future proof file encryption

[David Shaw]

On Feb 27, 2009, at 8:37 PM, Robert J. Hansen wrote:

> For long-term photographic storage, make a print from photographic  
> film
> on archival-quality print stock.  Also, I'm given to understand that
> black and white photographs survive the aging process much better than
> color.

It's because black and white photographs and negatives contain actual  
silver (another reason why old films are lost - they were melted down  
for their silver content to make more film).  Color photographs and  
negatives contain inks and dyes which can be very long lasting, but  
still don't have the longevity and environmental resistance of the  
silver.  For very long term storage, store it in the cold and in the  
dark.  Don't display your only copy on the wall, or at least pay the  
extra bit for UV blocking glass.  Really, though, if you have color  
film you want to preserve "indefinitely", scan the negative to digital  
and keep both the original negative in dark storage *and* the digital  
copy (remastering it as needed).

If your color photos were shot on Kodachrome, incidentally, you're in  
luck.  It has dark-storage capabilities that are vastly better than  
any color negative film.

Drifting a bit from crypto here, I'm afraid.  We should wind this  
subthread up.

David