On 8/13/2011 9:23 AM, Priscilla Glasow wrote: > Wes - Your approach seems logical, although I have a few questions: > 1. Why do you first save images as TIFFs, then convert to JPEG? Why > not save as JPEGs from the beginning? I created a directory called Family on an external hard drive called Family. I use the same sub-folder breakdown. I save photos and scans as TIFFs as the resulting file is uncompressed; no bits have been manipulated. For my camera shots, I have a Nikon D3000 which is a 10mega pixel SLR camera. I want every pixel possible for later photoshop work if needed. For scanning, I have an Epson 4490. It "can" deliver up to 4800 dpi and does a really good job with negatives and slides. Sometime, some of the people in my family do not have a photo, just a negative. So, I scan that. I want to keep the original scans as close to the to actual document, photo what-have-you, as possible. For me tjhat is the TIFF format. Incidentally, I keep My Photos on a 3TB external drive. I back it up once a month with incrementals every week. > 2. Where and how do you maintain original documents, such as birth > certificates? Should these be kept in a safe? Many of my original documents are in archival scrapbooks for each person. Some are thicker than others. I try to make it a history of that person. I include the original or, if too fragile, a print of the photo or document. Oh, by the way, whenever possible, I write on the back of the photo: date, place, person(s), etc. I use either a #2 pencil or permenant india ink. Both are archival although the ink may fade a bit in 200 - 250 years. > 3. Is there a need to keep hard copy file folders/binder systems if > you use electronic files? What might you keep in hard copy (other > than original documents)? I keep a set of file folders in a similar hierarchy. However, the photos are part of the main folder. Depending on the fragility of the photo or document, the original will be in the scrapbook with a copy in the folder. Paper documents are givien an archival treatment before being placed in the scrap book. I re-print the photos on a good quality photo paper and any documents are printed on acid free-lignen free paper. This way, if the electronic files are lost, the paper copies will survive. If the paper copies are lost, the electronic copies survive. All updates to Legacy data about a person, are printed. Either as a Family Group Sheet, a Descendant narrative for tagged individuals or just a print of the Notes (General, Research, and Medical).
> 4. Do you treat photographs differently from documents? In a word, yes. Any documents are given an archival treatment. That is, I spray them with a solution that neutralizes the acid in the paper. Hopefully, this will help preserve for another 150 - 200 years. I have a large collection of family tin-types and a few glass negatives from before 1870 or so. I keep all of them individually protected in special negative sleeves and away from light and heat. > 5. Is it correct that you save all images in your Legacy Data folder, > then duplicate some of them into the Legacy Pictures folder so they > can be linked to your sources in the Picture Gallery and saved as part > of the Multimedia Files backup? As noted above, I have a separate folder for all originals. Once scanned, I use GIMP, a free version of photoshop type software, to create a well formed JPG. My TIFFs usually run into the 10 meg and up size. I keep the JPGs to about 350 meg or so. I save these in the Legacy Photo directories as mentioned. That way, that drive does not become to big to move around. I can copy my Legacy Data directory to a thumb drive and take it with me wherever I go. I mark the old directory as "OLD" and when I return from my research travels, I can simply copy my updated Legacy Data directory back to the drive. Then I can delete the second previous OLD directory. That is, I keep the current directory + the OLD directory plus the OLD1 directory. I am paranoid about losing stuff or making a bad mistake and destroying my work. > 6. Why did you create a Legacy Data folder instead of using the Data > folder that Legacy automatically sets up? I do this because I have my C drive locked down pretty tight. I only created a partition size large enough for the Windows 7 O/S and the Program Files directories. As I mentioned, I am paranoid about losing stuff or having someone "accidentally" wiping out a directory. Not to be too technical, I have what is called Network Attached Storage. I have a total of 24 TB of storage. The drives are setup so that pairs of 3 TB drives are mirrors of each other. That is, when I write to the "D" drive, the software actually writes the data to two drives at the same time. If one drive goes bad, the other drive takes over and has ALL of the original data. I then replace the bad drive -- quickly (LOL) I also use the online storage facilities that are available. I do this insure survivability of my data. Like I say, I am a bit paranoid. As I am getting a bit long in the tooth, I am concerned about what will happen to all the family history I have gathered over the past 40 years. Of my 6 children, only 1 has shown any real interest. As you know, history only lasts 3 generations, at most, if not written down. I have endeavoured to ensure its continuance by making sure all my children know where everything is stored, all the addresses and passwords needed for the online storage. As to my "local" stuff, I have left a letter with my logon password and the passwords to all of the files. I have a copy of this letter with my pastor, and my executor. If not one of the kids is interested in taking it over, the whole collection goes to a library I have spoken with and is willing to accept all the documents and storage offloads, etc. Sorry for being so long winded, but you asked some interesting questions. Wes > Many thanks in advance! > Priscilla > > On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 6:41 PM, Wes <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > I have a C:\Data Folder which is backed up daily. A full backup > once a > week with an incremental daily. Within this is my /LegacyData folder > with sub-folders for photos, documents, etc. Within each of these > subfolders is a folder for each family subdivided by individual. The > individual is identified by FirstName, Middle Initial and birthdate. > > So > > C:/Data > /LegacyData > /Photos > /Harbaugh > /GeorgeA1898 > /Documents > /Harbaugh > /GeorgeA1898 > > I keep all original photo scans as 1200 dpi 24 bit color or grey or > black and white as the case may be. The format is always TIFF. I > then > process the photo to web enhanced jpg. Any documents are saved as > PDF. > > Just my .02 It works for me and I can find any file almost > immediately. > > Wes Jester > Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
