Why Archive Your Photographs?
Have you ever thought; we have insurance to cover the cost of replacing houses, cars and just about all of our belongings but not our photographs. If we expend time, money and effort to safeguard all of these material items then why not our valuable photographs and documents. You can't replace or recreate the past. They are an integral part of us. Our photographs are one of our most precious possessions.
We pile our photographs & slides loosely in boxes or envelopes where they are exposed to variations in temperature and humidity as well as dangerous fumes. We put them in frames where they are exposed to the ultraviolet light that will eventually bleach them into obscurity. We handle them as though they were washable leaving fingerprints and dirt smudges all over them. We believe they will always be there for us but the truth is, they won't.
How to save your precious photos? Is it time to bring a little organization to your photo memories? Archiving Photos will solve the organization problem. If you choose the Archiving Photos procedure to digitize all your photos, every one of your family & friend will get a digitized, high resolution copy of the photo album.
The Best Method for Archiving Photos
You may take all your photos and slides to your local camera store and have them make multiple copies for you . But, that’s a pretty expensive option. You can put them in and album with special acid free paper and use high quality non-fading inks and dyes. You make copies for all your relatives and rent an giant sized, extra large Safe Deposit Box at your bank. All above processes are only putting off the inevitable continued deterioration and aging of the photos. You are not preserving or archiving photos at all.
What is the best method of Archiving Photos for your old 35mm Slides and photos? What you really need to do is use the modern method of Archiving Photos to convert your photos to digital format. With this process, you will bring the deterioration to an end and, once digitized, the photos and 35mm slides, now as images, can be enhanced and restored. Archiving Photos in digital format will ensure that your photos will be around for many generations to come. You will also have your photo collection organized probably as it never has been before.
The beauty of Archiving Photos and working on preserving your photo collection is that you are not just archiving photos, you can also create beautiful DVD playable slide show and a PC playable slide show.
What is Digital Archiving?
Basically, it’s saving your documents or photos on a CD or DVD, which will preserve them for generations. First your documents or photos are scanned at the appropriate resolution (or quality), then converted to a format that is widely recognized by computers. Anytime you need a copy, one can easily be printed from the disc. Digital archiving can help you solve storage solutions, get your photographs organized, and preserve photos indefinitely.
What do I do with my archive discs if I don't have a computer?
You don't need a computer to enjoy the benefits of archiving your family treasures to CD. Simply put the discs away for safe keeping and when you need any of your photos printed take it to any professional photo lab to have new prints made. By archiving to DVD you can view your pictures using a DVD player and your television set.
Why would I want to digitally archive my documents and photos?
Since digital files are stored as information, they don’t deteriorate, as opposed to paper which will fade and decompose. That means, no matter what happens to the original; you will always be able to print off a document or photo that is an exact replica of the original scan. Since even CD’s and DVD’s have a limited life span we only use archival quality discs, which are guaranteed by the manufacturer to last 100 years or more, when stored properly.
I have so many pictures, where do I start?
I highly recommend archiving your oldest photos and your favorites right away. The important thing is to preserve and protect your photos from further damage, which would add to the cost of repairs later on. Any repairs that need to be made will not get worse once the photo is in a digital format. You can then have the photo repaired directly from the disc, and printed as necessary.
How To archive photos in Window XP
A CD can hold either up to about 650MB or about 700MB of data (the capacity is usually printed on the disc and its packaging). When organizing photos that you want to save to a CD, make sure that the total size of the files is less than the CD's storage capacity. Windows XP can assist with this process. To calculate the total size of one or more files or folders1. Select the photos you want to write to the CD from the My Pictures folder. To select more than one photo or folder, hold down the Ctrl key while making your selections.2 On the File menu, click Properties.3. In the Properties window, locate the Size field, under the General tab. If it's less than the capacity of the CD, proceed with the CD writing. If the size is larger, reduce the number of files selected, and check the size again. If the size is considerably smaller than the disc's capacity limit, consider selecting additional files or folders to include on the CD. But filling the CD to its capacity is less important than keeping files sorted logically and preserving your original digital negatives.Writing a CDWhen you're ready to write a CD, the CD Writing Wizard simplifies the process.To write a CD of photos1. Click Start, and then click My Pictures.2. Select the photos to write to the CD.3. In the left pane under Picture Tasks, click Copy to CD or Copy all items to CD.4. A pop-up balloon then appears. Click inside it to review the files and folders you've selected for writing to the CD. Or, double-click the CD drive icon in My Computer. Make sure the files and folders listed under Files Ready to be Written to the CD are the correct ones.
