Mylar

I think it has more to do with the "Original" drawing holding up better long term as a mylar instead of a paper copy.

Strafford County Registry in NH is now taking paper, they scan it and mail it back.

Pierce County accepts paper copies of Plats and Surveys. PALS has even started accepting electronic submittals.

Some of the cities still require Mylar.

Many years ago, mylar copies were often made as "contact positives" or from film negatives as composite positive copies. At a minimum, they were hand drafted using India ink. All of these versions were of "Archival Quality". The photo-repro copies would last years and if made on 7 mil film, they were very stable.
Today, mylar copies made on a standard plotter are not "archival quality". The inks used in plotters are not permanent as was the India ink used in "the Dark Ages".
To me, to require a mylar copy without it being of "archival quality" is nothing but a waste of money. A good quality bond print will last just as long as a film copy today if handled correctly. Mylar will not tear and that is it's only redeeming grace.

That's my point. A paper copy to save and scan seem like it should be enough. I don't know what today's mylar adds. It's just an extra exercise that adds nothing, as far as I can tell.

Didn't know that about Strafford - haven't worked there in a while. Thanks

> A good quality bond print will last just as long as a film copy today if handled correctly. Mylar will not tear and that is it's only redeeming grace.

The acidity of modern paper is the trouble. Paper has its own demise built in. Most bond paper won't last thirty or forty years untreated.

Although the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has a standard for "archival quality paper" ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992; very few manufacturers produce it regularly due to cost. It has been available for twenty or thirty years, but none of us use it.

And I agree that today's plotter ink on mylar is by no means archival quality. "Mylar" (biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate) is a polyester product that may have long lasting qualities, but the medium ON the sheet is just as important.

My guess is we will all eventually depend on "archival quality" pdfs.

My guess is we will all eventually depend on "archival quality" pdfs.

These are my thoughts as well. We are only using paper now aside from when requested for a mylar (typically only projects for the State). Everything is scanned in anyway.

One County here requires Mylar, scans it, and then destroys it. They won't even return the original Mylar. They say that the scan is the "original."

"Today, mylar copies made on a standard plotter are not "archival quality". The inks used in plotters are not permanent as was the India ink used in "the Dark Ages"."

How true this is! My County used to store the originals in large plastic sleeves in a hanging file. After about a year there was more ink on the plastic sleeve than remained on the original. Some are essentially illegible unless viewed in the sleeve, aligned with the reverse image now on the sleeve.

YEP a+

We have a few counties trying e-recording. Not really heard how smoothly the process is working. I do know there were some issues to work out with getting various authorities to sign off on a computer file.

As for mylar being useless, we have to remember that when the rules were written, it served a very important purpose. The problem is the same as with so many rules. Technology moves forward where as the rules stay stuck in time. Opening any law to change (even for minor things like typos) can mean huge changes that few people will know until it is too late to change.

Larry P

Almost all towns here in CT require mylars to be held by the city clerk.

> The problem is the same as with so many rules. Technology moves forward where as the rules stay stuck in time. Opening any law to change (even for minor things like typos) can mean huge changes that few people will know until it is too late to change.
>

Boy howdy! Isn't that the truth! What makes it even more frustrating and messed up is when the ones changing the rules and laws refuse to look at or even consider the potential (more likely inevitable) messes they are creating by not thoroughly understanding the reasons or lack thereof for the rules and laws.

Here in the Great State of Oregon, Washington County will except paper bond for records of survey upon approval of the bond you use. They have this clever little pen that checks the acid level in your bond. If it passes you don't have to use Mylar. The funny thing is the cheap recycled bond I use fits the bill.

If you have to use Mylar around here, it has to by a special type (I would have to look to look on the box to tell you the name) which is quite expensive.