Digital BW, The Print

This was a topic I looked into years ago.  Then, I learned that all CDs were not equal.  That the gold CDs were better in archiving data.  But it has become hard to find the gold ones.  

I also learned that it is better to write a CD slowly.  That fast writing does not make as good an image on the CD which fading will ruin quicker.   That slow writing will make a more distinctive image, and be read longer.

I also learned not to write on a CD!  At least on the silvered, or gold part.  That most pens have ink that can damage the image on the CD.  There is only a thin layer of lacquer protecting the silver or gold on the CD.  That lacquer can be damaged by the pens ink.  I only write on the hub, clear part,  of the CD.

I also sleeve, or case all my CDs and DVDs.  I am also careful to handle them only by the edges, or center, never touching the image area.

I too keep the CDs, and DVDs in a cool dry, dark place.  CDs are written by light, so why couldn't they be damaged by light?  Common sense?

I just dug out some CDs written in 2003 to reprint some images.  Even though these were on silver CDs, I had no problem reading them.  I have recently opened CDs I wrote in the 1990s and they worked.  Are you that had CD failures taking these precautions?

Ben