Windows XP CD Writing Wizard5. Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write these files to CD. This starts the CD Writing Wizard.6. Insert a blank, writable CD into the CD writer.7. The wizard then asks that the CD be assigned a name. Consistency in file naming from CD to CD is key. For example, choose a name that makes the data stored on the disc easily identifiable, such as Photos 001, Photos 002, and so on. The CD Writing Wizard allows for a CD name of up to 16 characters, including spaces.8. The wizard displays the progress as the files are written. It then informs you when the CD is finished.9. Remove the CD from the drive. If more photos are selected than the disc can hold, the wizard lets you know. Simply reduce the number of photo files selected (as discussed in the Preparation section above) to bring it under the disc's maximum capacity.After the CD is Written ,Be sure to label finished CDs clearly; a fine-tipped CD writing Pen is a good choice for writing directly on the label side of the disc. For a fancier or more professional look, consider purchasing an inexpensive .CD labeler. Write important information on each CD you write.CDs may be stored in any number of ways, either in hard plastic jewel cases or in paper or plastic sleeves. As your image library grows, so will the number of CDs you write, so a small initial investment in a CD binder goes a long way. Take a stroll down the office supply store, and you'll see the wide variety of storage options available. Like its floppy disk predecessor, a CD is only as stable as the way it is handled. A mistreated CD can lose its data—it's rare, but it can happen. To ensure that CDs last for years to come, here are a few suggestions for their care:
• To protect from scratches, keep the CD protected in a binder, jewel case, or sleeve when it's not being used.• Keep CDs out of direct sunlight and extreme hot or cold temperatures.• If the CD becomes dirty, clean it as you would a music CD or a DVD.
Softwares for archieving
Adobe Photoshop Album is a good software for archiving of your favorite photographers, you can also use Picasa or Picture Show software for this purpose.
Some Tips for archiving:
· Optical media, such as CD-ROMs, are a more reliable option for archiving digital photos than magnetic media, such as Zip disks.
Be sure to use CD-R, which last longer than CD-RW (Re-writeable).
Buy a known and respected brand; don’t try to save a few rupees by purchasing the cheapest brand.
Buy CD-ROMs that come with a plastic case for each. Each disk needs to be protected in order to accomplish its goal.
Use CD-ROM with a gold layer, which are said to last longer than those with a silver layer.
Make two copies of each disk, using two different (but well-known) brands of CD-ROM, just in case one brand deteriorates over time or you get a bad batch.
To quickly view the images, save thumbnails on your CD-ROMs.
Make a "Best of Photos" CD-ROM from every couple of months. That way, you always have multiple copies of your best photos easily accessible on a few CD-ROMs.
If you shoot in a RAW mode, don’t store the uncompressed images, which take up too much space. Instead, create and store a thumbnail on the CD-ROM to make viewing the images easy and so you don’t have to convert them again.
Have you ever thought; we have insurance to cover the cost of replacing houses, cars and just about all of our belongings but not our photographs. If we expend time, money and effort to safeguard all of these material items then why not our valuable photographs and documents. You can't replace or recreate the past. They are an integral part of us. Our photographs are one of our most precious possessions.
We pile our photographs & slides loosely in boxes or envelopes where they are exposed to variations in temperature and humidity as well as dangerous fumes. We put them in frames where they are exposed to the ultraviolet light that will eventually bleach them into obscurity. We handle them as though they were washable leaving fingerprints and dirt smudges all over them. We believe they will always be there for us but the truth is, they won't.
How to save your precious photos? Is it time to bring a little organization to your photo memories? Archiving Photos will solve the organization problem. If you choose the Archiving Photos procedure to digitize all your photos, every one of your family & friend will get a digitized, high resolution copy of the photo album.
The Best Method for Archiving Photos
You may take all your photos and slides to your local camera store and have them make multiple copies for you . But, that’s a pretty expensive option. You can put them in and album with special acid free paper and use high quality non-fading inks and dyes. You make copies for all your relatives and rent an giant sized, extra large Safe Deposit Box at your bank. All above processes are only putting off the inevitable continued deterioration and aging of the photos. You are not preserving or archiving photos at all.
What is the best method of Archiving Photos for your old 35mm Slides and photos? What you really need to do is use the modern method of Archiving Photos to convert your photos to digital format. With this process, you will bring the deterioration to an end and, once digitized, the photos and 35mm slides, now as images, can be enhanced and restored. Archiving Photos in digital format will ensure that your photos will be around for many generations to come. You will also have your photo collection organized probably as it never has been before.
The beauty of Archiving Photos and working on preserving your photo collection is that you are not just archiving photos, you can also create beautiful DVD playable slide show and a PC playable slide show.
What is Digital Archiving?
Basically, it’s saving your documents or photos on a CD or DVD, which will preserve them for generations. First your documents or photos are scanned at the appropriate resolution (or quality), then converted to a format that is widely recognized by computers. Anytime you need a copy, one can easily be printed from the disc. Digital archiving can help you solve storage solutions, get your photographs organized, and preserve photos indefinitely.
What do I do with my archive discs if I don't have a computer?
You don't need a computer to enjoy the benefits of archiving your family treasures to CD. Simply put the discs away for safe keeping and when you need any of your photos printed take it to any professional photo lab to have new prints made. By archiving to DVD you can view your pictures using a DVD player and your television set.
