[Nhcoll-l] Labelling of alcohol-preserved specimens

Wed Apr 3 12:19:22 EDT 2013

Dear Jessica,

I agree with Nikolaj for two reasons (for European Collestions):

1. US collections mainly use undenatured alcohol, this is different in 
Europe; check for your denaturing agent spoiling the ethanol: if there 
are any ketones included (such as MEK), I would avoid any plastic 
printer medium and imprinting methods, because the ketones may corrode 
the plastics (both the printing ribbon & the "paper" itself)

2. For "normal" printers (ink jet, laser), printing in always a 
combination of printer _and_ printing medium. So there are no general 
recommendations for printers without testing this with your paper / 
available paper that can be supplied. Transparent paper has no fibres 
and is more or less waterproof (both can be disadvantageous because the 
paper is not stabilised with fibres and chemicals may leak from the 
paper). Archival Paper surely is the better option, however, if you 
would use the labels also for formaldehyde preserved specimens, it may 
be worth testing if the formaldehyde may react with the pulp of the 
paper (I observed a swelling of archival paper that turned sticky upon 
initial contact with diluted formaldehyde solution). Old ink jet 
printers (e.g. HP 600 series) use a different printing method (heating & 
shooting of ink bubbles onto paper), so in case results of a modern 
Epson or HP printers would not be satisfactory, it might be worth trying 
one of the old ones (we are still using HP 600 printers). But as said 
before, you should test this with your paper.

All the best
Dirk

Am 03.04.2013 15:51, schrieb Nikolaj Scharff:
>
> I would personally be worried that such labels will not last long 
> enough. Most polyester will, I think, in the long run become brittle 
> and crack. In Copenhagen we now have problems with old lids made of 
> varies kinds of plastic. These lids were introduced in the 60'ies and 
> have worked well until now when a large number starts to crack (after 
> 50 years!).
>
> We use regular archival quality paper or Byron Weston Resistall Paper 
> and we print the labels with ethanol resistant ink from Canon or HP. 
> Obviously, we don't know the ink formula of these inks, and thereby 
> the longevity of labels produced this way, but we have been using such 
> a system here in Copenhagen since 1994. I have printed labels sitting 
> on my window shelves and there is no obvious aging to be observed. I 
> regularly rub them gently with my fingers and there is still no 
> ink-smear. I would feel better using "regular paper and ink", instead 
> of thermo printing.
>
> It would be interesting to hear other opinions.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Nikolaj
>
> .....................................................................
>
> Nikolaj Scharff
>
> Director of Collections
>
> Associate Professor, Curator of Arachnida
>
> Department of Entomology
>
> Natural History Museum of Denmark
>
> Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen
>
> Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen
>
> DENMARK
>
> Tel. +45 35321107 Email. nscharff at snm.ku.dk <mailto:nscharff at snm.ku.dk>
>
> Webpage: http://snm.ku.dk/people/nscharff
>
> ...................................................................................
>
> *From:*nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu 
> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Bentley, 
> Andrew Charles
> *Sent:* 3. april 2013 15:28
> *To:* Utrup, Jessica; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Labelling of alcohol-preserved specimens
>
> Jessica, Marta
>
> The system of choice now for wet collections appears to be thermal 
> transfer printing using a thermal transfer printer and spun bound 
> polyester labels.  We have been using such a system for about 10 years 
> now in our wet collections and have had very good results so far -- no 
> yellowing, britteling, fading or any other physical signs or aging on 
> the labels or print.  The thermal transfer printers have come down in 
> price substantially lately making such a system affordable to most.  
> Alpha Systems in Virginia sells a "museum solution" which consists of 
> a Datamax thermal transfer printer, media (4 inch wide, 600 foot long 
> roll of spun bound polyester) and ribbon (wax/resin composite) which 
> is now used by numerous collections around the world.
>
> I would be happy to send you pdf's of printer specs, pricing from 
> Alpha Systems and an article I wrote for the SPNHC newsletter if you 
> are interested.  I can also send you samples of labels to look at.
>
> Andy
>
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V
>  Andy Bentley
>  Ichthyology Collection Manager
>  University of Kansas
> Biodiversity Institute
>
>  Dyche Hall
>  1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
>  Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
>  USA
>
> Tel: (785) 864-3863
> Fax: (785) 864-5335
>  Email: abentley at ku.edu <mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
>
> http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu 
> <http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/>
>
> SPNHC President-Elect
>
> http://www.spnhc.org
>
>                            : :
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V
>
> *From:*nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu 
> <mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> 
> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Utrup, Jessica
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 03, 2013 7:53 AM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] Labelling of alcohol-preserved specimens
>
> Hello dear colleagues,
>
> An old question: best system for labeling of alcohol-preserved 
> specimens: inks, printers, papers... Any new answers/solutions? We 
> still use manual system with Indian ink on bill paper, this is secure 
> but labored. Any mechanized system more efficient and long term reliable?
>
> Thank you
>
>
> -- 
> *Marta Pérez Azcárate
> Laboratori de Conservació Preventiva i Restauració*
> *Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona / GROP S.L.
> Passeig Picasso s/n. 08003 BARCELONA
> 93 256 22 09
> marta.perez.cr at gmail.com <mailto:marta.perez.cr at gmail.com>*
>
>
>
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