Digital BW, The Print

I recently updated our website with a CD/DVD storage guide from the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology's special publication 
of the care and handling of Cds and DVDs
http://www.framedestination.com/CD_DVD_storage.html

Here is a copy:

Do:
Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole. 
Use a non solvent-based felt-tip permanent marker to mark the label 
side of the disc.
Keep dirt or other foreign matter from the disc. 
Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for CDs 
and DVDs. 
Return discs to storage cases immediately after use. 
Leave discs in their packaging (or cases) to minimize the effects of 
environmental changes. 
Open a recordable disc package only when you are ready to record data 
on that disc. 
Store in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean. 
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. 
Use CD/DVD cleaning detergent, isopropyl alcohol or methanol to 
remove stubborn dirt or material. 
Check the disc surface before recording. 

Do not:
Touch the surface of the disc. 
Bend the disc. 
Use adhesive labels. 
Store discs horizontally for a long time (years). 
Open a recordable optical disc package if you are not ready to 
record. 
Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity. 
Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes. 
Expose recordable discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of UV 
light. 
Write or mark in the data area of the disc (area where the 
laser "reads"). 
Clean in a circular direction around the disc. 


For CDs especially do not: 
Scratch the label side of a CD. 
Use a pen, pencil, or fine tip marker to write on the disc. 
Write on the disc with markers that contain solvents. 
Try to peel off or re-position a label. 

Cheers, Mark
http://www.framedestination.com/


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Rogers" 
<mrgs1001@...> wrote:
>
> 
> Jonathan S. Farley, Senior Conservator at Royal Botanic Gardens did
> comprehensive study of Bell Labs "Corrosion Intercept"
> technology as used to protect CD/DVD's:
> 
> CD_Instert_Report
> <http://www.conservation-by-design.co.uk/corrosioninterceptpdfs/CD-
Inser\
> tfinalreport.pdf>
> 
> His findings about CD Jewel Cases were interesting. Here is a quote 
from
> page 17 in the conclusion:
> 
> "The most deleterious factor in the CD's environment which will
> contribute to its decay is the Jewel Case in which it is supplied. 
Acid
> off gassing as a result of poorly chosen materials in the products'
> packaging can reduce the longevity of a CD to decades rather than 
the
> centuries predicted by most manufacturers…As a consequence, unless
> Jewel Cases undergo a radical redesign, the presence of deleterious
> plasticizers will be continued requirement, and a continued threat 
to
> the longevity of CDs. Not one commercial CD manufacturer will admit
> publicly that their CDs are manufactured from decayable materials 
which
> can be affected from deleterious factors in their immediate 
environment.
> As a consequence of this, many packaging manufacturers pay little, 
or no
> attention to their choice of materials."
> 
> My company resells CD/DVD protective storage cases and jewel case
> inserts and we have a sale on them going on right now for 15% off 
via
> discount code: FDPSAC7
> 
> Cheers, Mark
> http://www.pbase.com/lila161 <http://www.pbase.com/lila161>
> http://www.framedestination.com/ <http://www.framedestination.com/>