8/14/2011

The Best Strategies For Digitizing Photos

By Alexis Hodge


When photograph lovers want a sensible way to preserve photographs electronically, they have to use the right methods for digitizing photos. For most people, this is an essential aspect of preserving these timeless mementos. After all, digital files can be expected to last far longer than paper images.

While it is true that the devices on which these digital images are housed can wear out or be damaged over time, a sensible archive strategy can yield many benefits. The key is to understand how to go about the task of backing up these photographs, and what to do with the storage devices when that task is complete.

A quality scan

Everything begins with the scanning process. Most people will take care of these scans themselves, using whatever scanner they have at home. For large volumes of photographs, it may be helpful to have the scanning done by professionals. Whichever method is chosen, the user will want to obtain the best image he can with each scan.

The quality may not matter for archiving purposes, but it will be critical if the image needs to be printed later. While smaller images may take up less room on the storage device, they seldom offer the high level of printing quality that larger files afford.

Storing the images

The resulting images should be stored on a permanent drive. Though some people choose to use DVDs or compact discs for this storage, those media types are subject to scratching, warping, and a host of issues that can result in the loss of this important data. Use an external hard drive of some sort and dedicate it for just this purpose.

As a final form of protection, select a good online backup option and store the images there as well. Then put the original photographs in a safe location. Used correctly, this method for digitizing photos can help to ensure that none of those irreplaceable photographs are ever lost.




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