Archiving your Images - CD and DVD Media

According to the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST), current DVD/CD technology is suitable for archiving data, including images, for decades and possibly as long as the 50 to 100 years or more that some manufacturers claim for product longevity.

To attain this level of longevity, you must use products resist the rigors of aging, protect your from bad handling, solvents, inks (particularly markers and pens), direct sunlight, direct high intensity light, heat, and humidity.

I would recommend that for archival purposes write-once CD-R and DVD-R/DVD+R rather than the RW/+RW be used. 

Why do disks deteriorate? Recordable and rewritable CD and DVD discs are assembled using a layer of organic dye. The organic dye's transparency property is modifiable using high-energy “write” lasers. A plastic melting process locks in the resulting unmodified and modified areas of the recorded surface. Lower powered lasers are used to read this locked in information by reflecting the laser off a reflective silver or gold or a combination alloy. The reflected beam is interpreted as 0 or 1 bits of information that makes up  the data which may be audio, images or video or a combination of the above.

These organic dyes, like any dyes change or fade over long periods of time as part of a natural process. This process can be speeded up by exposing the dyes to high intensity light, UV rays, humidity. 

Another factor that needs serious consideration is the physical handling of the media. A major culprit of data loss is the bending/flexing of the media when removing or replacing it in the plastic center hub type jewel cases. This flexing causes finer than hairline cracks - these cracks allow humidity to enter the layers and cause layer separation and deterioration. DVD media is far more susceptible to this than is CD media. Notice how DVD cases have retracting center hubs - this to prevent the use of additional force to remove the media from the hub.

A few tips that will extend the life of archived images: 

• MAKE MORE THAN ONE COPY OF THE IMPORTANT IMAGES.
• Don’t flex or bend your discs, when removing them from their cases. Use cases designed for DVD's whenever possible or use the high quality sleeves
• Store discs vertically in a cool, dry area to prevent warping and damage from humidity.
• Never used a solvent-based marking pen
• The best area on a disk for placing any information is in the clear area of the disk that surrounds the central hole that fits in the spindle of the drive.
• Do not use labels
• Use discs with a printable coating or a CD/DVD burner that features LightScribe Direct Disc labeling technology.
• If you need to clean a disk use a CD or lens cloth and wipe in a radial pattern out from the center. Do not use a circular motion. Do not use paper products (towels, tissues, etc.)
• Do not use solvents like alcohol, acetone, spray cleaners, etc. If you need to wet clean a disk then clean using water or a light solution of soapy water.
• Use premium scratch resistant disks.