QUESTION

Why do you consider digital images to be the long-term photographic preservation method of choice?

ANSWER

Of course there are risks to any photo-conservation scheme. It is always prudent not to rely on any one method alone. But the real secret to the longevity of digital images lies in the fact that they can be copied with the copy containing the exact same electronic code as the original. Each successive generation of copies is exactly the same, making this photographic concept an archivist's dream! By putting time and resources into preserving high-quality digital images, with backup copies stored separately, you could watch your precious originals deteriorate with time and feel secure that the images will live on.

High resolution scanners can convert traditional color or black and white photographs into high quality digital images. CD (Compact disk) and its heir-apparent DVD (digital video disk) can provide robust storage media for these digital images. Some experts feel that properly stored and cared for compact disks could last up to 100 years. But be careful, not all CD writing schemes are created equal. In fact recent tests have shown that some CDs begin to fail in less than 10 years; the cause: plain old oxidation (rust or tarnish) which causes the “+“ signals in a “+ -“ CD groove to degrade to “-“.

A pen knife, spatula, or even a stainless steel pancake turner can be useful for cleaning and removing mounts, glue, etc. It is not always easy to decide when to remove a mount from a print and when to leave it alone. If a permanent mount is healthy and appears to be acid-free, leave it. If it is not permanent and the mount shows any sign of aging, uncleanliness, or is not acid-free, then remove it. Situations between these two extremes are judgment calls. Sometimes the determining factor is how difficult and risky it is to get the mount off without bending or stressing the print. Sometimes, just the unhealthy part of the mount can be cut away, with the newly exposed part of the print given new structural protection. When removing the mount, be sure to scrape away all the old glue and adhesive where possible. Sometimes a mount is designed to later be removed from its print through soaking.