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Archival Grade DVDs
 

Preserve your photos at least 50 years!

Burn your images to Archival Grade DVDs.
Although there are claims of between 20 to 100 year life for standard burned CDs, it is well documented that in practice they can have a relatively short life span of between 2 to 5 years! The silver reflective layer used in standard CDs eventually tarnishes through exposure to light, heat, oxygen, humidity and rough handling. This may mean the loss of precious memories.
 
When it has to last, use Archival Grade DVDs. The quality of these discs is archival, meaning they are perfect for ensuring the long term integrity of your movies, music, images, documents, and data.
 

Summary of Verbatim's White Paper* on their Archival Grade Gold DVDs.

Verbatim's unique Archival Grade DVD media is based on breakthrough Dual Reflective Layer Technology featuring both gold and silver metal layers, replacing the conventional single reflective layer.


The new dual reflective layer demonstrates superior long-term data preservation. The gold layer prevents chemical degradation and corrosion and the silver layer maintains the good read-write compatibility between DVD recorders and players.

 

Verbatim’s Hard Coat protection further enhances the product offering.


This product aims to be the most reliable product available to users who wish to record, store and playback important information and data trouble-free today, tomorrow and many years into the future.
 
*Read full White Paper (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
 

How are Archival Grade DVDs available?

Any service we provide on disc can be upgraded to a Archival Grade DVD.
 
Archival Grade DVDs Price to Upgrade
Single DVD-R Disc $5.00
   

Tips on the Handling and Storage of Your Discs.

DOs and DON'Ts of Handling and Storing your discs

DOs

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 CD-R disc, preferably only in the clear, center hub area.
3. Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for CDs and DVDs.
4. Return discs to storage cases immediately after use.
5. Leave discs in their packaging (or cases) to minimize the effects of environmental changes.
6. Open a recordable disc package only when you are ready to record data on that disc.
7. Store discs in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean.
8. Check the disc surface before recording.

DON'Ts

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. Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity.
6. Open a recordable optical disc package if you are not ready to record.
7. Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes.
8. Expose CD-R or DVD-R/+R 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. You should wipe from the center of the disc, straight toward the outer edge.

General recommendations for long-term storage conditions:
 

FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I want a DVD to last 50 years?

The usual comment is "Well there will be no DVD drives around to read the discs". But people saying this are missing the point. Whether it is 5, 10, 20 years or more that DVD readers are totally replaced by a superior technololgy, if you have stored your images on Archival Grade discs you will have them to tranfer to the new technology - most others will not.