DVS - New Media and Technologies

TDK Unveils 320GB 10 layer Super-Multiplayer BD-R optical disc at CEATEC

As reported by CDrInfo: TDK developed a new optical disc with a capacity of 320GB, using 10 recording layers. 

TDK's latest prototype disc features 10 layers, each capable of holding 32GB of data. The disc can be burned using a 405nm blue-violet semiconductor laser and an objective lens with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.85 - a configuration currently met in Blu-ray players/recorders. Of course, this does not mean that the disc would be compatible with the available Blu-ray recorders, since the laser power needed to burn data in 10 layers varies from 13 ~ 28mW, according to the layer.

On the other hand, the disc could be readable with BD equipment. TDK claims that the transmittance of the outermost layer of the disc, which requires the highest transmittance, is more than 90%, while the symbol error rate of the stored data is less than 10-4. This means that the data could be retrieved with adequate reliability.

TDK has succeded in the development of the multi-layer disc using layers made of different materials. An inorganic Si-Cu alloy layer was used for the L0 layer. On the L1 to L9 layers, recording marks are maintained by using an inorganic material composed of bismuth peroxide and germanium dioxide. By adjusting the composition of the used materials, TDK managed to maintain adequate transmitance characteristics for each recording layer.

This is TDK's third multi-layer, high capacity disc since 2006. TDK was the first to develop a 100GB prototype recordable Blu-ray Disc in 2005. One year later, TDK a write-once recording medium having six layers, each of which has a capacity of 33.3 Gbytes (200 Gbytes in total). The transmittance of the outermost layer of the disc, which requires the highest transmittance, was 80 to 90%.

The company plans to exhibit the disc at CEATEC JAPAN 2009, which will run from Oct 6 to 10, 2009, at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

Beware Updating Firmware on Blu-ray Players

And you thought things were settling down with RECORDABLE Blu-ray discs and their "standardized" playback on Blu-ray players! 

This info is a little dated, but still applicable.  Beware updating the firmware on your Blu-ray player, it may just break your players ability to play Recordable Blu-ray discs.  Read the full thread on what happened with Samsungs firmware update as reported here in the CNET forum.

The Ins and Outs of Blu-ray Disc Replication and Licensing

Our friends over at EMediaLive.com have done their best to explain the trials and tribulations of getting Blu-Ray replicates created in this article, including estimated replication costs, content protection (AACS & BD+), and other associated licensing fees.

The closing paragraphs in the article sums it up for those of us in the corporate word looking to use Blu-Ray.

The Cost of Doing Blu-ray Business,
With its slew of legal agreements, upfront charges, recurring fees, and other imperatives, BD replication is a time-consuming, expensive, and all-around frustrating proposition for small- and medium-sized publishers.

Quantitatively speaking, for 1,000 copies of a simple title, all these demands add at least $7.54 overhead to the price of a single disc (calculated as a one-shot deal). Based on my earlier examples, this works out to roughly $11-12 (SL) to $13-14 (DL) each for a finished product. Ordering more units and amortizing the one-time and annual fees over multiple titles and years will dramatically reduce these estimated figures, but cost-efficient replication is, obviously, geared toward frequent high-volume production.

As the prices of writable hardware and media come down and compatibility matures, there should be little doubt that the best long-term solution for independent, in-house, and boutique high-definition publishers will be BD duplication rather than replication.

Blu-Ray Player with Netflix Streaming Playback

From TWICE

New York — LG Electronics will introduce today the first networked Blu-ray Disc player with the integrated ability to access and play back Netflix instant-streaming video content.

The LG model BD300 will be only the second set-top device compatible with the Netflix instant-streaming offering. The first was a dedicated $99 Roku player introduced earlier in the year. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 will also add the capability this fall.

The Netflix instant-streaming video service offers more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes in standard-definition format online for virtually instant playback.

