Archive photos to DVD

DVD media, such as the HP LightScribe DVD media above, allows you to preserve thousands of photos on one disc. .

Saving photos to DVD is an easy, inexpensive, and reliable way to preserve your memories for up to 100 years¹. Plus, archiving your photos to DVD allows you to:

• Store originals of your digital photos in a secure place.
• Make space on your computer's hard drive.
• Easily share numerous photos with friends and family, instead of trying to E-mail or mail your images.
• Preserve thousands of photos on a single disc.

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A basic DVD holds 4.7GB of data, or 15,000 high-quality pictures.

A basic DVD holds 4.7GB of data, which translates to more than 15,000 high-quality pictures. That's about seven times the capacity of a CD.

And HP's innovative double-layer recording technology lets you use double-layer DVDs to record almost twice as much data as you can on single-layer DVDs.

You can burn photos onto DVD+R ("recordable") discs, which record data only once, or burn them onto DVD+RW ("rewritable") discs, which you can write or record over nearly 1,000 times.

DVD+R discs are cheaper, but you may want to spend a little more on DVD+RW discs for the added flexibility.

Step 3: Choose the Burn files to disc option.

Step 5: Copying photos to DVD can be as simple as clicking on a folder and selecting the Burn option from the top of the screen.

Transferring your photos to DVD is just as easy as moving any file from one location to another on your computer. We’ll show you how using Windows Vista, though the process is similar for Windows XP.

Step 1: If your photos are not already on your PC, you’ll need to first transfer your photos from your digital camera.

Step 2: Insert a blank DVD into your computer's drive.

Step 3: Windows Vista will detect the blank DVD and a new window will pop-up with several different options. Choose Burn files to disc.

Step 4: You will now be asked to give the DVD a name.

Step 5: Once you name your disc, a new window will open. Either select a folder from the menu on the right (containing the images you’d like to copy to disc) and press the Burn button at the top of the screen, or drag individual photos into this window. Windows Vista will then copy the files onto the DVD for you.

If you try to add too many photos onto a DVD (exceeding its gigabyte limit) your computer will alert you, and you’ll need to remove photos before proceeding.

(This process is similar on a Mac, but you will drag your photos to a DVD icon instead of a pop-up window.)

Don't store your DVDs in temperatures less than 40 degrees or over 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avoid storing your DVDs on the spindle they came packaged in. Paper or plastic CD/DVD sleeves are a better choice, but still leave your discs vulnerable to damage. The best choice is to keep your discs in individual jewel cases.

Temperature and light can also damage the data on a DVD. Don't store your DVDs in direct sunlight or in temperatures less than 40 degrees or over 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Personalize your jewel cases with custom designs while adding information that will make your discs easier to sort through later on. Read on for more creative ideas.

Create a folder “Photos to burn” folder so that when it’s time to copy them to a DVD, you’ll have all your photos stored in one place for fast and simple transferring.

Use an HP photo scanner to turn non-digital prints into digital images so you can easily archive them on DVD.

Create a “Photos to burn” or “Burn to DVD” folder on your PC that is dedicated to photos you know you’ll want to archive later. That way, when it comes time to burn them to disc, you’ll have all your photos conveniently stored in one place.

Edit photos before archiving. Discover how software like Windows Live Photo Gallery can help you prepare your photos for storage by removing red-eye and adjusting color and lighting.

Don’t forget non-digital prints. Time, light, and even humidity all conspire to dull and damage old photos. Consider turning your non-digital photo prints into digital files so that you can archive them to DVD as well. Learn more about scanning your photos to create digital files.

It's easier than ever to convert your images into digital files using HP photo scanners and HP Photosmart All-in-Ones. The ability to scan slides or negatives is also a special feature included on several HP photo scanners.

Remember to have enough DVD media on hand to archive all of your photos, slides, and negatives!