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Comment by comboy | Hacker News Reader

I mean if you don't print them and want digital and we're talking having them for the next generation(s) then pretty much whatever current format you choose, it won't be the one that's widely used in the future so it will require some tech knowledge. And LTO tech stayed pretty settled and compatible for quite a few years now.

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Digitally printed photos are also quickly deteriorating, I learned when I look at the fridge where we posted some of our best shots. These are about ten years old. Opposed to analog printed photos that are more than 45 years old and are still in the same condition as ever.

True, although UV exposure has a big impact so not really a fair comparsion.

Why? Both sorts of prints are exposed to the same amount of UV as they are pinned to the same fridge.

I wonder if there is a better printing technology comparable to analog "prints" (of film). That would actually make more sense (to me) than saving everything on M-Disc.

Ah, sorry I thought the old ones were stashed somewhere. Yeah, I'd like that too, although not sure who would I trust telling me that these will actually be like this in 30 years.

In the meantime I found out that there are in fact printing technologies based on pigments with a longer lifespan. For instance Epson Surecolor or Canon imagePROGRAF. The alternative is to use online services who produce actual "c-prints" of digital images.

LTO drives/tape are not friendly, consumer grade technology. One look on a search engine, and it's all obscure refurbished server parts costing hundreds. The prices of them going forwards might increase sharply too and make it unviable...a bit like external hard drives right now. So yeah, printing everything out and hoping for the best is the only sensible option...

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