Netflix makes its instant-streaming video service available to members who sign up for eight out of nine membership packages. Each package entitles members to varying numbers of Blu-ray and DVD disc rentals at one time. Membership including an unlimited streaming video package runs about $8.99/month. Netflix members (the company said it has 8.4 million of them) may stream videos for playback on their PCs or on TVs via the Roku and soon LG BD300 player. In the fall Xbox 360 game console users will also have access to streaming content from Netflix.

Streaming content includes some day-and-date movie releases, but for the most part, movie selections are older catalog fare. However, the streaming service also includes episodes of many popular TV programs, many of which first appear the day after they originally air, said Steve Swasey, a Netflix spokesman.

The player will rely on a wired broadband connection and queue-based user interface. Netflix members will use the Netflix Web site to add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those choices will automatically be displayed on members’ TVs and available to watch instantly through the LG player.

4-Color Direct to Disc Digital Printing

DVS 1-Color Rotary Silk Screen Press

For all color CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray printing, DVS will be utilizing it's revolutionary Direct to Disc Digital Print Process.  This unique print process is ideal for printing on CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray - both Duplicated and pre-printed discs.

The DVS 4-Color Direct to Digital Print Process is a 2 stage process.
1.  4-Color (CMYK) InkJet direct to disc print
2.  Clear UV coat to seal the Inkjet

With inkjet printing, ink on the discs will smear when the print gets wet, even from the sweat on your hands. 

InkJet Printed Disc with no protective coat

With the DVS Digital Print Process, the clear UV coat seals the print in, adding contrast, vibrance to colors, a high gloss finish, and durability.  The Direct to Disc InkJet provides image resolution that rivals replicated discs with offset printing.

Water on UV coated discs

Other types of disc print protection on the market are slow, expensive per print, and leave an orange peel look to the disc.  The DVS print process is fast at 1000 discs per hour, has a low cost per print, and leaves a professional high gloss finish to the disc.

Direct to disc printing is essential for the next generation of media like Blu-Ray.  Adhesive labels cause playability and readability issues, and unprotected disc print will smear.

It's official - Blu-Ray wins.

It's official, Toshiba has thrown in the towel on HD-DVD.  From the Toshiba Japan press web site:

Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses

19 February, 2008

Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.

"We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop," said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."

Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.

Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.

This decision will not impact on Toshiba's commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.

Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.

Wal-Mart discontinuing HD-DVD Sales

And now… the end is near… for HD-DVD

The nations largest retailer, Wal*Mart, announces today that they will be discontinuing HD-DVD sales by June. “By June Wal-Mart will only be carrying Blu-Ray movies and hardware machines,” states Susan Chronister on the Wal-Mart Checkout Blog.

From the Wal-Mart Facts website:

We’ve listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," said Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S.  "With the customers best interest in all we do, we wanted to share our decision and timeline with them as soon as possible, knowing it will help simplify their purchase decision, increase selection, and increase adoption long term.  We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home."

Wal-Mart will continue to sell through remaining HD DVD product, but in less than 30 days customers will see a more predominant move toward Blu-ray in stores, clubs and online.  As the nation’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart thoughtfully reviewed all areas and impact in making its decision, and is excited to move forward with one format and share its future plans with customers.

One-Two Punch to HD-DVD

Today, HD-DVD got both a blow to the head and chest by Netflix and Best Buy.

First with the one-two punch, Netflix announced that after carrying both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray since 2006, they are expecting to phase out HD-DVD titles by the end of the year.

“The prolonged period of competition between the two formats has prevented clear communication to the consumer regarding the richness of the high-def experience versus standard definition,” stated Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer. “We're now at the point where the industry can pursue the migration to a single format, bring clarity to the consumer and accelerate the adoption of high def. Going forward, we expect that all of the studios will publish in the Blu-ray format and that the price points of high-def DVD players will come down significantly. These factors could well lead to another decade of disc-based movie watching as the consumer's preferred means.”

