advertisement
Buddy Jolton knew that the videotapes he'd taken of his 14-year-old daughter growing up weren't going to last. Time and wear would eventually render the tapes unwatchable.
So he had all the tapes transferred to DVDs as a gift to her -- and future generations.
"I wish I had stuff like this of my childhood -- and of my parents'," said Jolton, a businessman from Bel Air, Calif. "(DVDs) are good for such a long period of time that she'll be able to give a copy to her kids, which makes me smile just to say it."
The most treasured presents you could give this season may not be something you pick out of a catalog or buy at a mall. The best gifts can be those that preserve and share your family history.
The possibilities are almost endless, from reproducing old family photos to recording a tape of your voice reading a story for a grandchild. You can spend a small fortune preserving memories, or hardly anything at all. Here are some ideas that might inspire you.
Family photos
The digital age has made copying and restoring old photographs easier and less expensive than ever before. You can choose from three approaches:- Professional. Many photo labs and high-end camera stores will scan and print an archival copy of an old photo for about $30. Restoration work -- eliminating scratches, repairing tears and reviving the color or contrast -- might be a bit extra.
- If you want copies that last, you'll need to look for a shop that does high-quality work and avoid the low-cost places that specialize in mass production. You'll see better reproductions, and the quality of the photo paper and chemicals used will determine how well your photos hold up over time.
- You'll want to think about preservation as you're matting and framing the photos, as well. Use acid-free, archival mats and glass that blocks ultraviolet rays.
- Moderate. If you or a friend has a good scanner and image-editing software, you can make and restore your own copies. The inks in most printers aren't archival, however, so you may want to burn the photos to a CD and take it to a camera shop or custom printer that offers higher-quality inks and papers. Prices vary, but typically range from $10 to $15 for an 8x10 print.
- Economy. We're talking Kinko's, baby. If your primary goal is to share photos with other family members, not to preserve them for the ages, photocopying is an inexpensive way to do it.
- "Usually one branch of the family winds up with all the photos and the rest of us never see them," said Nancy Hendrickson, author of "Finding Your Roots Online" and contributing editor for Family Tree Magazine. Photocopying allows those with great pictures to easily share the wealth.
- Don't cheap out completely, though, by using black-and-white copiers; use the color copiers instead. The color versions do a much better job of capturing the look and contrast of old photos, particularly sepia-toned ones, Hendrickson said.
Another idea: Put photos on stuff that can later become heirlooms. One reader on the Your Money message board used her computer to print photos of her family onto special transfer paper (available at craft stores). She and her sister ironed the photos onto squares of fabric and made them into a quilt for their mother.
Home movies
The first time Lilly Harsewak used a DVD transfer service, it was for herself: She wanted to preserve her 1993 wedding video, which at 10 years was reaching the end of its useful life.The Miami resident was so pleased with the result, provided by YesVideo of Santa Clara, Calif., that she's now having a video of her 5-year-old nephew transferred to DVD as a Christmas present to his family. For $25, the DVD reproduces up to two hours of video and includes chapters so you can jump to the scenes you want to see. The DVD's cover is customized as well with a photo from the video.
YesVideo partners with Walgreens and other chains, but you can find DVD transfer services through camera shops and photo labs. Some of these services will transfer 8mm, Super 8 or 16mm film to DVD, typically for a cost of 20 cents to 25 cents per foot.
If you're a do-it-yourselfer, the new DVD recorders can help you transfer tape to DVDs (which experts believe can last up to 300 years). Phillips has a $500 version that has decks for videotapes and recordable DVDs.
Family trees
If you're the family historian, you have a wealth of information that can be shared with relatives. Among the options:- Use software such as "Family Tree Maker" to trace lineage and create print-outs and displays.
- Write down family stories, like how your family first arrived in the United States, or short biographies of notable ancestors.
- Order copies of relevant newspaper articles -- birth and marriage announcements, obituaries, feature stories -- that include your ancestors.
- Make crafts that feature your family tree. You can find embroidery kits, quilt patterns and other crafts with this theme.
Rate this Article
High
