wparthur

I am digitizing lots of old photos. Wonder what others are using to identify them. I would like to indicate on the back of the photo that they have been scanned, date, other identifying items. Is there a safe rubber stamp and ink?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Put them in a different box.

Maybe put a piece of paper between sections.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-page?upnum=2991

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I put my scanned prints in an envelope, mark the envelope with the subject and "scanned", then they go in a box.
If I mark a large print scanned, it's an "S" in a circle on the back.
Scans are filed in subject<\date> directories on the computer. (and backed up in three places)
Information/comments are in the file metadata.
If I mark the paper prints, it is in pencil as some inks will bleed over time.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

I scanned all my photos and negatives several yeas ago and put them onto DVDs. Gave copies to my son and also have them backed up on an external drive. I then threw all the photos and negatives away...I saw no point on storing them.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

You need to find an acid free stamp pad like:

https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-AIP-31468-Archival-Ink-Pads/dp/B0056ETF8I/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2YSR2J8BJY88P&dchild=1&keywords=acid+free+stamp+pads&qid=1624844239&sprefix=acid+free+stapm%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-3

and an archival (acid free) pen for the text. Check at a local graphic arts (drawing) store.

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

Photo stores uded to sell stamp pads for just that purpose.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

I always printed names/dates/location/event on the back of the picture with a pencil, down at the bottom border, never on the image. (Do it gently so you are not leaving a mark through the paper and on to the image.)

And, the reason to store originals, if you have them, is that technology keeps improving with time. I scanner of 10 years ago is not the equal of a current generation scanner and the retouching software you might use for these historic, once-in-a-lifetime pictures.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

And if for some unforeseen reason, all digital copies are lost, the kids can always re-scan the historical family originals!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

My first thought also. I would, however, put the file name I used on the photo with an archivial pen or pencil on the edge.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

My first wife was an archivist and always beat into me "Whatever you do, save the original".
That explains a lot.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ya never know.......

bodiebill

Tch! Tch! for destroying the originals!

Bill.Doub

For photos that are in an envelope from a processing lab, I give the IMAGE the processing lab batch number plus the negative or slide number, then the print goes back in the original envelope which goes in an acid free box. (It's possible that two printed batches from two different labs could be the same, but very unlikely – haven't had that happen.) Slides have been placed in index boxes so they get a name that's appropriate for the box plus the index number. For photos that were in an old photo album, I give the album a name, then the IMAGE gets that name plus the page number plus a position number on the page (left to right, top to bottom), then the print goes back were it came from. For none of these does anything get written on the print since the name tells me where they are stored.
For all the loose prints, I give them a suffix that is sort of descriptive plus the sequence number from the scanner. This name gets written very carefully, in pencil, as lightly as possible, near the back top right corner. The prints then go in an envelope, in a acid free box.
All the names along with descriptions and scanner parameters go into an Access database so I could just give everything the index number from Access and I'm not sure why I didn't do that except that I started scanning long before I started the database and kept records on paper.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Oops!!!! There went one of the backups(original).

rmcgarry331

When writing on photo paper only use a soft pencil. An Ebony pencil is best, if not an 8B, or 6B. For resin coated paper the pencil won't work, use a Zig marker. I can find all of these at my local Michael's crafts in Southeast Michigan.