Hours later, Best Buy President/COO Brian Dunn finished the combo punch by stating, “Best Buy will recommend Blu-ray as the preferred format. Our decision to shine a spotlight on Blu-ray Disc players and other Blu-ray products is a strong signal to our customers that we believe Blu-ray is the right format choice for them.”

While we at DVS are disappointed that HD-DVD isn’t able to get a foothold in the market, we are pleased that the market is moving towards a single HD format. DVS has been authoring both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray since the end of 2006.

Warner Bros. backs Blu-Ray…......Exclusively

Just before the January Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Warner Bros. Entertainment announced that they will only release High Definition movies in the Blu-Ray format after May of 2008.

Warner had been the only studio to produce titles in both the Blu-Ray and HD DVD format after Paramount dropped support for Blu-Ray and exclusively went with HD DVD.

Warner had been one of the first studios to support HD DVD, prior to publishing Blu-ray Disc titles. At that time, Warner said it would support both formats as long as there was an opportunity to make money from each format.

Paramount opted to drop Blu-ray last year, reportedly after receiving a substantial subsidy from the HD DVD camp. Industry observers have said that both camps were wooing exclusive support from Warner Brothers as well. Sony chairman Sir Howard Stringer declined to say whether Warner Bros. was offered an incentive to jump ship, saying instead, “We have to take their statements at face value, that they acted in the best interests of the consumer.”

With the lost support of HD DVD, Warner has tipped the scales in the favor of Blu-Ray – possibly ending what the New York Times reported on 12/31/07 as a “Stalemate” in the format war.

Toshiba, the main backer of the HD DVD format, defended the technology, "It's difficult for me to believe when all the pundits declare that HD DVD is dead," states Toshiba VP of Marketing Jodi Sally. "Clearly, the events of the last few days have led many of you to that conclusion. We have been declared dead before. The reality is we ended 2007 with a majority of the year-to-date market share."

HD-DVD & Blu-Ray by the numbers.

It’s been hard to tell who’s sold the most set-top players based on the numbers released by the competing HD-DVD and Blu-Ray camps. Based on the information we’ve gathered from different resources, here’s what we’ve found.

Last week, the Blu-Ray camp came out trumpeting that 2.7 million players have been sold.  One thing the Blu-Ray camp does not say about the 2.7 million is that approximately 2.3 million of those “players” are Sony Play Station 3 (PS3) game systems. Taking the 2.3 million away from the 2.7 million leaves approximately 400,000 of the Blu-Ray player sales being set top players like the Panasonic DMP-BD10 Player.

In contrast, the HD-DVD Camp puts their current base at 750,000 players - significantly less than the 2.7 million Blu-Ray is touting. Like the Blu-Ray camp, the 750,000 HD-DVD player number also includes a game system HD player – the Xbox 360 HD-DVD add-on.  Unlike the PS3, the Xbox 360 doesn’t come with an HD disc player. Users who want the player must purchase it separately. Currently the only use for the add-on HD-DVD drive is for watching movies; currently no games are available for the Xbox 360 in the HD-DVD format. As of September 2007, an estimated 210,000 HD-DVD add-ons have been sold, bringing the HD-DVD set-top player base to 540,000.

I would say that the 750,000 base for HD-DVD is a true base, even including the Xbox add-on because the add-on has only one purpose, watching movies. While the Blu-Ray numbers include the PS3 sales, not all PS3 systems are being utilized as Blu-Ray players.

HD - More than pretty pictures.

Along with showing incredible picture quality on HD displays, the new HD disc formats have something that the previous DVD format was missing. The original DVD format was designed to play video. That’s pretty much it. Interactive games and content on DVD has been and still is pretty weak in comparison to what we’re accustomed to with the web. The next generation discs have, at their core, the ability provide more of an interactive experience.

Both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray can function like traditional DVD’s. This functionality is known as Standard Content. Unlike DVD, the new disc formats have a more interactive layer known as Advanced Content, allowing for truly interactive games and internet connectivity through a set top player. Think of the Advanced Content as a Flash website sitting on top of high definition video.

