Monday, October 20, 2008

Safe Options For Photo Storage

By Susan Slobac

Most people do not have space to display every photo they have taken, so photo storage options are pretty important. Some storage solutions, such as albums and scrapbooks, are time consuming and not particularly convenient, though. Photography storage boxes, on the other hand, take no time to use and can accommodate virtually any sized photos.

Varieties of photo storage boxes

There is more than one type of box available for photo storage. In fact, there are several kinds of boxes from which to choose. The available varieties are intended for specific types of photos or to provide a specific type of storage. Knowing which type of photo storage boxes are the best is a matter what you need out of your storage.

Common varieties of photography storage boxes include:

• Archival storage boxes - These boxes are particularly durable in construction, and as a means of photo storage, they are ideal for long-term safekeeping. Some boxes include design features, such as metal edges, that increase durability. In addition to providing a protective physical barrier, archival storage boxes often also provide beneficial environmental conditions too. The securely fitting lids and lining materials act as buffers against the introduction of pollutants, light and other potentially damaging factors.
• Acid free storage boxes - Materials used in construction of acid free photo storage boxes are specifically selected for the image friendly environment they create. These boxes are particularly desirable for photo storage in that they contain no chemicals that could contribute to deterioration of precious photos over time.

Sizing of photo storage options

A particularly convenient feature of these boxes is the variety of sizes in which they are offered. Whether you need storage for smaller images, such as 3x5 photos, mid-sized images, such as 13x19 photos or something even larger, there are boxes to accommodate any size photograph.

When choosing a box size, consider whether the pictures you wish to store will include additional features, a matboard or foamcore mount board, for instance. Either of these will increase the dimensions of your photo. A 13x19 photo that is mounted and includes 2 inch wide matting will need wider storage space than that same photo on its own. Be sure to consider the additional width of the matting and foamcore mount board to ensure the box can actually accommodate your photos. Storage works best under roomy conditions, so don't try to force a photo into a space that is less than ideal.

Susan Slobac is an avid photographer. Susan believes a picture frame is more than just fashion; it's a safeguard for something you love.

Audio Photo Sharing - Make Your Photos Come Alive!

By MJ Johnston

Audio photo sharing is the up and coming new way to share your photos with the ones that you love. If you want more information about all of the benefits of photo sharing, then read this article. You will be surprised at how you can use this kind of photo sharing. There are so many ways to benefit from doing it that will last for years to come. It adds that extra spice to sharing your photos that you cannot get anywhere else, and it is not a long boring family video that makes the relatives yawn and fall asleep.

With audio photo sharing, you have the opportunity to preserve all the memories that are important. You can record your baby crying along with a picture of your baby in tears. You can record all of your children's voices and laughter, and have it there forever. You can send your loved ones to the site to view these photos, and they can hear the voices of your children laughing and playing. You are even able to capture the sounds of your pets for the future. You can have a photo of your dog, with him barking in the background.

Using audio photo sharing is a great way to capture cherished memories and make them stand motionless in time. Imagine having the picture of a loved one that has passed on, with him narrating the action that took place in the picture. You can express yourself more fully, and the photos will take on more life and beauty with sound attached to them. You are capturing more than a visual effect. You are capturing a visual and audio effect that will make all the difference in the world to your photos.

When you examine the many possibilities that are offered by using audio photo sharing, you can see why it is important to go that extra step with your photos, and to take some time to do it. So many people allow their photos to sit and gather dust on the shelf, and it is the same for online pictures, or ones that you have on your hard disk. Take the time to organize them well, and they will be a part of you for the rest of your life. Share them with your loved ones and watch their reaction. You can really

express yourself, and capture perfect thoughts and memories. Your friends and relatives will be more than grateful, and you can be much more connected. It will not take long to do, and it is something you will have for many years to come.

