File formats for saving "original" photos -- Part Four

Choosing an image file format for storing original photographs and scans
raises a number of major fundamental issues including most importantly,
the survivability of the format in the long term. The most recent issue
of the Family Tree
magazine has an article on Endangered Sources by Lisa A. Alzo. The article identifies various categories of
public and private records that could be lost over time. One obvious
solution, and a solution becoming overwhelmingly popular, is to digitize
the paper records. But we are also faced with the same issues of loss
through digital formats becoming obsolete. This can happen either
because the file format is no longer supported and newer software does
not recognize the format, or more obviously through hardware
obsolescence. For example, try and find a machine to read recording tape
on reels, i.e. a reel to reel tape recorder. They may be still
available but you would likely have to buy a used machine categorized
under vintage electronics.

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