Memories Forever Studios: Frequently Asked Questions

Memories Forever is MetroWest Boston’s premier memorabilia preservation service. We provide high quality scans and transfers of our clients’ treasures, providing them on media requested by our clients, typically on DVD or CD and through Cloud galleries and social media services. Using various services, you can share your photos with friends and family, upload additional digital images and compile an online collection of memories. Simply put, Memories Forever provides the most user-friendly experience available. We place our client at the center of everything we do throughout the entire order process.

1.2 – I am worried about shipping my photos. Is the process safe?

Our transfer process ensures that your photos remain safe throughout the entire preservation process. Tracking information about your shipment is available throughout the shipping process. If you live in the Boston MetroWest area, we will pick up and deliver your memorabilia at your location. Alternatively, you can drop off your photos, films, slides, etc. at our studio locations. For more information, please see our Contact page here. While being scanned, your materials stay within our studios under our control and are returned to you via safe, tracked shipping services using an easy to use tracking number.

1.3 – Why not scan my pictures myself?

Scanning photos can be an intensely laborious process. Scanning a few photos can be accomplished relatively easily by you if you have the proper high quality equipment and knowledge of the scanning process and techniques. Our highly experienced, professional technicians combine their expertise with the best scanning equipment to provide the highest quality product. We believe that converting your photos to a digital format is something that should be done right one time.

1.4 – Why preserve my photos? Why convert to digital?

Your memories are irreplaceable. Your family has perhaps thousands of photos and videos in multiple formats. The benefit of conversion to digital is twofold: first, by keeping a copy of your photos both on CD/DVD and in the Cloud, you preserve these memories forever. Secondly, modern technologies allow you to enjoy your digital photographs in many more ways than traditional printed photographs. With your photos in a digital format, you will be able effortlessly to organize, share, reprint and compile your photo library. In addition, simple software applications easily allow you to create customized slideshows or photo books for any occasion.

2. Services

2.1 – What format of originals do you scan?

We preserve 35 mm negatives and slides and printed paper photos of virtually any size up to 17" in length. In addition, our professional quality equipment allows us to preserve black and white and color photos, line drawings, paintings, artwork, scrapbooks and stereoscopic slides. For film and videos, we preserve virtually any video format, including 8mm film, VHS tapes and digital camera videos. For audio formats, we preserve reel-to-reel and audio cassettes. If you have an item you wish to preserve, please talk to us here to discuss how we can help.

2.2 – My photos are in albums, will Memories Forever accept these albums?

Yes, Memories Forever will accept your photo albums, even if the albums include photos that are permanently glued down.

2.3 – My slides are housed in carousels, magazines and protective slide pages. What should I send?

Please send your memories in the carousels, magazines and protective slide pages you currently have. As part of our scanning process we will remove the slides from their packaging and assure that they will be returned in the same order. When preparing your materials for shipping, please secure them tightly using rubber bands and wrap them in plastic. Slides, negatives and prints are very durable and do not need excessive protection, but they should be well packaged.

2.4 – Where do you process the photos and digital images?

All of our orders are processed in our studios located in MetroWest Boston. Given the high level of importance and value we place on your photos and memories, we believe in ensuring that your memories are under our control at all times. This allows us to provide the most reliable and secure premier preservation service available anywhere. Your materials remain in one location throughout the entire process until we return them to you via a trackable shipping option. This ensures that our service provides an unparalleled level of security.

3. Technical

3.1 – What is DPI? What resolution do I need?

DPI stands for dots per inch. Transferring your paper memories with the correct DPI settings results in an accurate digital portrayal retaining the original resolution, sharpness and clarity we find in your materials. A higher DPI is generally associated with a higher quality image; however, if the DPI exceeds the resolution of the original media, a higher DPI may diminish the quality of the image. Our preservation process delivers 300 DPI resolution for paper photos, which is perfect for using your digital photos electronically while affording you the ability to reprint the photo. We scan slides and negatives at 4000 DPI to preserve the quality information stored within the slide and negative image. For slides and negatives, Memories Forever's service includes applying the highest quality Infrared Clean technology available to remove most dust, scratches and blemishes. We also offer manual processing to restore, color-correct and digitally repair damaged photos.

3.2 – I have both negatives and paper photos of the same subject. Which should I send for preservation?

