Sheet protector design
Page protectors are usually clear or tinted so users can see the papers inside without having to remove them. Colored ones are available to keep light from fading printed pages that people keep in bright locations for long periods of time, or for items like photos or old newspaper clippings that may be vulnerable to light. Many page covers have holes along the horizontal edges to fit inside binders for safekeeping. The holes usually have a coating of thicker plastic, keeping them from tearing when you flip through the binder. Users can safely store sheets without holes in file folders.
The vast majority of sheet protectors consist of acid-free, archivally safe poly material that won’t lift or otherwise compromise the ink, toner, pen, or marker on the surface of the paper. The clear sheet protectors also come in different grades that include crystal or diamond clear, which won’t create any shadowing on photocopied or scanned documents even when they’re left in the protective sleeve. Other clear protectors have a nonglare surface that doesn’t reflect overhead lighting off the sheet surface, so you don’t have to manipulate the document to see it. All protective sheets come as top- and side-loading sleeves. Top loaders often offer security seals to prevent dirt and liquid from getting inside the opening. Other sleeves come as a set of sheets with progressively offset tabs to serve as binder dividers as well as safeguarding the papers inside.
Page protector sizes and thicknesses
Choosing the correct clear-sheet protectors depends on the size of the pages that need storing. Most are letter or legal size and fit printer paper with a little space around the edges. There are also smaller options or sheets with multiple pockets to hold business cards. The thickness of the plastic covers also affects use. Thin sizes are lightweight and take up little space in binders or folders. Heavier choices provide extra protection and can hold more pages in a single cover. Some are large enough to hold up to 50 papers stacked together, ideal for larger-size hanging folders and other file containers with file tab inserts for labeling.
Specialty sheet protectors
While many archivally safe sleeves are for standard binders that hold single sheets of notebook or printer paper, many other protective sleeves are for different shapes and sizes of documents and forms for everyday work or personal use. One notable specialty sleeve with a unique binder application includes sheets with special notches in their spine so you can attach or remove the sheet without opening the binder rings. The special notches keep the sheet in place in the binder, and the convenience factor can make a major difference in fast-paced classroom settings where organization is key.
Binder-specific sheet protectors are also available as heavyweight panoramic sleeves with a center-loading fold-out design for large oversize documents like charts, ledger prints, or spreadsheets. When you need to use the documents for work or presentation, pull them from the binder and unfold them. Other protective sleeves include 5 x 7 inch photo holders and 11 x 9 inch photo sheets, both three-hole punched for mounting in standard C- or D-ring binders. Each is archivally safe. The sheets have a unique pressure-sensitive clear overlay that prevents the photos from shifting around as they’re being handled in the binder. Built-in binder pockets are available, containing separate compartments for small-size paper such as coupons.
Clear, archival self-adhesive sheets for out-of-binder documents and signage offer protection as well. Place the sheet on the surface of announcements, information sheets, or postings to protect their original surface from accidental marks, smudge, or splatters. You can then hang the documents anywhere in the workplace or school to keep the original message clear and distinct. The laminating sheets go on wrinkle-free, and they’re removable for other documents. Some have a high-gloss finish for a professional look, and many come in 3-mil thickness for durable protection.
Still other specialty sheet protectors are part of binder accessories that include color-coded job ticket or project-task pouches for workers. Many of those for displaying work orders and repair jobs are magnetized, so they adhere to the different ferromagnetic surfaces found in shops and garages.
The leading brands of sheet protectors
Check out Quill for many of the unique specialty protective sleeves and pouches from the following brands:
- Staples®
- Avery®
- C-Line®
- Charles Leonard, Inc.
All the protectors are available in different size packages for any users, from small sizes of 10 and 15 to larger boxes of 50 and 100.