen a few online that are actually metal/aluminum which would be perfect for protection, but they do not make them large enough for most of the lithos i have which are 18 x 24. not to mention any oversized giclees of c&b.

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

Best I've found is

http://www.artsupply.com/portfolio/itoyaartcare.htm

do you have any of them?

[Matt16]

do you have any of them?

Yeah, I've got an 18x24 and 11x17 and they're really good. I'd have preferred the sleeves to be held in with rings but the quality seems really good.

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

Yeah, I've got an 18x24 and 11x17 and they're really good. I'd have preferred the sleeves to be held in with rings but the quality seems really good.

ill probably pick a few up. how many pages do they have? plus i think with the rings it would be more apt to harming the prints if the portfolio gets turned or even bumped. some prints are very sensitive especially giclees. do you store giclees in yours?

[Matt16]

ill probably pick a few up. how many pages do they have? plus i think with the rings it would be more apt to harming the prints if the portfolio gets turned or even bumped. some prints are very sensitive especially giclees. do you store giclees in yours?

I do, my Sam Spratt is in there now. I can't remember how many pages there are but each sleeve holds 2 and I think it held 24 in total but am not completely sure. I think the website I posted tells you on the product page

[amb6883]

I picked up a flat file from a garage sale for $150.00 and you can usually find them on craigslist for $200.00 or less (sometimes free). Also, you can get storage bags here for cheap: http://www.framedestination.com/bags/protective_crystal_clear_bags/item/BGPRBA/

Make great coffee tables too.

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

I do, my Sam Spratt is in there now. I can't remember how many pages there are but each sleeve holds 2 and I think it held 24 in total but am not completely sure. I think the website I posted tells you on the product page

ok sounds good. im just hoping they are 100% acid free backboard and sleeve.

[SwiftDeath]

ill probably pick a few up. how many pages do they have? plus i think with the rings it would be more apt to harming the prints if the portfolio gets turned or even bumped. some prints are very sensitive especially giclees. do you store giclees in yours?

I've actually been told ring-binders are much better than binded sleeves as the inside of the Iyotas with binded sleeves can bend art prints if the binder is full

Whereas you don't have that problem with the ringed binders

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

I picked up a flat file from a garage sale for $150.00 and you can usually find them on craigslist for $200.00 or less (sometimes free). Also, you can get storage bags here for cheap: http://www.framedestination.com/bags/protective_crystal_clear_bags/item/BGPRBA/

Make great coffee tables too.

what do you mean flat file? like a filing cabinet?

[Matt16]

ok sounds good. im just hoping they are 100% acid free backboard and sleeve.

I think they are.

I've actually been told ring-binders are much better than binded sleeves as the inside of the Iyotas with binded sleeves can bend art prints if the binder is full

Whereas you don't have that problem with the ringed binders

I can imagine that would be true. I'm getting around it as not all the prints are the max size of the file so they don't go up to the spine. No problems so far :)

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

I've actually been told ring-binders are much better than binded sleeves as the inside of the Iyotas with binded sleeves can bend art prints if the binder is full

Whereas you don't have that problem with the ringed binders

thats a good point. do you know if anywhere sells the binder style ones? i have been looking at the links provided and the binder ones only accommodate smaller prints than most of the ones i own. plus finding ones with acid free materials may be a bit more difficult than what i expected. i would get them all framed but im running into two major problems. i do not have the wall space for all of them and the cost of professional framing is pretty high especially with the large c&b prints (i.e. 36 x 70).

[amb6883]

what do you mean flat file? like a filing cabinet?

They are file cabinets like this (not mine just did a quick google search).
http://shard2.1stdibs.us.com/archivesE/upload/9443/8/9443_1341364346_3.jpg

I think mine can hold prints up to 28" x 40". If you have different sized a prints and especially larger ones they seems to be the best option.

[SwiftDeath]

thats a good point. do you know if anywhere sells the binder style ones? i have been looking at the links provided and the binder ones only accommodate smaller prints than most of the ones i own. plus finding ones with acid free materials may be a bit more difficult than what i expected. i would get them all framed but im running into two major problems. i do not have the wall space for all of them and the cost of professional framing is pretty high especially with the large c&b prints (i.e. 36 x 70).

Personally I will actually go for a presentation case over a portfolio when I do buy one

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/presentation/cases/

I'm particular to the Pratt line, maybe the 4 series as they look quite nice too

Only complaint I've heard with the Pratts are that getting artwork in and out is hard due to the backer sheets being thick

Think you could solve that by getting thinner backer sheets somewhere but haven't looked into it

I've discussed this with a more experienced collector in-depth

For my purposes I'm sure the Pratt is the best option

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

They are file cabinets like this (not mine just did a quick google search).
http://shard2.1stdibs.us.com/archivesE/upload/9443/8/9443_1341364346_3.jpg

I think mine can hold prints up to 28" x 40". If you have different sized a prints and especially larger ones they seems to be the best option.

that is nice. do you know how many each drawer will hold? and will they fold them down flat? the main reason i want this is to help flatten some of the prints that i have since they have been shipped to me rolled.

