Connecting to Collections Care

The museum I work for has a very active website where we post frequent articles about various historical topics. Recently there's been some discussion of having those articles printed to make physical copies which we can archive. Does anyone know the best type of printer and ink, as well as paper that should be used for this? 

We're also considering printed object labels for some of our artifacts. Ideally the printer could do both functions?

Thanks!

Hello Katrina,

Thank you for your question. That sounds like a great series your museum has going.

Perhaps someone in the community has some insights on this and will chime in, but I will also look into this and let you know what I find.

I want to check that I understand: are the printed object labels for attaching to objects, or are they exhibition labels? Thanks so much!

Best wishes,
Lisa

The museum I work for has a very active website where we post frequent articles about various historical topics. Recently there's been some discussion of having those articles printed to make physical copies which we can archive. Does anyone know the best type of printer and ink, as well as paper that should be used for this? 

We're also considering printed object labels for some of our artifacts. Ideally the printer could do both functions?

Thanks!

The museum I work for has a very active website where we post frequent articles about various historical topics. Recently there's been some discussion of having those articles printed to make physical copies which we can archive. Does anyone know the best type of printer and ink, as well as paper that should be used for this? 

We're also considering printed object labels for some of our artifacts. Ideally the printer could do both functions?

Thanks!

Hi Katrina, 

In regard to object labeling, I've always used Permalife archival bond paper (or equivalent) as it is acid and lignin free and is lightweight enough to easily mold to different surfaces while not being easily torn - https://www.talasonline.com/Permalife-Paper?quantity=1&size=53. While I usually opt on the side of caution and go for a paper that I know is acid-free and archivally safe, I believe most regular copy paper should be acid-free and some museums may use regular copy paper depending on the artifacts being labeled. We either use Paraloid B-72 or Rhoplex B60A as a base and top coat, again depending on the qualities of the artifact being labeled (i.e., material, stability, etc.). If using a paper tag or sewn-in tag, we will also print a label and then adhere it to the tag using the Rhoplex. If you are looking for paper that is archivally safe for long-term storage of printed articles, this type of paper may also be a good option. 

For the printer, the most important thing in my experience is ensuring it is a laser printer and not an ink-jet. This is especially important for labeling as labels created using an inkjet printer will smear! I imagine a laser printer would also be ideal for the copies of articles as you would not have to worry as much about off-gassing or smearing in storage. 

I hope this helps! 

The museum I work for has a very active website where we post frequent articles about various historical topics. Recently there's been some discussion of having those articles printed to make physical copies which we can archive. Does anyone know the best type of printer and ink, as well as paper that should be used for this? 

We're also considering printed object labels for some of our artifacts. Ideally the printer could do both functions?

Thanks!

Hello Katrina,

Thanks so much for clarifying! Another question for you is: how image-heavy are the articles/is there a lot of color? I've been reading up on printers, and what I've seen so far agrees with Rachel (look for a laser printer). With technology changing so quickly, it's hard to pin down what is best at any given time, but the Image Permanence Institute published a guide in 2018 indicating that laser printing systems have less variability than inkjets, especially for black and white printing (one of the reasons I asked about color). All those variables affect how the prints will stand up in different environmental conditions; the guide recommends that inkjet prints be stored cold because some of them are so sensitive. That's not to say that you couldn't find a good inkjet printer, and maybe others will share their recommendations, but there would be more variables to consider.

Another reason I asked about images is because of optical brighteners, which are commonly added to regular copy paper to make the paper appear whiter. It seems optical brighteners are fleeting, so the color of the paper may change over time, affecting the appearance of printed images. Optical brighteners are also water soluble, which might cause problems with your object labeling system. If these are of concern, a paper without optical brighteners, acid-free and lignin-free like the one that Rachel mentioned, might be a better option than typical printer paper.

I will let you know if I receive any further information. In the meanwhile, let me know if you have any questions, and we'll see if anyone has more to add.

Best wishes,
Lisa

Hi Katrina, 

In regard to object labeling, I've always used Permalife archival bond paper (or equivalent) as it is acid and lignin free and is lightweight enough to easily mold to different surfaces while not being easily torn - https://www.talasonline.com/Permalife-Paper?quantity=1&size=53. While I usually opt on the side of caution and go for a paper that I know is acid-free and archivally safe, I believe most regular copy paper should be acid-free and some museums may use regular copy paper depending on the artifacts being labeled. We either use Paraloid B-72 or Rhoplex B60A as a base and top coat, again depending on the qualities of the artifact being labeled (i.e., material, stability, etc.). If using a paper tag or sewn-in tag, we will also print a label and then adhere it to the tag using the Rhoplex. If you are looking for paper that is archivally safe for long-term storage of printed articles, this type of paper may also be a good option. 

For the printer, the most important thing in my experience is ensuring it is a laser printer and not an ink-jet. This is especially important for labeling as labels created using an inkjet printer will smear! I imagine a laser printer would also be ideal for the copies of articles as you would not have to worry as much about off-gassing or smearing in storage. 

I hope this helps! 

The museum I work for has a very active website where we post frequent articles about various historical topics. Recently there's been some discussion of having those articles printed to make physical copies which we can archive. Does anyone know the best type of printer and ink, as well as paper that should be used for this? 

We're also considering printed object labels for some of our artifacts. Ideally the printer could do both functions?

Thanks!