Having Flash style animated buttons on top of the video is cool and all; however the network connectivity is something to get much more excited about. Not only do we have the ability to create much more dynamic looking content, content being played back can be updated via an internet connection to the player, or user input can be sent thru the internet – a great opportunity for training applications.

What other opportunities open up with this Advanced Content?

Myth: “HD-DVD’s dead, Blu-Ray won the Format War.”

We shouldn't even call this a format war. In our opinion, both formats will co-exist and be played in a single player. In fact, electronics manufacturer LG has a player that does just that. The LG BH100 is an HD-DVD and Blu-Ray player all in one. It’s available on Amazon.com for $799. The price of these “combo” players will come down to sub $200 and the format issue with be a non-issue. Consumers do not care about Blu or HD, they just want their movie from Netflix or Blockbuster to play.

MYTH: “I need Blu-Ray.”

That is the most common phrase we hear when clients ask for their High Definition content in a disc format. Why shouldn’t they be asking for Blu-Ray? Sony and the others in the Blu-Ray camp have done such a great job marketing making the Blu-Ray brand synonymous with HD video on disc. The truth is that there is an alternative called HD-DVD. When our clients are asking for Blu-Ray, we have found that they are really asking for High Definition on disc. Clients don’t realize there is more than one HD disc format out there, and they really don’t care. They just want their content to look great on their display.

Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, and DVCPRO HD

We’ve added a Panasonic DVCPRO-HD Deck.  The AJ-HD1400PJ deck allows us to playback DVCPRO 25, 50, and 100 (HD) content.  The deck also allows us to record DVCPRO-HD content to tape as well.

Along with the DVCPRO HD deck, we’ve also added Blu-Ray and HD-DVD authoring and duplication services.  Although the “Format War” is still on, we’ve opted to be format ambidextrous and provide support for both High Definition disc formats.

While the HD Disc formats are not quite ready for full scale distribution, they have their specific uses.  Tradeshow video and lobby video’s on plasmas or LCD’s are a perfect place for HD.  Standard definition video on those HD plasma’s and LCD’s just don’t do the displays justice.

The HD-DVD and Blu-Ray formats both have their plusses and minuses.

On the Blu-Ray side, not all Blu-Ray players on the market will play Blu-Ray recordable discs (BD-R).  We’ve had playback success with BD-R discs we have authored in the Panasonic DMP-BD10A player ($599 Amazon.com).  Interesting to note, the Panasonic player that would play BD-R media, would not play Recordable DVD media (DVD-R).  On the plus side, the BD-R discs hold 25GB of data - plenty of room for over 2 hours of 720P HD Content on a recordable disc.

On the HD-DVD side, HD-DVD recordable is playable on all HD-DVD players on the market currently.  No guessing on weather a disc will play or not.  The one drawback on the HD-DVD, currently the recordable media has a capacity for only 60 minutes of content, however most corporate content is under 60 minutes.

How Long Will Your Media Last?

 

Normally we write about what’s new in media, however in this article we’re going back to our roots.  Recently we’ve been asked about proper storage and care of media for archive.  How long will my media last?  What can go wrong?  How should I store my media?  The subject is pretty extensive, however we’ve scoured the internet and other references for you - We’re going to try to answer the most common questions we’re asked about media and storage.

 

The most common formats of media we’re asked about are Magnetic, Optical, and Film (motion picture and still) based.  Each type of media has its own life expectancy (LE) and storage condition requirements.  It’s best if we break down our discussion in to the different media types.

 

How long will my magnetic media last?

The short answer is between 10 and 30 years, however actual LE depends on a few things. 

