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Does it really make that much difference to use the craft ink in your scrapbooks? The catalog just says for longer lasting color to use the craft. Does anybody know if the classic inks will fade rather quickly or are they adequate to use?
I'm not an archival expert but from what I've read the craft which are a pigment stay on top of the paper while the classic which are dye actually soak into the fibers. I've used dye ink on my scrapbook before and it seems to be still fine but again it's only been about three years or so. Hmmm I wonder if there is an archival expert than can interject some knowledge I think I read about someone on here that knew quite a bit. So I have an add on question obviously ink pens are dye ink so why aren't there more pens that have pigment ink to use for archival reasons? Also are gel pens better or worse than regular pens for scrapping?
Classic inks (dye inks) are waterbased. This means that if your scrapbooks were to get damp or wet the inks would run. They also will eventually fade. Craft inks (pigment inks) are not waterbased and once they dry they should stay put if they get damp or wet. Now having said all that, in actuality when you think about it, if your scrapbooks get damp or wet you are going to be more concerned about preserving the pictures than you are about the inks. The inks could just compound the problem (by dying your pictures.)
There are those that are concerned with things being "archival safe" but one thing to consider is that you most likely won't be storing your scrapbooks in a humidity and temperature controlled vault such as the ones at the National Archives in Washington (or even your local university library.) Archival means that the produt should last for a minimum of 200 years before breaking down or causing decay. In 200 years I'm not going to be alive, my pictures are going to fade, get destroyed or be archived in some digital medium. What I'm concerned with is the next 100 years where I might still have children alive who will remember me (maybe even grandchildren.)
I've worked with library archives before and can tell you a few things about scrapbooks and "archival safe." Photographs by their nature are acidic. So you can never have "acid free scrapbooks" What you can have is scrapbooks that are made with acid neutral products as to retard the acidic leach that the photographs will eventually spead. Unless you wear gloves when you scrapbook, you are transferring all kinds of stuff (acids, oils, bacteria) to your pages as you create them. There are certain things that you can do to reduce the eventual destruction to your photographs and scrapbooks. Try to use acid neutral products in your scrapbooks. Don't use things that will rust such as staples and and wire that is not made for scrapbooking. Try to stay away from metals that will naturally produce a patina such as copper. Use acid free slip covers your pages. Store your scrapbooks flat, not standing up, it puts too much strain on the bindings. Check your scrapbooks periodically for mold. Because I live here in the south where it is ever humid, I have to actually clean my scrapbook page protectors a couple times a year because of mold! This is a dry mold that grows because the books aren't looked at daily.
I could talk for hours on preservation!
__________________ Michelle
Docorate of De-Edumacation, Lawd, How Cum granted by Rainsong
"What's life if not doing things for other people?" Martin Gray
Don't want to steal the thread but I store mine standing because of the pressure it puts on the actual pictures if the albom is lying flat. I can replace the book if the bindings break but I can not replace the pictures if they are embossed by pressure and weigt. Anyway just my two sense.
Thanks for the tip about scrapbook storage. I had mine horizontally stored, but I see everyone in the magazines with them vertically, so I had changed it over the weekend. I feel so silly now, because it makes sense that storing vertically could stress the bindings. Going to go lay them down now...
Please do! Thanks for all the information. Can you do us a checklist of the most important things please? I'm not totally obsessed with acid-free because, like you say, there's acid already there in the photos and from your fingers and because I'm not going to be around to see them ruined - I think they'll give more pleasure now than in 200 years' time. But I don't want to do anything that will cause damage in the nearer future. I'm a bit upset about the staples to be honest!
As a former CM consultant, I can tell you that CM suggests storing your albums vertically, not horizontally. Storing them flat puts too much pressure on the photos, especially if you use a lot of embellishments. You can always replace the album, if the bindings give out. But you can't always replace the photos themselves. I store all of my albums upright, and I have between 10-15. Just my $.02.
I too store them vertically because I find that small embelishments like eyelets can cause dents in the photos. Tampersay those are definately good hints and a good point about the dye inks. I live in Oregon so are climate is humid but not as humid as yours so thank goodness I don't have the mold problem. You and I have about the same idea about how long a scrapbook is going to last. I figure since the photos are color they won't last as long anyway. I do it primarily for enjoyment and if there are future generations that are able to enjoy them cool if not I like flipping through my own books. ;) Nina58 as for the staples I'm not so sure I would believe that one. They might be coated with something to help that but what if the coating is damaged and how to they do the process? I mean if the staples are stuck together how do they make sure to coat in between them? The other thing you have to consider is dents that can be made by metal embellishments. As I mentioned above I've gotten dents from eyelets on other pages which is frustrating but I like the look so much that I've continued to do so. Just my thoughts on the matter.
I'm not an archival expert but from what I've read the craft which are a pigment stay on top of the paper while the classic which are dye actually soak into the fibers. I've used dye ink on my scrapbook before and it seems to be still fine but again it's only been about three years or so. Hmmm I wonder if there is an archival expert than can interject some knowledge I think I read about someone on here that knew quite a bit. So I have an add on question obviously ink pens are dye ink so why aren't there more pens that have pigment ink to use for archival reasons? Also are gel pens better or worse than regular pens for scrapping?
Not an expert, but I do know the scrapbooking pens that are "archival" such as ZIG and Micron are pigment inks. They'll say fade-proof, water-proof, etc.
Classic inks (dye inks) are waterbased. This means that if your scrapbooks were to get damp or wet the inks would run. They also will eventually fade.
Michelle, thanks for posting this great information. The question I have is on the "fadability" (is that even a word?) of dye-based inks. How long will it take for dye-based inks to actually start to fade and even fade completely? What are the factors that will cause the inks to fade more quickly? For example, I suspect sunlight plays a part in this. TIA!
Exposure to light will certainly affect how long it takes dye inks to fade. Lighter inks also will fade faster than darker...
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaybee7
Michelle, thanks for posting this great information. The question I have is on the "fadability" (is that even a word?) of dye-based inks. How long will it take for dye-based inks to actually start to fade and even fade completely? What are the factors that will cause the inks to fade more quickly? For example, I suspect sunlight plays a part in this. TIA!
I did a book for my sis last year and used Acrylic Paints to paint on a CD. I then stamped the word "Creativity" with Classic Creamy Caramel on it. Within a few days, the word had almost completely disappeared. Had to stamp over it w/Close to Cocoa.
Classic vs. Craft ink
