Wedding Video Archiving - DVDs don't last forever!
Why DVDs you get from your wedding videographer are not the same that you buy at the movie store?
DVDs you rent or buy at the store are manufactured and replicated
(it has protective layer over the video layer).
DVDs that you get from your wedding videogrpaher are duplicated and
do not have a protective layer - it is fragile!
Alternative wedding video storage:
1. Additional master DVD that you don’t use – in 10 years transfer it to other digital media that will be available then. Usually $25/each 1 hour DVD including transferring.
2. Digital Tape – in 10 years transfer it on other media that will be available then. $50/each 1 hour tape including transferring
3. Hard drive will hold all video as a computer file – you can open it on your computer any time, you can even edit your video yourself. Files on hard drive are not protected – easy to delete or move. Starts at $200 depending on hard drive size.
Things to Do with DVDs:
* 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.
* 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.
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 with DVDs:
*Scratch either side.
* Use a pen, pencil, or fine tip marker to write on the disc.
* Write on the disc with markers that contain solvents.
* Touch the surface of the disc.
* Bend the disc.
* Use labels that you stick on it.
* Store discs horizontally for a long time (years).
* Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity.
* Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes.
* Expose 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
General recommendation for long-term storage conditions of DVD video:
* For archiving recordable (R) discs, discs that have a gold metal reflective layer are recommended. It's said that with current disks, which are better sealed than they used to be, the use of gold as a reflecting layer is less important than it was, however it certainly doesn't hurt!
* 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, can't hurt.
