Twenty-some-odd years ago, I went on a quest to find the best storage solution for my photostrips. I found a great option, but never got around to posting about it. After seeing the myriad approaches of my fellow convention-goers earlier this month, I decided it was time to write this long-overdue post.
(TL;DR For US-based boothers, I recommend the Print File archival negative pages, product number ULT 35–6BXW. See below for a UK-based option.)
After failed attempts at using photo corners (too labor-intensive), philatelic mounts (too fussy), and various bags, envelopes, boxes, and hanging-file systems, I began testing the archival storage offerings at Print File. Print File has a wide selection of notebooks, pages, sleeves, and boxes for storing photos and negatives. I tried a few different sizes of sleeves, and settled on the ULT 35–6BXW Negative Pages. These are pages designed for 35mm negatives that are already in plastic sleeves, and it turns out they fit a standard 4‑pose photostrip like a glove. They also have a small welded seam at the bottom of each photo channel so the strip can’t slide out the bottom of the page. The pages are slightly longer than a strip, so you end up with some unused space in each slot, but it was a better option than the slightly-too-small ULT 35–6HB pages. I also tried similar pages from other manufacturers (Pro-Line #PL24920, ClearFile #12011B) but felt like the Print File pages were of higher quality.
Note: these pages require an oversized binder to properly encapsulate the pages. I use various sizes of the Avery Heavy-Duty View 3 Ring Binder, Extra Wide. (2″ and 3″ spines work best for me)
I’m still working through my original supply of Print File pages, but ordered a new package recently and was saddened to see that they’ve lost a bit of quality. There used to be a white stripe along the punched edge where you could write information (date, project, etc), but Print File must have removed it for cost reasons. Also the plastic looks a tad thinner, but this might just be me.
Old (white label) vs. new (no label) Print File sheets.
When comparing notes with Marco Ferrari at the London convention, I realized we had arrived at the same solution, but from a different vendor. He was using pages from a British company named Secol. Secol’s equivalent product is the Hanging A‑S 7 Strip Pockets Pages (Ref No AS104S7). Marco gave me a page to test and it feels slightly higher quality than the Print File pages I use. For you US readers, Secol will ship to the US but it is very expensive. For that reason I’ve stuck with Print File.
Disclaimer: this post contains some Amazon affiliate links.