In most cases, scanning from negatives produces a higher quality result.

3.3 – Should I use CDs or DVDs for storing my digital images? How many pictures fit on each media?

Either a CD or DVD disc will work. The choice usually depends on how much space you will need to store your memories. A DVD can preserve approximately seven times the number of images that a CD can. Memories Forever will deliver your preserved materials on the media that makes the most sense. Alternatively, we will deliver your memories into the Cloud or to the gallery or social media destination of your choice.

3.4 – How will the images be stored and organized? Will I be able to view my images and play them on a DVD player?

Your photos will be returned to you as jpg images on a CD or DVD disc. Additionally, if you choose, your photos can be stored in the Cloud or to the gallery or social media destination of your choice. From there, you can share your images with friends and family. The CDs or DVDs may be viewed and edited on any computer which has a DVD drive. Alternatively, you can play the discs in DVD players that can read computer discs. If you choose, we can create a DVD of your memories that will play like a movie in your DVD player.

3.5 – What is Infrared Clean?

Infrared Clean is a technology that allows scanner hardware and software automatically to identify and remove dust marks and minor scratches. A slide or negative is scanned for four things: red, green and blue information plus, using infrared light, scratches and dust information. The Infrared Clean software uses the information obtained from the infrared light scan to identify what are dust and scratches and then reduce, using mathematical algorithms, those unwanted elements from the image.

3.6 – Once the photos are scanned do you do any additional work with the photos?

We will manually rotate your photos "right-side-up" and crop any background remaining after the scanning process. If you wish, we can color correct images, restore faded pictures, remove blemishes, fill in cracks and digitally optimize the photos to provide you the best digital images possible. We established Memories Forever to provide you the premier, highest quality services available.

3.7 – What type of equipment do you use?

We use only the highest quality hardware equipment and software. Our hardware includes equipment from the well-respected houses of Studer, Revox, Nikon, Leica, Metz and McIntosh. Software includes Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop, Hammrick’s VueScan, Camtasia’s Studio and Avid’s Pinnacle Studio, among many others.

3.8 – Do you clean the photos before scanning?

Yes. When necessary, we use blown air to remove dust from slides and negatives. In addition, our scanners use Infrared Clean technology for slides and negatives to remove dust and minor scratches automatically from the image.

3.9 - Why do I need to preserve my photos?

Photos and home movies deteriorate for a number of reasons, and there's only one thing you can do about it. To guarantee that your family's archive of captured memories is preserved, those precious memories need to be archived digitally. One of the best reasons to convert your old photos, negatives, slides, videos, and reel-to-reel audio to digital format is to prevent the natural decaying process from stealing your favorite memories from you. Many reasons cause deterioration of those materials, but the primary factors include poor environmental conditions, inferior storage containers and the deterioration of the actual chemical composition of the photographic or film materials.

Poor environmental conditions frequently occur in most homes and storage areas. Ever present, the deteriorating elements include humidity, temperature and light. High humidity causes materials to become stuck together due to the moisture, whereas low humidity creates cracks and curls. High temperatures and visible light from sunlight and lamps also increase the rate of deterioration. Air pollution adds to the degradation of materials. Inadequate storage solutions often play a role in the deterioration of photographic and home movie material. Even optimal storage options can be affected by temperature, light, and humidity. In addition, the acid from old photo albums alone can eat away at your memories. Moreover, storage areas tend to be susceptible to insects and rodents who can damage your photos.

Environmental and storage factors aside, the stability of the chemical composition in film media also contributes to fading and color distortions with time. Black and white negatives and prints use reasonably stable silver halide. However, over time and in less than ideal conditions, the papers will yellow together with the gelatin matrix that makes up the image. If the image was not properly developed, that once crisp image may develop a metallic blur. Color images deteriorate even faster due to chromogenic dye colors not being stable over time. The color balance of old photographs also changes because the three different dyes used in the original print deteriorate at various rates. New inkjet prints and photographic processes deliver superior results, but as this technology is relatively new, it has yet to stand the test of time.

