SB: Is this going to be a problem?

[Liz]

Hi! I usually keep my scrapbooks/photo albums really simple. This last one I've been working on I used some stuff from extra park maps, etc. that I cut out and added to my pages. Later I started thinking I use acid free card stock, archival pens, photo corners, etc. but I doubt the park guides are on acid free paper. I guess I should have scanned them and printed them out. I really don't want to go back and redo my pages! Any advice? Thanks!

 

[chessie]

No one can say proof positive that it will not be a problem, but It shouldn't be, as long as your photos are not in direct contact with the memorabilia. I usually make sure I mount my photos on AF card stock when I am using memorabilia on a page. The acid might leach into your background paper and travel. It gives an additional layer of protection.

 

[Lesley]

I use my maps in my album...making sure they do not touch my photos and also protecting everything from acid migration by being sure my pages and papers are buffered. Buffering neutralizes the acid that is in most memoribilia so that it won't spread. For certain things I am using portrait sleeves, but for my maps I'm mainly using pocket pages. I put few, if any, photos on these pages and the facing page is always protected w/ a page protector.

Here is a link to my album. I hope to add more soon...but there are a couple of pages there already that have maps/brochures on them:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4024422&a=30182126&f=0

 

[Lesley]

Ack! Sorry, misread your post. IMO the safest thing to do would be to pull up the questionable items and back them w/acid free, lignin free, buffered paper. That's what I did w/ the title page of my album that uses a postcard. But if the items aren't touching your photos and your pages are buffered it shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[Keli]

What about using archival mist? Would that work?

 

[Liz]

Thanks for the advice.

Now for more questions. After reading this you'll really know I don't know what I'm doing!!!

What do you mean by buffering, what is lignin free (I always look for acid free but this is new to me) and what is archival mist?! I'm beginning to think I'll be lucky for my pages to last 10 minutes much less 10 years!

I did end up redoing most of the pages with the maps, etc. I knew it would continue to bug me!! LOL!!

 

[BevS97]

I honestly wouldn't worry about it - I am in the middle of repairing my dad's scrapbooks which are 40+ years old and nothing is archivally safe, and for the most part everything is fine.
The adhesive is important - the sellotape dad used has done terrible damage, and the photo's in magnetic albums are yellowed - but things like maps, menus, programs etc which he has put in with his photo's don't appear to have caused any problems and he hasn't used any page protectors or anything like that. Even things like newspaper cuttings which are very high in acid/lignin have been ok in my dad's oldest scrapbooks (which are not magnetic but more like a construction paper style) - Personally, looking at the state of dad's scrapbooks, I am mostly concerned about adhesives and journalling - I think if you combine safe adhesive with a safe album, then you will be 90% of the way there.



as for your questions

What do you mean by buffering,

Buffered paper is supposed to stop any acid in your memorbilia from transferring to your paper and eventually to your photos - CM paper is buffered - it's not really something I worry about, but it depends on how concerned you are

what is lignin free (I always look for acid free but this is new to me)

Lignin is a natural substance found in tree pulp that causes paper to turn brown (much like newsprint will turn yellow and then brown over time). (from the CM website)

and what is archival mist?!

this is a very expensive product (IMHO) that can be sprayed on non acid-free items to neutralise them and make them safe - it's particularly good for newsprint which doesn't keep very well - but I find it very pricey - so I tend to live with the risks, and scan anything really important.