It is such a fulfilling feeling knowing that all your old film has been converted to digital, preserving it for lifetimes to come, but then come the hard part. What do you do with your old film once it has been digitized? Well, many people say, and we have said it before- you CAN throw it away. Just because you CAN place all your memories in the trash, does that mean your SHOULD?
Technically, once your photos, videos, negatives, slides, videos, and other old format photos have been scanned and converted to a digital format, they are good forever and they will not degrade over time. However, to ensure your digital files are kept safe for generations to enjoy, you will want to make several precautions in backing up all your images and video files in the cloud, and on external hard drives in case of computer crashes. The more places you store your precious belongings, the better off you are. If you follow this advice, and you do store your digital legacy safely, then yes, you COULD throw your film away.
We really can think of only two benefits to throwing your paper and physical film away. They include: 1-Saves space! Think of that corner in your basement that has been occupied by stacks and stacks of boxes containing your life's captured moments. It would be empty! 2- It can be therapeutic to move from one phase of your life to the next. You are moving into the digital world fully and completely with no looking back!
Now, there are also a couple of negatives associated with permanently getting rid of your film. 1- It can be extremely heartbreaking. While your possessions are now in digital form and preserved forever, to some, throwing these belongings away can feel as though you are just throwing your past aside without a care. 2- If you do not store your digital memories properly, and computers were to prove unreliable, your memories literally are erased. With your physical film still in possession, if your converted media were to be erased, you would still have another opportunity to keep your memories around. While the quality of the film will not be as good as initially converted since film deteriorates over time, it would still be better than nothing.
So while you COULD throw your physical photos, move film, slides, videos, and negatives in the garbage after digital conversion is complete, and you have taken every precaution in backing them up, the choice is really up to you. It is a personal decision that is emotional for everyone. We have no doubt that your memories have the opportunity to last more than a lifetime, as long as they are taken care of, but it really comes down to whether or not your heart can handle it.
Haven't yet converted your film to a digital form yet? Larsen Digital Services is one of the top names in the film conversion industry. As a family run business, we truly know what it takes to take your family's history, and make it the best it can be by preserving it forever. Our services are many including but not limited to: Slides, Movie Film, Video Tapes, Negatives, Photos, Audio Tapes, Vinyl Records, and Scrapbook Pages.
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