Whether they run a gallery or museum or they archive their own photography, many archival and artistic professionals would probably agree that photographs are some of the most fickle materials to store. Historical photos are irreplaceable, and may have been developed using complex methods that make them vulnerable to light, acids, grease, scratches and other damage. Modern-day photographs can be just as tricky to archive, because the slightest alteration to color or tone can detract from them.

This is why there are many different archival storage options for photography. Sleeves and other enclosures are among the most useful of these. These products protect images from environmental damage while making it easy to organize prints. Which enclosure is right for your needs?

Considering chemical interactions
One of the most important considerations to make when choosing archival storage products for photographs is the potential chemical reactions. Because photography is technically a chemical creation, there are many opportunities for reactions between the image and the storage item that can damage the piece. 

As such, it's important to pay attention to the materials your archival products are made of. Polypropylene is one good material for storing photos. This archival-safe material is stiff, heat resistant and stable, meaning it will not react with other chemicals it comes into contact with. Film/Print Sleeves are a particularly excellent polypropylene item, useful for both negatives and photo prints.

Side Loading Print Sleeves, made of 3 mil uncoated Melinex 516, are another option for chemical-free protection for images. This material ensures that both the images and the protective sleeve will not chemically interact during storage.

Easy to see, easy to use
As important as it is to protect photographs from damage, it's also important to be able to see the images as you're storing or archiving them. Unlike a newspaper clipping or other written document, photos contain visual information, so it's almost always easier to navigate through photo files if their enclosures are transparent. That's another reason polypropylene and other safe materials like polyethylene are great for protecting photos.

Optically clear enclosures like 35 mm Mounted Slide Sleeves allow you to inspect a document without removing it, preventing damage from fingerprints, dust or other environmental factors.

Keeping the originals safe
What is more irreplaceable than a photograph? A negative. Many museums and archives store negatives for long periods of time while also maintaining an original copy of a photograph. But if the negatives are lost or damaged, the photo is essentially lost, too. That's why protecting negatives and film during storage is so important. 

These materials should not be stored in PVC vinyl bags, but rather in archival-safe sleeves, folders and boxes. PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride, is a plastic that is not chemically stable and emits damaging hydrochloric acid as it deteriorates. Using paper products or chemically inert plastics are better for long-term storage and archiving. 

The Negative File Folders, made of heavyweight 7-point cardstock, are a good option for long-term storage for the original strips of film. Negatives are best protected from environmental damage like oil, dust and other pollutants when these folders are stored in Side Lock Film Sleeves and archival boxes. 

It's no use to have undamaged negatives if you can't find them. Organizing these small documents can be haphazard and difficult at times, which is why it's important the enclosures you choose have tabs on each pocket. Choosing pocket-style folders makes it easy to organize these documents by job, subject or roll number.