 

There are 3 primary factors in determining the LE of your magnetic media:

1. Physical limits of the medium (the stuff data has been recorded on to)
2. Environmental factors (temperature, humidity, dust, other materials in the air)
3. Playback devices

 

Physical Limitations

According to manufacturer’s data sheets, thirty years appears to be the upper limit for magnetic media.   This LE will depend on the quality of media and the specific type of media.  IE.  VHS tape’s life expectancy is far shorter than Digital Betacam.

 

Environmental Factors

Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH) are the #1 factor in determining the LE of media.  Varying temperatures and humidity contribute to the deterioration of the magnetic media.  The LE of VHS in typical office conditions (68-70° F at 50% RH) is approximately 12 years.  By raising the humidity from 50% to 80% the LE of that same VHS tape is approximately 5 years.  Again, LE will depend on the quality and type of media.  VHS is more susceptible to these conditions than a Digital Betacam tape.

 

Playback technology

We would be fortunate if a playback technology stays current for more than 20 years.  Playback equipment is getting harder and harder to find – particularly with high end formats.  Like Moore’s Law stating that computing power doubles every 18 months with the cost of the technology staying the same, new playback technologies are getting introduced more rapidly as well.  VHS was introduced in 1976; DVD was introduced in 1997, 20 years later.  HD-DVD/BluRay was introduced this year, a short 9 years after DVD.  If you are looking to store the media, don’t forget to keep something to playback the media too.

 

What can go wrong with magnetic media?

There are 4 primary things that can go wrong with media stored overtime or in less than ideal conditions:

 

1.      Binder Degradation

The tape binder holds magnetic particles on the tape.  If the binder looses integrity, the tape may become un-playable.  “Sticky Tape” and “Tape Shed” are common terms used to describe what happens when deterioration of the binder occurs.

 

2.      Lubricant loss

Bet you didn’t know that tape has lubricant in it did ya?  Lubricants are added to the binder to reduce the friction of the magnetic topcoat layer of the tape.  Lower friction will facilitate tape transport thru the player, reduce tape wear, and prevents overheating of the tape.  Over time, the level of lubricant in the tape decreases.  This loss is due to consumption of lubricant during playback, evaporation, and degradation.

 

3.      Magnetic Coercivity

The coercivity of a tape refers to the tapes ability to resist demagnetization.  Over time exposure of tape to magnetic fields can cause the magnetic particles in the tape to change direction causing signal loss.  A magnetic tape with a lower coercivity, like VHS, will have a higher chance of signal loss when exposed to a magnetic field than say a Betacam SP or other professional tape format.

 

4.      Substrate Deformation

The tape backing, or substrate, supports the magnetic layer of the tape.  Variations in temperature and humidity cause the tape pack to undergo expansion and contraction.  When the tape pack expands and contracts, it causes stress on the substrate causing it to deform.  Non-Uniform winding of the tape pack can also cause deformation of the substrate.

 

When the tape substrate changes disproportionately, the direction of the magnetic materials on the tape move as well.  The head that reads the information on the tape can not track the moved magnetic particles resulting in information loss.  This will present itself as static in video, or loss of volume in audio.

 

 

How Long Does Film Last?

The short answer is 25-50 years, however, like magnetic media, it depends.  When fresh acetate film is stored at a temperature of 65° F and 50% RH, the film should last approximately 50 years before the onset of acetate decay (aka Vinegar Syndrome).  By decreasing the storage temperature 15°F, the film will last approximately 150 years.

 

Film with magnetic audio is susceptible to the same degradation as magnetic tape.  Once degradation of the magnetic audio tracks on film begins, it increases the chances of acetate decay in the film itself.

 

Other factors that affect the LE of film are the quality of the film stock and the quality of the processing.  As an example, according to IMDB.com, 60% of the original Star Wars was shot on a film so prone to fading, the film was discontinued in the 80’s.

 

What can go wrong with film?

There are 7 primary things than can contribute to a films LE:

1.      Mechanical Damage

Mechanical Damage is cause by mishandling of film by people or equipment.  Scratches, tears, and sprocket hole damage are common types of mechanical damage.

