Storing your Art in Portfolio case 0

[Xatari]

I buy mylars from eGerber and Itoya Advantage portfolios from B&H Photo.

B&H has the lowest prices and great customer service. 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/563006-REG/Itoya_AD24_13_Art_Portfolio_Advantage_Book.html

The Itoyas fit perfectly in my TOPO Design backpack.  I can fit upward of 5-6 portfolios in one of these.

https://topodesigns.com/products/convertible-travel-bag-laptop-backpack-40l?variant=42979982639157

[Rick2you2]

On 9/25/2024 at 7:23 PM, Sakaarian collector said:

I know most of these posts were from a few years ago. Is placing them in museum grade mylars 11x17 still the way to go and then placing them in 12x18 itoyas? Any specific 11x17 size mylars suggested so there's no worry about acid issues or otherwise down the road? Never bought them before as I only had a few OA pieces and all were framed but with all the new pieces I picked up recently, they'll have to go in a binder. 

Suggestions on best mylar museum grade 11x17 brand and where to buy? Looks like Amazon is still the way to go for an itoya binder that holds 12x18?

Thanks

I should point out that I think some of the concerns about storage are over-wrought so long as you keep the art in a cool, dry and dark place—particularly, dark. I keep mine in Itoya’s with some mylars, in the dark at room temperature, but except for valuable pieces, the mylars are not worth the inconvenience.

[Rick2you2]

On 9/25/2024 at 7:23 PM, Sakaarian collector said:

I know most of these posts were from a few years ago. Is placing them in museum grade mylars 11x17 still the way to go and then placing them in 12x18 itoyas? Any specific 11x17 size mylars suggested so there's no worry about acid issues or otherwise down the road? Never bought them before as I only had a few OA pieces and all were framed but with all the new pieces I picked up recently, they'll have to go in a binder. 

Suggestions on best mylar museum grade 11x17 brand and where to buy? Looks like Amazon is still the way to go for an itoya binder that holds 12x18?

Thanks

I should point out that I think some of the concerns about storage are over-wrought so long as you keep the art in a cool, dry and dark place—particularly, dark. I keep mine in Itoya’s with some mylars, in the dark at room temperature, but except for valuable pieces, the mylars are not worth the inconvenience.

[Rick2you2]

On 9/25/2024 at 7:23 PM, Sakaarian collector said:

I know most of these posts were from a few years ago. Is placing them in museum grade mylars 11x17 still the way to go and then placing them in 12x18 itoyas? Any specific 11x17 size mylars suggested so there's no worry about acid issues or otherwise down the road? Never bought them before as I only had a few OA pieces and all were framed but with all the new pieces I picked up recently, they'll have to go in a binder. 

Suggestions on best mylar museum grade 11x17 brand and where to buy? Looks like Amazon is still the way to go for an itoya binder that holds 12x18?

Thanks

I should point out that I think some of the concerns about storage are over-wrought so long as you keep the art in a cool, dry and dark place—particularly, dark. I keep mine in Itoya’s with some mylars, in the dark at room temperature, but except for valuable pieces, the mylars are not worth the inconvenience.

[Rick2you2]

On 9/25/2024 at 7:23 PM, Sakaarian collector said:

I know most of these posts were from a few years ago. Is placing them in museum grade mylars 11x17 still the way to go and then placing them in 12x18 itoyas? Any specific 11x17 size mylars suggested so there's no worry about acid issues or otherwise down the road? Never bought them before as I only had a few OA pieces and all were framed but with all the new pieces I picked up recently, they'll have to go in a binder. 

Suggestions on best mylar museum grade 11x17 brand and where to buy? Looks like Amazon is still the way to go for an itoya binder that holds 12x18?

Thanks

I should point out that I think some of the concerns about storage are over-wrought so long as you keep the art in a cool, dry and dark place—particularly, dark. I keep mine in Itoya’s with some mylars, in the dark at room temperature, but except for valuable pieces, the mylars are not worth the inconvenience.

[Sakaarian collector]

On 9/26/2024 at 12:58 AM, Xatari said:

I buy mylars from eGerber and Itoya Advantage portfolios from B&H Photo.

B&H has the lowest prices and great customer service. 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/563006-REG/Itoya_AD24_13_Art_Portfolio_Advantage_Book.html

The Itoyas fit perfectly in my TOPO Design backpack.  I can fit upward of 5-6 portfolios in one of these.

https://topodesigns.com/products/convertible-travel-bag-laptop-backpack-40l?variant=42979982639157

Nice. Thanks for the links and suggestions. Much appreciated. 

