I've accumulated 40-60 mapes, give or take, so they're now just in a big pile. I need to get them organized in some way, so I'm looking for ideas.

Right now, I'm thinking of getting a few report folders (where each page goes in its own clear plastic page), but would love to hear what other people do.

If I wind up using the report folder, I will probably print out smaller versions of each map (when possible) either as a "table of contents" or within each folder to make it easier to use, especially during RPGing. If I go in that direction, where can I find "thumbnails" of the maps?

Thanks, folks!

When I lived by my old college campus, I would just run the map over to the library and put it through the lamination machine. It's really cheap and easy to do, and from there they can be rolled up, stored in poster tubes, or just behind a desk or something. That's my process.

I use top loaders.

For the longest time, I had all my maps folded. But I was able to get the majority of them laminated at Gencon for 4 bucks a pop. Lamination is SO much better. Marking the map is so much easier (you can use dry erase markers, doesn't hurt the map), movement on the map is easier (no creases to prevent you from being able to place your pieces), and the maps will last a lot longer. Yeah, they can be a pain to store, but there are ways to do it that don't take up too much space. How about finding a plastic container that's wide and long enough to fit your map in it? It doesn't need to be too tall, since maps are thin, and you can just slide it under your bed. As soon as I find one, that's what I'll be using.

I laminated those maps. :)

Ship all the folded unlaminated maps to me. I will laminate them and ship them back to you in tubes (several if needed).

PM me how many maps you have and your zip code. I will give you a price quote for the lot.

Nice job Keith. You are always so innovative with minis related issues. I've been storing my maps all stacked neatly so that I can get them laminated by Engineer. I have over 40 maps though and have to save up a little money.I also store them flat to get the folded lines out of them.
The folder tubes are a good idea too. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you can by a large poster shipping tube from the post office to save money. I'm just not sure if the map will lay flat when you pull it out of the poster tube.
I saw one player, I think its Trey 22 with a hanging device much like a hanger for dress pants in which the hanger holds all the maps from the top, Thereby making it easier to sort through and also enabling the folded lines to disappear.
In any case, Nice thread gwek. Sorry i missed this one before!

to prevent creases on the game maps. I use a top loader, or plexi glass over it to make a smooth map surface.

engineer laminated all my maps (except for duplicate copies). Now I store them under the bed, or under the couch.. when someone isn't sleeping on it (aka in-laws, I'm not in trouble right now ;P)

I bought a blueprint cabinet at a bankruptcy auction of some engineering Co.

I have all mine in the poster-sized top loaders. If you buy them by the case (10) you can get them for $6-7 each shipped. It works well for the one-sided maps (or the ones with blank grid sides) to be used back-to-back as well for less holders. You could store one or two extra and slide them in and out as needed, but I would not recommend that to reduce tearing chances. I store them in a huge box that came with lawn furniture. I cut it down a bit to fit the toploaders and taped it back up. It slides behind a bookcase nicely for storage. If I need to travel, I have a huge "pocket" carrier my wife sewed for me. Basically a canvas pocket with shoulder strap handles and a fold over top. I can carry up to 10 maps in there with the toploaders before it gets too heavy. To keep them from warping and folding in transit I had cut two over-sized pieces of 1/4" foamcore board and place one on either side of the stack of maps in the pocket.

The downside to toploaders is when you try to align multiple maps since the toploader is slightly larger and has a border around the edges. I have overlapped the sheets in the past and taped them together for mass battles, but it's almost better to take them out for things like that.