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

Personally I will actually go for a presentation case over a portfolio when I do buy one

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/presentation/cases/

I'm particular to the Pratt line, maybe the 4 series as they look quite nice too

Only complaint I've heard with the Pratts are that getting artwork in and out is hard due to the backer sheets being thick

Think you could solve that by getting thinner backer sheets somewhere but haven't looked into it

I've discussed this with a more experienced collector in-depth

For my purposes I'm sure the Pratt is the best option

those are very nice i agree. ill look into them. you have one? how many pages does it have?

[SwiftDeath]

those are very nice i agree. ill look into them. you have one? how many pages does it have?

I don't own one but discussed the best portfolio/presentation case to get with someone who owned the more common Iyota portfolio and the Pratt presentation cases

I believe that the Pratt Presentation Case can hold between 20 - 25 Pages

So 40 - 50 Prints depending on thickness of print etc.

[amb6883]

that is nice. do you know how many each drawer will hold? and will they fold them down flat? the main reason i want this is to help flatten some of the prints that i have since they have been shipped to me rolled.

Not exactly sure how many each drawer will hold, but I think the drawers are a little over 2" deep so I guess it would depend on the thickness of whatever storage materials you use and the print. I easily fit more 18" x 24" prints in one drawer side by side than a portfolio though.

Also, you should let the print flatten before you put it into storage and I usually just use the top drawer for that with some weights. And if you have a glass top like the one I linked it makes for nice decoration too while it flattens.

[SwiftDeath]

Not exactly sure how many each drawer will hold, but I think the drawers are a little over 2" deep so I guess it would depend on the thickness of whatever storage materials you use and the print. I easily fit more 18" x 24" prints in one drawer side by side than a portfolio though.

Also, you should let the print flatten before you put it into storage and I usually just use the top drawer for that with some weights. And if you have a glass top like the one I linked it makes for nice decoration too while it flattens.

Do you mat the prints or anything to make them easier to handle?

I quite like that solution but would like to be able to take them out from time to time without having to worry too much about it

[amb6883]

Do you mat the prints or anything to make them easier to handle?

I quite like that solution but would like to be able to take them out from time to time without having to worry too much about it

I have done both put prints in just sleeves and put them on a backing boards held in place with photo corners then placed in the sleeves. Ideally I want to put them all with backing boards but as long as they are in the flat file they should be fine with just the sleeve after they have flattened. So mostly the ones that I know I will be taking out more have the boards in with them at the moment.

[SwiftDeath]

I have done both put prints in just sleeves and put them on a backing boards held in place with photo corners then placed in the sleeves. Ideally I want to put them all with backing boards but as long as they are in the flat file they should be fine with just the sleeve after they have flattened. So mostly the ones that I know I will be taking out more have the boards in with them at the moment.

That does sound like a good solution and would make for a nice coffee table

Could even store a portfolio in there as well

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

i have found some decent deals on portfolios but the more i look at that table the more i like it. only downside is that i have no room for something that large and the art portfolios seem to be a bit more space saving. swift, where did you say you can get those ones with the rings?

[SwiftDeath]

i have found some decent deals on portfolios but the more i look at that table the more i like it. only downside is that i have no room for something that large and the art portfolios seem to be a bit more space saving. swift, where did you say you can get those ones with the rings?

Here

http://www.dickblick.com/products/itoya-art-profolio-multi-ring-refillable-binders/

or here

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/presentation/cases/

I'd go with a Pratt Presentation Case personally

I will at some point

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

Here

http://www.dickblick.com/products/itoya-art-profolio-multi-ring-refillable-binders/

or here

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/presentation/cases/

I'd go with a Pratt Presentation Case personally

I will at some point

nice. i went to michaels and they wanted like 50-60 for a case that was half as nice as those and were only bound to the spine. plus never get prints framed there. from what i heard they do not use 100% acid free back board, matting and glass.

[SwiftDeath]

nice. i went to michaels and they wanted like 50-60 for a case that was half as nice as those and were only bound to the spine. plus never get prints framed there. from what i heard they do not use 100% acid free back board, matting and glass.

Yeah I wouldn't use Michael's for this sort of stuff but if you make sure to be 100% what they will do to your lithos before you hand them over

[IAmTheLoneWanderer]

Yeah I wouldn't use Michael's for this sort of stuff but if you make sure to be 100% what they will do to your lithos before you hand them over

yeah theres a couple of professional framing places around me that do damn good work so i take them there because they know what they are doing.

[Pop Alexandra]

Does anyone have any experience with Artys Transport (https://artystransit.ca/en) for art storage (https://artystransit.ca/en/museum/storage)?

[Pop Alexandra]

Here

http://www.dickblick.com/products/itoya-art-profolio-multi-ring-refillable-binders/

or here

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/presentation/cases/



Thanks for the recommendation.
I'll surely get one soon.
__________________________
Alexandra from art transport (https://artystransit.ca/en)