Digital Media Archival issues

As technologies merge photographers not only need to understand photography and lighting but they need to understand new technology and issues around these technologies.

I came across an article the other day on cnet titled Disc Expiration Debates. The article discusses how the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Government Information Preservation Working Group, or GIPWoG is trying to develop a standard way of measuring and labeling CD’s, DVD’s, and other data storage media for archival reliability. They are doing a survey (which you can check out here) as to how long information on these Medias should last. The article questions the reliability of low cost media expressing the idea that low cost media might cost you everything later.

Here is the issue. Media using magnetic or optical technology are often made out of materials that break down over time. Lower cost Medias may break down faster than others may. When they break down data is lost. Without a standard way of describing longevity of media, consumers and organizations may save money on media at first but find later they do not last very long and that data is lost.

As with analog film light, heat, chemicals, and moisture contribute to the rapid deterioration of our media. It is highly recommend to store this media in a safe, dark, cool, dry, and clean environment.

As a digital photographer decisions need to be made on the archival needs of the artist. If you are a wedding photographer and expect to sell those images, later then archival longevity is important for you. Some hobby shooter may not care about long term archiving of their snap shots so they can afford to take a chance with a hard drive or cheap media disk. However, if you do decide to archive your images you must understand the archival qualities of your media.

In addition, photographers need to understand that today’s media may not work on tomorrow’s computers. I know many people who have a great collection of Beta video tapes but do not have a machine to play them on. You might even remember the full size floppy disk. How many computers support that technology any more? Do not expect to have the media forever. Plan to update the media library most likely every 5 years if not sooner. Budget and plan for it because it will take time and money.

I found some recommendations from a website that might help you preserve your optical media now.

Things to Do:

• Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole.
  
• Use a non solvent-based felt-tip permanent marker to mark the
• label side of the disc.
  
• Keep dirt or other foreign matter from the disc.
  
• Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for CDs and DVDs.
  
• Return discs to storage cases immediately after use.
  
• Leave discs in their packaging (or cases) to minimize the effects of environmental changes.
  
• Open a recordable disc package only when you are ready to record data on that disc.
  
• Store in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean.
  
• Remove dirt, foreign material, fingerprints, smudges, and liquids by wiping with a clean cotton fabric in a straight line from the center of the disc toward the outer edge.
  
• Use CD/DVD cleaning detergent, isopropyl alcohol or methanol to remove stubborn dirt or material.
  
• Check the disc surface before recording.
  
• A standard jewel case is adequate for storage. In jewel cases, the disc is suspended by the center hole and isolates the written area [read side] from contacting any surface; it also offers some protection against rapid temperature changes

  Things NOT to Do:
  

• Touch the surface of the disc.
  
• Bend the disc.
  
• Use adhesive labels.
  
• Store discs horizontally for a long time (years).
  
• Open a recordable optical disc package if you are not ready to record.
  
• Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity.
  
• Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes.
  
• Expose recordable discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of UV light.
  
• Write or mark in the data area of the disc (area where the laser "reads").
  
• Clean in a circular direction around the disc.

  "The worst handling stresses for a CD are caused by severe flexing or application of a sharp point to the top surface" - Kodak

  "Cheap plastic sleeves (for example, those sometimes used to hold CDs in the backs of books or in some types of multiple CD holders) are not suitable for long-term storage" - Kodak

  For CDs, Things not to Do:
  

• Scratch the label side of a CD.
  
• Use a pen, pencil, or fine tip marker to write on the disc.
  
• Write on the disc with markers that contain solvents.
  
• Try to peel off or re-position a label.
  
• General recommendation for long-term storage conditions
  
• For archiving recordable (R) discs, discs that have a gold metal reflective layer are recommended.
  
• For general storage, a temperature between 4°C (39°F) and 20°C (68°F) is recommended with a relative humidity of 20% to 50%
  
• For long-term storage, 18°C and 40% RH are recommended.
  
• For extended term archival storage, even lower temperature and humidity are recommended.
  
• Storage in the dark, while not absolutely required, cannot hurt.
  

Some recommendations of media:

Delkin's eFilm Archival Gold CD-R's

Mitsui MAM-A Gold Archive 74 minute CD-Rs

Verbatim DataLifePlus series of DVDs