So, the bottom line is that even though you have properly stored your professionally developed photos in non-corrosive, non-combustible, acid-free containers in a dark room with the proper humidity, away from insects, rodents, and dust making sure the items were not too tightly and not too loose, your images may still deteriorate. Even if you go through our suggested procedures, which may hinder your ability to enjoy the images, your images nevertheless may deteriorate. We have recommended a number of ways to help slow down the deterioration process, but the best way to guarantee the preservation of your images is to archive your images digitally. Our team will not only preserve your images in their current state, but we can optimize your photos to reverse or even improve the images, countering the aging process.

4. Shipping

4.1 – How should I package my photos for shipping?

We will accept your photos in whatever format and storage medium you currently store them. You can ship your photos or scrapbooks to us in boxes; slides may stay in their carousels or trays. When you package your memories, please make sure they are secured and that they won't shift during shipment. If they are in a box, pack the box with bubble wrap to fill the empty voids. (No plastic popcorn, please – the popcorn leaves messy white particles that may stick to your images.) Use a sturdy box that will be able to withstand shipping and won't be easily crushed.

4.2 – Explain your shipping process. Where should I ship my photos?

We recommend that you ship your images via USPS, UPS or FedEx always with a tracking code to:

Memories Forever Studios

16 Otis Shores

Woolwich, Maine 04579-4578

Call our customer service line at 207-389-4676 with any questions you may have.

4.3 – If I prefer to drop off my materials, where are you located?

Memories Forever Studios

16 Otis Shores

Woolwich, Maine 04579-4578

Please click here to see our full contact information.

5. Terms

5.1 – How does Memories Forever ensure my images are kept private?

Memories Forever takes the responsibility of properly handling your photos very seriously. We ensure that your images are under control of the privacy of our studios at all times.

6. Pricing/Billing

6.1 – How much does it cost? When will you bill me?

For details on prices, please our website price page here. We will bill you when we return your order to you.

7. Questions about Video

7.1 – How do you transfer video and film? What is the process for transferring video and film?

We use only the highest quality equipment from Revox, Nikon, Leica, Metz and others when transferring your film and video. We have invested thousands of hours and dollars in the equipment and software to ensure that the transfer processes return the highest quality possible, in a reasonable turnaround time, for a fair price.

7.2 – What is your pricing? How much should I expect this to cost?

Pricing varies based on the type of material you are sending us. Pricing for video, film, slide, photo, scrapbook and audio conversions, as well as other services, can be found by clicking here.

7.3 – Will your CD or DVD play on my DVD player?

If you bought your DVD player – the kind that sits on your shelf – in the last many years, you can play your memorabilia through your DVD player onto your TV. If you have an older player, we can provide you with a DVD – at a nominal additional charge – that will play in your player. All DVDs that we provide will play in your computer.

7.4 – I have very specific needs to show menus and chapters and this requires special editing, etc. Can you help?

We always welcome specific requirements you may have to develop special menus, chapters editing, audio effects, and the like. Please contact us by clicking here to discuss your specific needs.

7.5 – What is your turnaround time for film and video orders?

Our average film and video turnaround time is 1 - 2 weeks, plus shipping time each way.

7.6 – What types of film do you convert?

We specialize in 8mm film, Super8 film, and 16mm film.

7.7 – How can I be sure my order is secure?

We receive orders from across the country. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that your materials are safe throughout our entire process. Movies and film are carefully handled in person during our preservation process. Everything that you provide us will be returned to you.

7.8 – Do you guarantee your work? What if I'm not satisfied?

Memories Forever offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on all orders.

7.9 – How many CDs, DVDs or flash drives will I receive?

We will provide as many CDs, DVDs or flash drives as your memories will require to be preserved. We have removed the need for you to count, presort or organize your film, videos, photos, slides, scrapbooks or audio cassettes before sending them to us for preservation.

7.10 – How much film will fit on one DVD?

We can preserve approximately one hour of film on a single DVD.

7.11 – Can I order more copies once my order has been processed?

Yes. We maintain copies of your memories in computer format on our computers for a reasonable period of time. Please contact us here to order additional copies.

7.12 – How much footage and how much running time are on my film reels?

The running times for 8mm film and Super8 film are approximately:

3" reel (50 feet) 2-3 minutes

4" reel (100 feet) 5-6 minutes

5" reel (200 feet) 12-14 minutes

6" reel (300 feet) 19-22 minutes

7" reel (400 feet) 26-29 minutes

16mm film running time will be approximately half the time of 8mm or Super8 film.