Q + A
Q: What is lignin?
A: Lignin is found in all vascular plants and it’s what makes vegetables firm and crunchy and enables trees to grow taller and compete for sunshine. However, it’s very unstable in paper and is responsible for its yellowing and becoming brittle. All Celine Countryman products are lignin-free.
Q: What is vicuña?
A: The namesake for our beautiful brown books is a wild mammal of the Andes. It’s related to the llama and alpaca and has a fine, lustrous undercoat. Our books are covered in a fine, lustrous Japanese satin, but have no mammalian heritage.
Q: Why do some dogs chew books?
A: The adhesive in many book bindings is made of protein by-products—like bones and hides—from the meat industry. Gross perhaps, but it is organic, and a recycling of sorts. However, it’s not archival. Our glue is resin-based, thus making it both archival and not terribly appetizing to dogs.
Q: Why do some cats lick photos?
A: Feline behaviorists believe cats find the “plastic” odor of photos irresistible, and the coolness and texture feel good on their tongues. Also, photo surfaces can contain propylene glycol (a.k.a. anti-freeze), which has a temptingly sweet taste. Needless to say, the licking is not good for your pictures, much less so for your cats. Our premium binder’s board covers and archival boxes keep clever kitties out.
Q: Why are magnetic albums so bad for photos?
A: Well, for starters, they’re not magnetic… It’s actually adhesive and it’s bad because it gets transferred to the plastic sheet that lays on top of your photos. Look at your old magnetic albums—the pages are likely yellow or brown and the photos are either falling out because the adhesive dried out or they’re
permanently stuck to the page. Either way, the album is not magnetic and is not good for your beloved photographs!
Q: Hey, you guys know a lot about photo preservation. Where can I learn more?
A: Wilhelm Imaging Research: www.wilhelm-research.com
A: The Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/index.html
A: The Archival Advisor, Image Permanence Institute: www.archivaladvisor.com
Q: Why is pH-neutral different from acid-free?
A: Just as acidic printer paper, matboard, photo album paper, and the like, can be harmful to your
photos, so too can them being overly alkali. “Acid-free” may get a lot more attention, but alkyds are
harmful to the longevity of your photos, too. Our products our “pH-neutral” so that your photographs
receive the best possible protection.
Comments? Questions? Have a picture of your cat licking your prom photo or your dog noshing on your wedding album?
Send us an email! elizabeth@celinecompany.com