Presenting Polaroids Part 3: The Grimm Truth About Albums

[@stevewilliamson7264]

Well described after diligent research! And for me: inspiring to make more Polaroids; I can now visualize how they'll be viewed. Now...to make images worthy of the book!

[@WalkClickMake]

Thanks Steve!

[@gabvideo]

I have some original Polaroid Sx70 photo albums bought in the UK in late 70s or early 80s. Very high quality. Each picture slips into cutouts ether at top and bottom of photo or slips into each corner. Each page holds 4 photos per side and album has 10 very thick black or beige card. Printed on album it says extra pages can be ordered (has 2 screw and posts to hold them) and front cover is printed “Polaroid SX70”. I don’t remember the cost.

[@WalkClickMake]

Lucky you! I'm surely they are better than the current offerings from Polaroid.

[@nicolarandon]

Hello and first of all thank you for your valuable advice. I also saw the video of the conservation tactics. Since I wanted to get the polaroid album you show at the beginning of the video, and knowing that the new snapshots are protected by a layer of plastic (I have the polaroid now), can I play it safe from a conservation point of view? On the materials of the plastic sleeves (I'm about the original polaroid album), it doesn't spoil the photo right? Thank you!

[@WalkClickMake]

Hi there! I think you will be safe storing photos in a Polaroid-branded album with plastic sleeves. As you mentioned, Polaroid SX-70s are self-contained in their own sealed package. Any potential of-gasses from the album's plastic sleeves (I don't think Polaroid specifies the kind of plastic used) are unlikely to affect your Polaroids. The only slight issue might be the plastic sleeve sticking to the clear Polaroid cover in a high humidity situation. But that's highly unlikely.

[@nicolarandon]

@@WalkClickMake Hello, thank you for your reply. The plastic they use is PUL (polyurethane laminated) (Polaroid’s customer service just replied me today). Do you think it's safe? I'll take this opportunity to ask you something else: if I decide instead to keep the shots in a scratchbook with self-adhesive corners, do I have to be careful about the material of the book cover? And last thing: writing with an indelible pen or biro in the white part of the polaroid or in the sheet where it is glued with the self-adhesive corners, is it likely to ruin it in some way? (Always for the talk of smells or strange reactions). Sorry for all these questions but I want to be sure to keep them in the best possible way without making mistakes and from the videos you have made it is deduced that you are very experienced. Thank you a lot

[@WalkClickMake]

@@nicolarandon Good research! I'm not familiar with PUL but it appears to be a very thin layer of polyurethane laminated between two polyester layers. I can't quickly find any archival information for PUL but polyester is considered photo safe. I believe the clear cover on SX-70s is also polyester. So I would consider the PUL as a safe option. Regarding scrapbooks, I would stick to ones that are minimally labelled "photo safe" but preferably labelled acid-free and even better with a ph of 7 or higher. As this may only apply to the photo pages and not the covers, I would mount photos starting on the second page so the first page acts as a barrier between the cover and your first photos. Make sure you use acid-free photo corners, which are easy to find. Regarding pens, I would stick to archival pigment ink pens such as Pigma Micron pens, available at art supply stores. There's nothing wrong with writing on the SX-70 white border. Just be aware that it is permanent. Hope this is helpful! David

[@nicolarandon]

@@WalkClickMake Thank you so much for all your comprehensive advice, you were very helpful to me. Last question just to be sure, i promise! Color i type film and color 600 film are protected by the polyester layer just as sx-70 films right?

[@nicolarandon]

@@WalkClickMake hi David, Can you solve this last doubt for me please? I hope you are well, bye

[@aannewood2983]

thx for the tips :)

[@WalkClickMake]

Happy to help!