The Secret to Preserving Your Genealogy Photos properly: Understanding Lossy vs Lossless Files
The Secret to Preserving Your Genealogy Photos properly:
Understanding Lossy vs Lossless Files
Welcome, Family History Friends!
Welcome to the Restorasnap Genealogy Blog. Today it’s all about ensuring you get the absolute best from your family photo collection.
While this post was put together with Genealogy researchers in mind, it’s fair to say the information that follows will also be invaluable for a number of applications.
Digital Genealogy Book creators
Family Researchers organizing their photo collections
Digital or traditional Scrapbook enthusiasts
Keep reading as we think this article is a really great opportunity to get a grounding in the basics for the care of your digital photos, no matter how you enjoy your collection.
You've spent countless hours tracing your family history and collecting treasured photos.
But how do you ensure that these precious memories are preserved for future generations?
The answer lies in understanding the difference between lossy and lossless file formats.
Digital Photos have feelings too!
In the physical world, delicate and fragile family photos are generally treated with the utmost regard and handled with supreme care.
But for a digital file, no such care is taken because there is the misconception that digital files are forever. This isn’t actually the case.
Why you should take this post seriously…
If your photo was retrieved from a webpage, through social media, or via a popular family research website, you could be mistaken for thinking that you’ll always have access to it should something go awry with your copy.
The problem with this is that you have no control over photos in the public domain.
Fellow researchers can remove images from their Family Trees, Websites, and Social Media can go down, revoke access, be hacked, or have changes to their file-sharing rights or change access rules at any time.
What you are confident is there as a permanent resource is not actually yours until it’s stored safely on YOUR device AS A COPY.
What Most People May not have realized…The inside Scoop
Have you ever stumbled on a photo of your great-grandparents and felt a deep connection to your family's past? Preserving these precious memories is essential for future generations, but digital photos can easily degrade over time without proper care.
The secret to maintaining the quality of your genealogy photos lies in understanding a few file formats.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and risks of 2 file formats and provide tips for maintaining the integrity of your digital images. From preserving your family's legacy to sharing it with loved ones, handling photos in the right way is crucial for the longevity of your genealogy treasures.
How do the files work
Which one is which and;
How to look after them with little fuss, in spite of their shortcomings.
Why? Because saving a photo forever, in the EXACT STATE you found it in, should be regarded as a privilege to anyone who values history and takes pride in being the custodian of these precious materials.
SO HOW DO WE ACCUMULATE DIGITAL PHOTOS?
What are lossy and lossless file formats?
When it comes to digital images, there are two main types of file formats: lossy and lossless. Understanding the difference is vital for preserving the quality of your genealogy photos.
Lossy file formats, such as JPEG, compress the image data to reduce file size. This compression can result in a loss of image quality, particularly if the image is edited multiple times or saved at low quality.
On the other hand, Lossless file formats, such as TIFF, preserve all of the original image data without compression. This results in larger file sizes but ensures that the image quality is not compromised. While lossless files are often preferred for archival purposes, they may not be practical for everyday use due to their larger storage sizes.
Lossy files may be suitable for sharing online or for everyday use, but lossless files should be used for long-term preservation and restoration projects.
So now you know, a quick look at the file types…
Digital Files, (such as photographs, certificates, and letters to name a few) are simply the end product of an original article being scanned using a scanner or photographed using a device (think phone/digital camera), then having that visual information transformed into a new format.
This digital information is stored as thousands of tiny ‘tiles’ called pixels.
Beyond that, there is not much more to know about the anatomy of a digital image other than these few general points:
The more pixels in a digital file, the better. (Think clearer, more crisp detail in photos, and easier to read text in old documents.) 🔎
Opening and closing files, enlarging them, and changing their aspect Ratio (ie. resizing from a 3x3 inch photo to a 6x4 inch photo) cumulatively, can incur irreversible damage to the image/file. (see below example)
AND IMPORTANTLY: Whether a file sustains damage or not depends on its TYPE! (The good news: There are just two types. SIMPLE!)
Ok, so WHAT ARE the file types? (Let’s make this really quick!)
For starters, there are many, many file types that exist in the digital world.
The good news is that during your work as a passionate family researcher, you are likely to deal with just a handful of them. PHEW!
🌳🤫 PSST: (Make sure you grab the Free cheat sheets below, which list them in a colorful infographic that you can print and laminate!) 🌳
The files to be in the know about and that you’ll come across most often are:
JPEG File (.JPG) (LOSSY)
TIFF File (.tif) (LOSSLESS)
PDF Document (.pdf) Portable, generally a read-only document (LOSSLESS)
EVERYTHING ELSE! … We’ll be cheeky and just refer to these as EVERYTHING ELSE, as there is no value in familiarising yourself with them until you absolutely need to.
THE FILE TYPES:
But wait, how do I identify them on my PC? SIMPLE!
When opening your folders - the information on type, size and date the file was last saved will be clear to see!
The benefits and risks of lossy files (JPEG)
Lossy files, while not ideal for archival purposes, do have some benefits that make them practical for everyday use. One of the main benefits of lossy files is their smaller file size, which allows for easier sharing and storage.
