For many people, their childhood memories are documented with photographic slides. While the medium may be obsolete, the memories contained within deserve to be shared and preserved for future generations.
Plastic carousels and cardboard boxes are not enough. Exposure to light, dust and fingerprints can cause irreparable damage to those precious images. We’ll guide you through the process to ensure your images are preserved and ready for the future.
When handling your slides, you want to limit the opportunity for the images to be damaged. Here are a few things to consider.
To view your slides, there are several options to choose from. You can use a magnifying loupe or a lightbox to view the slides. There are also smartphone apps that you can use to scan your slides, enlarge them, and make them easier to view.
Before you purchase any supplies, you need to know what you have. Gather all of your slides together and make notes regarding the following.
It is highly recommended that you take the steps to digitize your slides. Whether you opt to do it yourself with a slide scanner or send your files to a company to digitize, this is an important step in preserving the images from your slides. If the images only exist in slides, creating a backup is essential.
Once you've successfully assessed your collection, it's time to move on to storage options. No matter how you decide to store your slides, any material that is in direct contact with your slides needs to have passed the P.A.T.
Based on the quantity and how often you plan on accessing your collection, you'll need different storage choices.
Store your slide collection in a cool, dry and dark location. They should be protected from rapid or frequent changes in temperature or humidity; such as an attic or basement.