In restoring the original Star Wars trilogy, extensive methods were used to recover the original films from mechanical damage. 

http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/f20040916/index.html

 

2.      Mold, Mildew, and Fungus

These organic contributors to film degredation are caused by film being stored in humid conditions.  Typically, the organic material starts at the edge of the film and moves into the image area.  The organic offenders feed off the gelatin in the emulsion.

 

3.      Acetate Decay AKA Vinegar Syndrome

Believe it or not, plastic decays.  When it decays, it releases Acetic Acid which is chemically identical to vinegar.  Film will start to smell like vinegar and the film base will begin to shrink causing the film in the reel to look wavy.  The film emulsion may crack or flake off.

 

4.      Shrinkage

No, we’re not talking about George Costanza.  Along with shrinkage due to Vinegar Syndrome, films that are stored in low humidity for extended periods of time loose moisture and contract.  Loss of moisture in the film base can cause the film to become brittle and crack.

 

5.      Color Fading

Over time, the 3 dye layers (Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta) of the film begin to loose their original color.  The yellow and cyan are usually the first to go giving the film a pinkish/brown color – IE mostly the magenta dye is left on the base.  Films with extensive color fading look washed out and loose their contrast.  The damage is permanent to the original; however there are some chemical and digital restoration techniques that may be used to resurrect another print from the original.

 

6.      Nitrate Decay

Older 35mm films from 1893 to the early 1950’s were using a nitrate base.  If you have nitrate based film you’ve got more problems than just preservation.  The components used to make nitrate film are the same as some explosives.

Once you have the explosive nature of the film under control, you have to deal with the decay of the nitrate base.  The decay begins with a brownish discoloration of the emulsion with a faint noxious odor.  As the decay continues, the emulsion becomes sticky, softens, then blisters and the odor of the film becomes more noxious.  Finally, the film will congeal into a solid mass and turn into a brownish powder.

 

7.      Magnetic Track Deterioration

Because magnetic media does not have near the life span of film, the combination of the two can cause problems.  The iron oxide in the magnetic track may be a catalyst to early acetate decay.  The magnetic coating may shed from the film base causing a loss of the audio.

 

How long will my optical discs last?

The quick answer between 20 and 300 years.  That’s a huge range, but again, like magnetic media and film, longevity depends on a number of factors including environment and quality of media.

 

There are essentially 2 types of optical media, Recordable or Dye Based (CD-R, DVD-R, etc) and Replicated media.  Recordable media has a LE of ~ 20 – 250 years according to the official DVD FAQ.  For replicated media, LE runs ~ 50 – 300 years.

 

What can go wrong with optical media?

There are 3 items that contribute to optical media’s LE:

1.      Mechanical Damage

Scratches are the main culprit of problems with optical discs.  Many scratches can be buffed out, however deep scratches or a high density of scratches can cause data loss.  Due to their construction, CD’s are especially sensitive to scratches on the top of the disc.  If a CD is scratched thru the aluminum layer on the top, the data in that section of the disc will be un-readable. 

2.      “Dye Rot”

Dye based recordable media should be stored in little to no light as the dye is photo sensitive and the data may be changed by prolonged exposure to light reducing the media’s LE.  Inexpensive recordable discs with volitle dye layers are more susceptible to data loss than higher quality media.

3.      Delamination

According to the DVD FAQ, delamination occurs partly because some cases or players hold too tightly to the hub.  Other causes of delamination may be due to storage in extreme temperatures, contaminated adhesive, chemical reactions, or oxidation of the reflective layer in the disc.  Delamination may appear as concentric rings or a stain around the center hub.

 

 

How should I store my media to maximize its life?

Temperature and relative humidity are the #1 factors effecting media’s LE.   Rochester Institute of Technology’s Image Permanence Institute (IPI) has come up with 4 temperature categories for storage.  All temperatures require RH between 30% and 50%.

