Let’s face it, some memories are impossible to erase. Take this picture for instance. Yes, this is your humble writer as a toddler. What exactly is it that I’m wearing? My mother (also pictured) obviously thought that my outfit was cute. The look on my face says exactly what I thought about it. Oh well. Things have come full circle now, because my wife is now the one to tell me what to wear when we’re going out. The few years of freedom in between were fun while they lasted. Anyway, the point of this Post is not to complain about my wardrobe as a child (though it is therapeutic). This picture, along with countless others, resides in one of many albums in the dining room closet. While saving pictures in albums was a good idea at the time, after awhile, prints, slides, and negatives will begin to turn yellow and crack. Have home movies on VHS and film? They’ll begin to experience the same type of disintegration over time. Why does this happen, and what should be done to save these once in a lifetime memories? I’m glad you asked.
Every time I look in the mirror lately I see more wrinkles and imperfections. That’s especially true with good lighting. Have you pulled out an old photo album lately? You’ll see that your pictures are experiencing that same fate. You see, film is made of chemicals and dyes that are sensitive to light, moisture, and temperature swings. The problem is compounded when dust and dirt is introduced. If you have old photos in your possession, you also have dust. In our house, we had a large basket in the living room that contained an assortment of VHS tapes. Naturally, there was a time every day that the sun would beat down on that basket. What warning was on every tape? Don’t store in direct sunlight. I’m sure that most of us are guilty of the same tape storage sin. Just like going to the beach without applying sunscreen continually will cause irreparable damage to your skin, so will keeping film in direct sunlight. The tape will inevitably become brittle and increasingly fragile.
So, what can be done? Let me tell you it’s time to convert any film you wish to save to digital. If you don’t own a scanner already, strongly consider purchasing one. If you’re in the market for a new printer, a printer/scanner/fax is a good option. Standalone scanners are available for photos as well. They can be quite pricey depending on quality and options. Look for a scanner that will scan images at a minimum 200 dpi (dots per inch). The higher the dpi, the better quality you’ll see (and the larger the saved file so make sure your hard drive can handle a number of them). If you have old slides you’d like to convert, here’s a cool slide and negative scanner for around $80: ION Film 2 SD Max Slide and Negative Scanner. Finally, VHS tapes and 8 MM films can be converted directly to DVD. Here’s a product that will convert (non-copywritten) VHS, 8MM, and other camcorder tapes to DVD or other digital format: VIDBOX VHS to DVD 8.0 Deluxe.
Most of us have an incredible number of photos and videos in our homes. The intention is always to pass these memories down to our children and grandchildren to learn more about their family’s history, and to take an entertaining walk down memory lane. Unfortunately, those times are gone and there’s no going back to relive them except through film. My wish is for you to save these memories before it’s too late. Also, it’s much easier to keep your films current. It’s much more difficult to convert an old projector reel to DVD, for example. As quickly as technology moves, you’ll be left in the dust if your films fall too far behind. If you have the equipment and the time to convert, the time to get started is right now. If you’re lacking one or both, we’re here to help. Not to turn this into an infomercial, but, feel free to call on us at FInish Line for any of your photo and film needs.