Technology is constantly changing and evolving, leaving older technologies obsolete. This often leaves people scrambling to find ways to preserve and transfer important information, such as family pictures and video, onto newer technologies. Examples might include transferring a VHS recording of a child's school play or slides of family vacations to DVDs.

Transferring Slides to DVD

Many families still have slides with sentimental value lying around the house, but few families have a working slide projector or any projector available to view and enjoy these memories. Transferring slides to a DVD format can be done several ways. First, take your slides can be taken in to a professional photo shop offering digitizing services. You can drop off your box of slides and return in a few days time to pick up a DVD containing your pictures. The price for this varies according to shop and is usually determined by the number of slides transferred and the image quality desired. Second, if you have a scanner linked to your home computer, purchase an attachment that allows you to scan slides at home. Follow the instructions provided to scan your slides and save them to your computer, then transfer them onto a DVD or CD. Alternately, purchase or rent a slide scanner to use at home. A slide scanner is a scanner specifically made to take a digital image of a slide. Scan individual or multiple slides at once (depending on the model chosen) and save them to your computer. Insert a CD or DVD into the CD or DVD drive on your computer and save the slides to the disk. The final option: take digital photographs of your slides. Take each slide and place it on top of a photography light box. Make sure you have good lighting and take some test shots to see if the quality of the shots is satisfactory. Once your photographs are complete, transfer the photos to your computer and then to a DVD.

Pros and Cons

To decide which method is best for you, consider the following: using a professional service to transfer slides is usually the most expensive option, but it also requires the least time and effort on your part. If you have the time and a good camera, try taking photos of your slides before renting or purchasing scanning equipment. This can be time consuming, but essentially costs nothing.

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DVD Your Memories: How to Determine the Best Way to Digitize Your Slides