MJ Johnston writes for a variety of websites, including Hoorray, a photo sharing site that offers the quickest and easiest free online photo sharing.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

How to Preserve Your Photos

By MJ Johnston

In the past, image preservation was not an easy task and in many cases, it was nearly impossible to ensure that your photos stayed safe and did not start to show signs of wear, or signs of damage from the elements. Now, however, thanks to new technology, anyone can easily make their own photo album to create a place to store and protect images, as well as share them with friends and family. If you are ready to start preserving your photos, there are a few things you'll need to know.

The first step is to see if any of the photos are damaged in any way. If they need a lot of restoration work done, you may want to consider hiring a professional service for this job. While it is easy enough to fix small problems on photos, if you have discolored pictures or photos that are ripped, having them restored to their former glory should be handled by a professional.

Now, once you have your restored photos ready, you can start adding them to your photo album. It's a good idea to treat the restored copies with care during this process. You'll need to have a scanner handy for this process. A flatbed scanner is ideal since it will allow you to place the photos exactly how you want them to appear. If you have large images, a flatbed will work perfectly. Running your photos through a sheet fed scanner is not recommend, since they can easily become jammed and ruined.

At this point in time, you'll be able to make any necessary alterations to your photos before you proceed to the next step of actually adding them to your photo album. Take your time and make sure that they are perfect so that you'll be able to preserve them in their best form. This can be time consuming if you have numerous photos to go through, but when you consider that you will be saving memories at the same time, the work should be a lot easier.

Arranging your photos in your photo album is a lot of fun and you have the freedom to decide how you would like them displayed. Play around with a few configurations to see which one is best. You can arrange them by special events, or you can make a photo story and even use a montage. Many people find it fun to mix up their photos so that you can see how someone looked years ago, versus how they turned out.

Preserving your photos with a photo album is a necessity, given that photographs are all too fragile. If you want an easy way to save those memories and create a legacy for your family and friends, using a free online photo album gives you this opportunity. Take advantage of that and start preserving your collection of priceless memories today.

MJ Johnston writes for a variety of websites, including Hoorray, a photo sharing site that offers the quickest and easiest free online photo storage.

5 Tips For Preparing Your Photo Album

By MJ Johnston

If you want to make the most out of your photo album and create a collection that is fun to share with your family and friends, there are a few steps that you need to take before you get started. By properly preparing your photos ahead of time, you'll find that putting your photo album together is much easier and the finished result will be much better. Here is a checklist to help you prepare all of your photos.

Step One: Get all of your photographs together. If you are planning on building an album for a special occasion, or you just need to transfer all of your photos to an album, it is a good idea to get them all organized and in one location. This makes it a lot easier and you'll be less likely to miss an important photo.

Step Two: Examine your photos. Before you start adding your pictures to your album, it is a good idea to look at each one carefully. You can separate them by condition. For example, if there are a few that need red eye correction, you can place these in one pile. If some of your pictures have crease marks or rips, these can go in another. Keep going until you have sorted through all of your photos and examined each one.

Step Three: Scan in your photos. This is a great way to preserve your collection and get your photos ready for your new album. You'll need to have a scanner, which you can buy at most technology stores, as well as cables to connect it to your computer. Once you have everything hooked up, you can start scanning in your photos. If you are trying to save time, you can put several in the scanner dock at once and then use an image program to separate them later on.

Step Four: Edit your photos. You'll be going back to the photos that you examined earlier and fixing any errors that you found. In order to edit your photos, you will need to have a graphic editor installed on your computer. Many scanners now come with this software, or you can easily find some online that you can download and use immediately. Make your corrections and save the file. You can now print out the fixed photographs on special photo paper or upload them to your album.

Step Five: Putting your photo album together. Once you have completed these easy steps, you'll be ready to start creating your album. It's a good idea to take your time and try out some of the features included in the application so that you can get the most out of your photographs.

By following these steps, you'll be able to create a photo album that you can share with your family and friends.

MJ Johnston writes for a variety of websites, including Hoorray, a photo sharing site that offers the quickest and easiest way to create a free online photo album.