In addition, lossy compression can actually enhance certain image qualities, such as color and contrast. However, the downside is that each time a lossy file is saved or opened, some image data is lost, resulting in a loss of quality over time.
It's important to consider the risks associated with using lossy files, especially when it comes to preserving your family's genealogy photos. If you plan on sharing your photos online or using them for everyday purposes, lossy files may be sufficient. However, there is an alternative - but it does involve storing large files which can be tricky. If you want to ensure that your photos are preserved for future generations, it's important to use lossless file formats like TIFF OR take a few simple measures to look after the lossy images.
By understanding the benefits and risks of each type of file format, you can make informed decisions about how to best preserve your family's legacy. In the next section, we'll explore the benefits and risks of lossless files in more detail.
LOSSY - as the name suggests, is a file, which when interacted with in a number of particular ways, will slowly, incrementally degrade with each action you take. (Commonly referred to as File Degradation)
This file type is generally small so doesn't take up a lot of space on your PC, Hard Drive or USB Stick.
It is also fairly easy to share via email due to its smaller size.
To see this information in action - take a look at the example below of a LOSSY JPEG.
To the naked eye, upon each open and close action, it isn’t noticeable. However, over time, the simple act, of viewing your favorite photo, searching it for clues, looking for a familiar glint in the eye that links you to your mysterious or long-sought-after relative, could be the very thing that will make these clues harder to unlock as the decline in the image quality progresses.🔎
Example of a LOSSY photograph when saved and reopened repeatedly as a JPG
The benefits and risks of lossless files (TIFF)
Lossless file formats like TIFF have their own set of benefits and risks. The biggest benefit of using lossless files is that they do not compromise on quality. They retain all the details of the original image, which makes them ideal for archiving and preserving family photos. Unlike lossy files, which compress the data in the photo to reduce file size, lossless files keep every pixel intact, resulting in a much larger file size.
One of the risks associated with using lossless files is that they take up a lot of storage space. This can be a problem if you have limited storage capacity on your computer or external hard drive. Another risk is that lossless files are not as widely supported as lossy files. This means that you may have trouble opening or sharing them with others who do not have the necessary software and tools.
Despite these risks, lossless files remain the best option for preserving your family’s genealogy photos. By maintaining the original quality of the images, you can ensure that they will look just as good 50 years from now as they do today. In the next section, we’ll explore some tips for maintaining the quality of your genealogy photos, including how to properly store and back up your files if you don’t own sophisticated design software such as Photoshop.
LOSSLESS - will most often be referred to as a TIFF file and one you may come into contact with, particularly if you are working with a photo restorer.
These files are large in nature, they are difficult to send via email and take up a lot of real estate in your PC, USB stick, or hard drive devices. For those of us who collect hundreds and sometimes thousands of photos, collecting and saving in this format may not be practical.
NOW WE KNOW, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?
Firstly we adopt some best practices and good habits - See the tips below:
THEN, We Follow a very simple workflow for every single photo file we save! EASY
Tips for maintaining the quality of your genealogy photos
Properly storing and backing up your genealogy photos is crucial if you want to maintain their quality for years to come. Here are some tips to ensure that your cherished family memories remain intact:
1. Keep backups in multiple locations
Backing up your photos is important, but keeping those backups in only one location is risky. If that location is damaged or lost, you could lose everything. Make sure you have backups on multiple storage devices, such as an external hard drive and/or cloud storage.
2. Label and organize your files
Labeling and organizing your genealogy photos may seem like a tedious task, but it will be worth it in the long run. Use descriptive file names and create folders for different family members or events. This will make it easier to find specific photos and keep track of what you have.
3. Handle photos with care
Genealogy photos can be delicate, so handle them with care. Avoid touching the front of the photo and only handle them with clean hands. Store them in acid-free sleeves or boxes to protect them from dust, dirt, and sunlight.
4. Avoid editing the original photo
If you want to edit a genealogy photo, make sure you create a copy of the original first. Editing the original could result in a loss of quality or irreversible damage. Keep the original untouched and make edits on a duplicate copy instead.
So How do we Save Our beautiful Family Tree Photos Safely?🌳
Save a spare to avoid repair…
Follow the simple workflow below
Is this a TIFF file?
Yes >>>> If you have access to the software to open the file - Save a spare copy to a dedicated hard drive - Or folder on your PC (NEVER THE DESKTOP)
Yes>>>> But I Cannot Open IT! >>>> You have no access to the software to open the file >> Where possible have whoever supplied it to you provide a JPEG version and then save a spare copy to a dedicated hard drive or folder on your PC (NEVER THE DESKTOP)
Is this a JPEG file?
Yes >>>> If you have access to the software to open the file - Save a spare copy to a dedicated hard drive - Or folder on your PC (NEVER THE DESKTOP)
By understanding the benefits and risks of each format, you can confidently choose the best option for your needs and take the necessary steps to maintain the integrity of your digital images.Remember, your family's history is priceless, so take the time to protect it.
As the saying goes,
"A picture is worth a thousand words," but a preserved photo is worth a lifetime of memories.”
