Conventional photographic images-which are made by processes that are based on the light sensitivity of certain silver salts-constitute the large majority of all recorded images in existence. Consequently, more knowledge and experience regarding their permanence has been accumulated throughout the history of photography than with any other imaging system. These conventional images can conveniently be divided into black-and-white photographs and color photographs. The fac2ors affecting the stability of these images are reviewed.
Recommendations for their preservation that are derived from stability data, are presented with regard to storage environments, filing enclosures, copying and duplication, handling and display of photographs, etc. During the past three decades or so, electronic imaging has invaded the traditional forms of photography. The resultant images, magnetically recorded on tapes and discs and on optical digital discs, can be displayed on television monitors, or they can be converted to hardcopy by a variety of processes. Much less knowledge is available on the stability of magnetically recorded images, either anolog or digitally, and their hardcopy printouts by inkjet printing, thermal transfer and other processes. Since the purpose of developing these more secondary techniques was most likely not the creation of media for the permanent storage of images and other data, different criteria for the survival of the stored data may have to be proposed.
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