Sheet Protectors

What is the difference between sheet protectors, jackets, and sleeves?

all three of these terms are used to describe the same thing. 1 sheet protector = 1 jacket = 1 sleeve.

what is image size vs. sheet size?

image size is the size of your print or tear sheet or whatever else is going inside the portfolio book or box. It is the size of your “guts”.

sheet size (jacket size) represents the size of the sheet protector that will hold your inserts. If you are not using sheet protectors or jackets, then the image size = sheet size. Typically, if you are using sheet protectors, the sheet size will be the same height as the insert size, but will be 3/4” wider than the sheet size. (for polyester, bc lite, and acetate jackets)

what is the standard hole punching?

punching patterns are based on the length of the binding dimension. For instance, when the binding side is 14”, the punching will be 4 – 3 ½. This means there are 4 holes spaced 3 1/2” apart from each other. (hole distance is measured from the center of hole 1 to the center of hole 2). The entire punching pattern is centered on the binding side.

the distance from the hole to the edge of the page is also standard. The center of the hole will be 3/8” from the edge of the paper – the industry standard. Although this can be altered per request.

what is sealed vs. non-sealed?

sealed refers to the edges of the jackets – if there any chance the page could fall out. With polyester, bc lite, and polyester the right edge is sealed, the top, bottom and left side are non-sealed. There is very little risk that pages will fall out though – we rarely hear customers with this issue. The static electricity between the sheet protector and the print is a strong force that will hold the page in place.

the bc vinyl, hg vinyl, and bc lite pocket are sealed on the right and bottom, and with some sizes, they are sealed on the left as well. All of our jackets are top-loading, which means none are sealed on top.

what are filler options?

the standard filler in our jackets is black paper. This black paper is included in the cost. White fillers are available for an additional charge. If you prefer, we can remove the black paper and sell sheet protectors with no fillers – this may incur a charge depending on quantity.

what does archival mean?

the term archival represents the lack of interaction between the specific sheet protector and any material it may come into contact with. For instance, some jackets will react with particular paper or ink and either turn a yellowish hue, or take on the color of the paper or ink. When we refer to archival jackets, there will be no interaction between the sheet protector and the inserts. We always recommend archival jackets as there is no risk they will react with your prints or ink.

how long is the life of the sheet protectors?

each of the jackets we sell is a consumable good. They will not last forever unless they are never touched and never moved. Their timeline is in direct correlation to how they are treated. Some of our customers replace jackets after each use, while others can make 2-3 years with the same set. Use and care are the determining factors for timeline. And of course, some jackets will last longer than others.

do vinyl jackets fit in portfolios originally made for acetate jackets?

no. portfolio books that are made to accommodate acetate sheet protectors will not fit vinyl jackets. Since the vinyl jackets are sealed they are physically larger than acetate or other non-sealed jackets. So even though each jacket may be built to hold 14 x 11 prints, the jackets themselves are not the same size. Since each of our portfolios is built to fit the jackets perfectly, this swtich to vinyl jackets will not look good.

can i put kingston hinging on bc lite jackets?

no. the method we use to hinge jackets involves a white glue that does not react well with the polypropylene in the bc lite jackets. While we can hinge any other jacket we offer, or customer supplied prints, we cannot apply kingston hinging to bc lite jackets.

what does “type of insert” mean? so what?

this refers to what the actual guts of the presentation will be. The capacity of the book will vary if you are putting in 50 tear sheets vs. 50 double thick epson sheets of paper. We need to calculate the exact thickness of the inserts, therefore the type of insert is critical. If you are unsure what type of insert you have, or will be using, please help us correctly make the book by measuring the contents' thickness and telling it to your salesperson when you order.