 

Each temperature description is an anchor point with the exception of Freezing which describes temperatures Freezing and colder.

 

Because many media libraries/archives are mixed media, the IPI has come up with a media storage quick reference for how best to store multiple media.  Their chart accounts for less than perfect storage, giving an idea on what will be unacceptable for storage to ideal conditions.

 

 

 

		B&W	Color	Polyester
Storage Conditions	Nitrate & Acetate Film	Polyester Film	Polyester Film	Magnetic Tape	CD's  & DVD's
COLD 68°F (20°C)	No	Fair	No	No	Fair
COOL 54°F (12°C)	No	Good	No	Good	Good
COLD 40°F (4°C)	Good	Very       Good	Good	Fair	Good
FROZEN 32°F (0°C)	Very       Good	Very       Good	Very       Good	No	No

 

Freezing photographic materials is best as freezing slows down the chemical reactions that lead to degradation, however magnetic and disc based media should not be frozen.

 

Lubricant loss and separation from the base can occur on magnetic tape when frozen.  With optical media, the layers that make up the disc may separate causing the disc to become unreadable.  Cool or cold storage is best for archiving of magnetic or optical media.

 

Something to keep in mind with storage, there isn’t a 100% right way.  In an ideal world, we’d freeze film and have an archive cooler for other media, however budgets and facilities dictate how we must store materials the only thing we can do is work with what we have.

 

For more in-depth information on the subject of storage and archival check out these links:

 

                        National Film Preservation Foundation

                                    http://www.filmpreservation.org/

 

                        RIT’s Image Permanence Institute

                                    http://www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org/

 

                        Council on Library and Information Resources

                                    http://www.clir.org

 

                        National Film Preservation Board

                                    http://www.loc.gov/film/filmpres.html

 

 

Optical Disc Care & Storage

The following is a quick one-page reference from the offically published "Care and Handling Guide for the Preservation of CDs and DVDs, CLIR and NIST joint project NIST Special Publication 500-252, October 2003, Final"  If you are a die hard techie you can find the entire 50 page report here: Final PDF version - 50 pages (1.24 MB file)  CD and DVD Archiving Quick Reference Guide for Care and Handling Do: 1. Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole. 2. Use a non solvent-based felt-tip permanent marker to mark the label side of the disc. 3. Keep dirt or other foreign matter from the disc. 4. Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for CDs and DVDs. 5. Return discs to storage cases immediately after use. 6. Leave discs in their packaging (or cases) to minimize the effects of environmental changes. 7. Open a recordable disc package only when you are ready to record data on that disc. 8. Store in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean. 9. Remove dirt, foreign material, fingerprints, smudges, and liquids by wiping with a clean cotton fabric in a straight line from the center of the disc toward the outer edge. 10. Use CD/DVD cleaning detergent, isopropyl alcohol or methanol to remove stubborn dirt or material. 11. Check the disc surface before recording. Do not: 1. Touch the surface of the disc. 2. Bend the disc 3. Use adhesive labels. 4. Store discs horizontally for a long time (years). 5. Open a recordable optical disc package if you are not ready to record. 6. Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity. 7. Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes. 8. Expose recordable discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of UV light. 9. Write or mark in the data area of the disc (area where the laser "reads"). 10. Clean in a circular direction around the disc. For CDs especially do not: 1. Scratch the label side of a CD. 2. Use a pen, pencil, or fine tip marker to write on the disc. 3. Write on the disc with markers that contain solvents. 4. Try to peel off or re-position a label. General recommendation for long-term storage conditions For archiving recordable (R) discs, it is recommended to use discs that have a gold metal reflective layer. Archival Storage Facility Recommendation for storing CDs and DVDs together Media Temperature Relative Humidity (RH) CD, DVD Less than 20°C (68°F) 20% to 50% RH Greater than 4°C (39°F) A temperature of 18°C and 40% RH would be considered suitable for long-term storage. A lower temperature and RH is recommended for extended-term storage.