Everything I read about how to preserve DVD's scares me:
1. All labels are bad, they can cause read failure, peel inside drive, etc.
2. Writing on DVD's is not a good idea, ink may interact with dye layer and destroy it.
3. Storing DVD's in plastic cases is bad, you can scratch them and the plastic may interact with the DVD causing damage.
4. Storing DVD's in sleeves/books is not good, plastic can interact with DVD and cause damage.
Is it really this bad or are people exaggerating a little? I also read about Verbatim's armor plated DVD's, are these worthwhile?
Kudos to you for doing some research and then posting a very good set of questions :)
Don't put sticky labels on them and use a marker made just for discs and you'll be fine. Short of suspending them in an antigravity vacuum chamber, plastic cases will be perfectly acceptable.
My killer sig came courtesy of bb "El Jefe" mayo.
The Forum Rules You Agreed To!http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 "And there we saw the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" - Numbers 13:33
Thanks guys, I read the whole PDF file, very interesting. I didn't know about vertical storage, that was a good tip. I ended up buying DVD cases for my recorded programs and the discs themselves won't be labeled, just the covers of the cases.
And so... the old question resurfaces once again ...
Is it safe to use Sharpies on DVD's ?
In the old days .. I did some extensive research into the life expectancy of CD blanks.
1. They are most vulnerable.. BEFORE you burn on them
2. The Gold metalic layer is going to last much longer than the silver and even longer than the cyanide-based ones (the green/blue ones).
3. Chemicals are a big no-no.
4. Expose to light is a big no-no especially if they are still unburnt.
5. Store them in a dry cool place .. but not so dry as so they are exposed to static electricity.
6. Handle them by the edges.
7. Once burnt.. the shelf-life is greatly extended.
8. The dye will give out before the metalic layers do.
9. You can clean them with water and a mild soap.. however make sure you rinse them well and dry them with a non-abrasive cloth from the center outwards.
10. use a fat marker to avoid penetrating the top coated surface.
11. Sharpies ?.. time will tell ....
Guidelines on how long a DVD will retain its data - is just that - guidelines, different discs can react and retain information in different ways to other discs. Im still awaiting a reply on the life expectancy of G04 Grade A dyes....
I have to ask, does the "safe marker" allowable include the Staedler Lumocolor pens? (they usually get sold in 4packs, RGB+BL). I have used them for several years on cd's with no apparent trouble, but from reading, I would say dvd's are a trickier beastie.
My killer sig came courtesy of bb "El Jefe" mayo.
The Forum Rules You Agreed To!http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 "And there we saw the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" - Numbers 13:33
A vaccum room would do nicely, no air, no oxidation, no kidding. Open a can of coffee you'll hear a rush of air *not* out of the can, but into the can as in a vaccum their is no air. Take frozen meats I used to be a tractor trailer driver and I would put a dry suit on with a tank of air, get my meat one at a time and hear rush by me trying to get into the vacuum. Outerspace is a vaccum for their is no air, unlike water which is composed of H2O, and O stands for oxygen. Get yourself a big vacuum room seal it, suck the air out of it and you have the perfect way to preserve DVD, no kidding.