Why would I want to digitally archive my documents and photos?
Since digital files are stored as information, they don’t deteriorate, as opposed to paper which will fade and decompose. That means, no matter what happens to the original; you will always be able to print off a document or photo that is an exact replica of the original scan. Since even CD’s and DVD’s have a limited life span we only use archival quality discs, which are guaranteed by the manufacturer to last 100 years or more, when stored properly.
I have so many pictures, where do I start?
I highly recommend archiving your oldest photos and your favorites right away. The important thing is to preserve and protect your photos from further damage, which would add to the cost of repairs later on. Any repairs that need to be made will not get worse once the photo is in a digital format. You can then have the photo repaired directly from the disc, and printed as necessary.
How To archive photos in Window XP
A CD can hold either up to about 650MB or about 700MB of data (the capacity is usually printed on the disc and its packaging). When organizing photos that you want to save to a CD, make sure that the total size of the files is less than the CD's storage capacity. Windows XP can assist with this process. To calculate the total size of one or more files or folders1. Select the photos you want to write to the CD from the My Pictures folder. To select more than one photo or folder, hold down the Ctrl key while making your selections.2 On the File menu, click Properties.3. In the Properties window, locate the Size field, under the General tab. If it's less than the capacity of the CD, proceed with the CD writing. If the size is larger, reduce the number of files selected, and check the size again. If the size is considerably smaller than the disc's capacity limit, consider selecting additional files or folders to include on the CD. But filling the CD to its capacity is less important than keeping files sorted logically and preserving your original digital negatives.Writing a CDWhen you're ready to write a CD, the CD Writing Wizard simplifies the process.To write a CD of photos1. Click Start, and then click My Pictures.2. Select the photos to write to the CD.3. In the left pane under Picture Tasks, click Copy to CD or Copy all items to CD.4. A pop-up balloon then appears. Click inside it to review the files and folders you've selected for writing to the CD. Or, double-click the CD drive icon in My Computer. Make sure the files and folders listed under Files Ready to be Written to the CD are the correct ones.
Windows XP CD Writing Wizard5. Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write these files to CD. This starts the CD Writing Wizard.6. Insert a blank, writable CD into the CD writer.7. The wizard then asks that the CD be assigned a name. Consistency in file naming from CD to CD is key. For example, choose a name that makes the data stored on the disc easily identifiable, such as Photos 001, Photos 002, and so on. The CD Writing Wizard allows for a CD name of up to 16 characters, including spaces.8. The wizard displays the progress as the files are written. It then informs you when the CD is finished.9. Remove the CD from the drive. If more photos are selected than the disc can hold, the wizard lets you know. Simply reduce the number of photo files selected (as discussed in the Preparation section above) to bring it under the disc's maximum capacity.After the CD is Written ,Be sure to label finished CDs clearly; a fine-tipped CD writing Pen is a good choice for writing directly on the label side of the disc. For a fancier or more professional look, consider purchasing an inexpensive .CD labeler. Write important information on each CD you write.CDs may be stored in any number of ways, either in hard plastic jewel cases or in paper or plastic sleeves. As your image library grows, so will the number of CDs you write, so a small initial investment in a CD binder goes a long way. Take a stroll down the office supply store, and you'll see the wide variety of storage options available. Like its floppy disk predecessor, a CD is only as stable as the way it is handled. A mistreated CD can lose its data—it's rare, but it can happen. To ensure that CDs last for years to come, here are a few suggestions for their care:
• To protect from scratches, keep the CD protected in a binder, jewel case, or sleeve when it's not being used.• Keep CDs out of direct sunlight and extreme hot or cold temperatures.• If the CD becomes dirty, clean it as you would a music CD or a DVD.
Softwares for archieving
Adobe Photoshop Album is a good software for archiving of your favorite photographers, you can also use Picasa or Picture Show software for this purpose.
Some Tips for archiving:
· Optical media, such as CD-ROMs, are a more reliable option for archiving digital photos than magnetic media, such as Zip disks.
Be sure to use CD-R, which last longer than CD-RW (Re-writeable).
Buy a known and respected brand; don’t try to save a few rupees by purchasing the cheapest brand.
Buy CD-ROMs that come with a plastic case for each. Each disk needs to be protected in order to accomplish its goal.
Use CD-ROM with a gold layer, which are said to last longer than those with a silver layer.
Make two copies of each disk, using two different (but well-known) brands of CD-ROM, just in case one brand deteriorates over time or you get a bad batch.
To quickly view the images, save thumbnails on your CD-ROMs.
Make a "Best of Photos" CD-ROM from every couple of months. That way, you always have multiple copies of your best photos easily accessible on a few CD-ROMs.
If you shoot in a RAW mode, don’t store the uncompressed images, which take up too much space. Instead, create and store a thumbnail on the CD-ROM to make viewing the images easy and so you don’t have to convert them again.
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