What is the Very Best Place to Keep My Digital Photographs?
There are many people who have a hard drive with thousands of pictures kept on it, and they only print out the ones they wish to use for placing in picture frames all over their homes and offices. But the fact of the matter is that if something happens to damage or destroy the hard drive in your PC, any photographs stored there are gone forever. All of your memories could actually be gone in a moment if a chance virus was to reach your computer and wipe your hard drive clean. But even when your computer is protected, the average life of a hard drive is about five years. And you won't be able to reach your files when the hard drive is dead.
Does this suggest that the best method for storing your images is to work with a CD, DVD, or memory card? Well, not really! While these are up to date technologies that work well and most likely will for at least another decade, photo storage technology is constantly changing. No one knows for sure if the method that you use to store those digital photos now will still be in use when you want to access the photos on in a while. Sometimes the more old-fashioned solution is better. Get them printed out and then organize them in some albums.
The Rewards of Printing Off Your Digital Photos to Store Them
There are lots of good things about storing your digital images as printed pictures. Your prints won't ever become obsolete because of changing technology. Prints can often provide you with an enjoyable and always accessible documentation of your family's history. You can always digitize your prints by scanning. You can basically view your prints whenever you want - even if you do not have a computer on hand. You can create beautiful displays by putting your pictures in picture frames and hanging them on your wall, or arranging them on a table, shelf, desk, or mantle. In the right conditions and when printed off on quality photographic paper, your prints will last for decades or even longer.
How to Keep Your Prints
The hints below will help you with saving your prints:
- Organize your prints so that you can easily find what you are searching for when you need it. Figure out an organizing system that works for you and then stick to it. On the back side of each photo, be sure to write the date on which the photo was taken, the people in the photo, and a description of what is happening in the photo if needed. Use a permanent archival quality pen that will not fade over time.
- Remove photographs that are clearly less than ideal, such as the ones that are too blurry to make out the subject, or where heads have been cut off, folks have their eyes closed, or there is a finger in the photo. When you do this you'll have more room for nicer pictures.
- You can store your pictures in a wide range of places including boxes, scrapbooks, and particularly picture frames. If you have a few different pictures that go nicely with each other you should consider buying a special collage picture frame.
- The best location to keep your pictures is in an area that is dry, dim, and cool. You shouldn't ever store your pictures in an attic space or in a basement.
Even though storing your prints the old way may be a little more spendy and require a little more time, you will be much more satisfied knowing that you have done the best job you were able to storing your photos for future use.
About the Author
If you're looking for 5x7 metal picture frames to preserve your family photographs, check out Your Picture Frames' selection http://www.yourpictureframes.com/categories/Metal-Picture-Frames/ online. Give us a call at 800-780-0699 or visit our website http://www.yourpictureframes.com/ and take a look at our selection of beautiful frames.
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