[Sakaarian collector]

On 9/26/2024 at 6:53 AM, Rick2you2 said:

I should point out that I think some of the concerns about storage are over-wrought so long as you keep the art in a cool, dry and dark place—particularly, dark. I keep mine in Itoya’s with some mylars, in the dark at room temperature, but except for valuable pieces, the mylars are not worth the inconvenience.

I'm guessing that a few will make it to frames but most will be in these portfolios for years to come. They will be placed in a fairly dark room with shades always closed and the room temp is usually 60 to 70 degrees all year round and in a non smoking environment but I'd like the mylars to be nice and clear rather than cloudy if possible (bought some cgc bags that were cloudy that I wasn't thrilled with) but I'm mostly concerned with preserving the nice white board color as much as I can over the years. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated. 

[Brian Peck]

Most of my collection is in portfolios in my custom made shelf I made. And the large art is in my blueprint desk (45x54).

 

[Sakaarian collector]

On 9/26/2024 at 6:46 PM, Brian Peck said:

Most of my collection is in portfolios in my custom made shelf I made. And the large art is in my blueprint desk (45x54).

 

Looks like nice and neat, easy storage. Good way to go. 

[Rick2you2]

On 9/26/2024 at 1:32 PM, Sakaarian collector said:

I'm guessing that a few will make it to frames but most will be in these portfolios for years to come. They will be placed in a fairly dark room with shades always closed and the room temp is usually 60 to 70 degrees all year round and in a non smoking environment but I'd like the mylars to be nice and clear rather than cloudy if possible (bought some cgc bags that were cloudy that I wasn't thrilled with) but I'm mostly concerned with preserving the nice white board color as much as I can over the years. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated. 

Be very cautious with artwork in which markers are used. They fade badly in sunlight. My avatar was made with a marker, but it has spent over 35 years in the dark (in an old cheap frame in the closet). I have never had a Mylar fade, by the way. Also, dry. Moisture is the enemy of paper, even air moisture.

[MB1952]

This are my go to folios 

 

[ScoopFlow]

Thank you for this thread. Much appreciated 🙏

[Sakaarian collector]

On 9/27/2024 at 6:53 AM, Rick2you2 said:

Be very cautious with artwork in which markers are used. They fade badly in sunlight. My avatar was made with a marker, but it has spent over 35 years in the dark (in an old cheap frame in the closet). I have never had a Mylar fade, by the way. Also, dry. Moisture is the enemy of paper, even air moisture.

Ahhh...I'll keep that in mind for anything I happen to pick up that consists of marker work. These are done with pencils only with the exception of a few, which were also inked. The storage space for them is dark and dry so I should be good to go as far as location in concerned. Time for a new location...I need more wall space! 

[AlexGarcia]

I was hoping to find 12 x 18 mylar 2 mil flap. Not sure if there's such a thing. I only see 4 mil no flap available.   

[comix4fun]

On 9/27/2024 at 9:54 PM, AlexGarcia said:

I was hoping to find 12 x 18 mylar 2 mil flap. Not sure if there's such a thing. I only see 4 mil no flap available.   

Looks like the closest thing is 11.5 x 17.5 from gerber, all the 12x18 or larger mylar bags I've purchased have been 4 mil with no flap. 

https://www.egerber.com/catalog_mylites2.htm

[comix4fun]

As everyone's said, Itoyas are the way a lot of us go for storage portfolios. 
I've found myself going back to Blick's over and over again. Prices can vary but they are always very close to the lowest and their "Free shipping over $59" usually tips them over the edge price wise when ordering a couple at a time. 
Also, they have physical brick and mortar locations in something like 24 states (multiples in NY, CA, IL etc) where you can usually run and pick up what you want and/or make easy returns if there's a problem without shipping. 

https://www.dickblick.com/products/itoya-original-art-profolios/


And 13"x19" is, I agree, a great catch-all size for storage. I have Itoyas from 9x12 up to 18x24 but the vast majority are 13"x19" and they've held up very well over the years. 

[RBerman]

If you only have one, 13x19 will hold most of what you're likely to get. If you have multiple portfolios worth, a variety of sizes makes sense. I have 8.5x11 up to 18x24, with 11x17 being most common. 12x18 is a nice size because some "11x17" pages are just barely larger than that.

[AlexGarcia]

On 9/28/2024 at 6:47 AM, comix4fun said:

Looks like the closest thing is 11.5 x 17.5 from gerber, all the 12x18 or larger mylar bags I've purchased have been 4 mil with no flap. 

https://www.egerber.com/catalog_mylites2.htm

I purchased those (12x18 mylar 4 mil) awhile back. The issue I have with those, I placed them in a 13 x19 Itoya portfolio and it got too bulky. I ended up buying the multi ring binder instead. But would love to find those 12 x 18 mylars if it ever comes up in the market.