birding-aus

RE: birding-aus Digest, Vol 48, Issue 5

To: "'Carl Clifford'" <>, "'Pat OMalley'" <>
Subject: RE: birding-aus Digest, Vol 48, Issue 5
From: "Paul Dodd" <>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 19:07:13 +1100
It's best not to make the mistake of thinking that paper copies of images
have any greater archival longevity than CD or DVD, though. The leading
expert on this subject is Henry Wilhelm from Wilhelm Imaging Research
(http://www.wilhelm-research.com/) - they have been working with the Bill
Gates owned Corbis/Sygma Photographic Collection in France to provide
permanent storage of their photographic collection.

At -20C and 40% relative humidity, *some* photographic papers will last for
several thousand years. HOWEVER, these are probably ideal conditions. At the
more average 24C paper that may well have lasted 4000 years at -20C will now
last for only 10 years!

Worse than this, though, is that even though the paper and the ink may well
last, a more subjective test shows that the gradual yellowing of the paper
will become objectionable before the dye has faded by less than 10% from its
original density.

Whilst I agree that it is a good idea to have hard copies of valuable
photographs, this should not be considered a permanent solution to the
archiving of images - unless you have the resources of Bill Gates behind you
(and can afford a warehouse that can be chilled to -20C with an RH of 40% or
less).

I suspect that the best bet is to simply back-up images onto multiple media
- CD or DVD and hard disk, perhaps. Every few years the images will need to
be re-backed-up onto the latest media formats until such time as there is a
genuine permanent solution.

Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria


-----Original Message-----
From: 
 On Behalf Of Carl Clifford
Sent: Wednesday, 3 March 2010 5:16 PM
To: Pat OMalley
Cc: 
Subject: RE: birding-aus Digest, Vol 48, Issue 5

Pat,

Sorry, flash memory deteriorates far quicker than Cd and DVD storage.  
It was only designed for short term storage. There is a real problem  
with long-term storage of digital images. All the storage media  
deteriorates. Archival quality media is supposed to last much longer,  
but we will have to wait and see on that. There is also the problem of  
whether the hardware or software to read the media will still be  
around in x number of years. The only sure long term storage at the  
moment is archival quality ink on archival paper. And then there is  
the risk of fire.

Cheers,

Carl Clifford


On 03/03/2010, at 10:27 AM, Pat OMalley wrote:

The comments on the deterioration of bird photos and records on CD and
DVD is depressing. What is the evidence of deterioration on flash memory
- is this a more promising medium?

Pat
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