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How to Choose Archival Photo Sleeves and Enclosures
Choose archival sleeves that pass the Photographic Activity Test, selecting clear plastics like polyester for frequent viewing or paper to lower costs.
To choose archival photo sleeves, select materials that pass the Photographic Activity Test Library of Congress, deciding between clear inert plastics to view photos without handling or paper enclosures to reduce costs, while avoiding PVC National Archives.
When a photograph requires an individual sleeve
A photograph does not always need its own sleeve; the National Archives recommends considering individual sleeves for prints that are fragile, heavily used, or easily misplaced National Archives.
Damaged or flaking photographs can need a different enclosure choice National Archives. If you are working with significant lifting or flaking emulsion, seek specialist advice before proceeding National Archives.
Comparing clear plastic and paper enclosures
A marketing label alone claiming an enclosure is "archival" does not establish its safety Library of Congress. Instead, photograph enclosure materials should meet specific archival specifications, including the Photographic Activity Test Library of Congress.
In a stable, moderate environment, the National Archives permits the use of clear inert sleeves made from polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene National Archives.
Clear sleeves allow readers to view a heavily used image without repeatedly removing it National Archives. Paper enclosures cost less, but they increase handling because you must remove the photograph for viewing National Archives.
Materials to avoid and how to pack sleeves
The National Archives warns against using PVC plastics, glassine, and office-quality paper as enclosures for photographs National Archives.
Where possible, you should place one photograph per sleeve or envelope National Archives. If two photographs must share a single sleeve, position them back-to-back National Archives.
As a practical suggestion for your wider collection, you may also want to read about how to store old photo albums, check how to preserve handwritten captions on old photos, and review how to display old family photos without damaging originals.
