Slides and photos are glimpses into a tiny bit of our pasts. Many are still the physical brown strips and printed copies that we place in albums and scrapbooks. They tend to fade and often get misplaced. The best way to preserve these is to digitize them and save them in the cloud.

Why Digitize?
Digitizing your slides makes a lot of sense; however, not many people have felt the same about their artwork. They seem to think that only photos or slides should be kept safe, but precious paintings and sculptures should add to your gallery in the cloud. Not only do you preserve the artist's unique creation, but it can double up as proof for insurance purposes.

An added benefit to digitizing anything from slides to documents is that the information is transferable and accessible anywhere, anytime. You can store thousands of images online, whereas trying to stow them physically takes up space, and often they get misplaced.

When you digitize slides, it not only allows you to view the images online without any special equipment but can also transform them into photo books. Should one of the photobooks get damaged, you can reprint another. Images can be archived in various themes and folders for easier access.



Use the Correct Equipment
There are various ways to digitize your slides. Some include using a slide copier, Flatbed scanner, digital image converter, and using a slide projector to photograph them. Don't use a standard camera or your smartphone as this won't capture the images correctly. You will end up with distorted images that you can't use.

Some people have had success by using high-end digital cameras, but these are costly cameras that are used by professional photographers. A regular retail digital camera will not have the same effect. The best thing to do is to find the correct equipment to scan them properly.

Using one of the recommended equipment pieces is the first step to storing digital images. You still need to upload the scanned images to cloud services and categorize them. For your art pieces, you can use a regular digital camera if you want to take your photos.

When to Use a Professional
We live in a society that likes to do things for themselves. Scanning slides or paintings sounds easy enough, and most people won't consider a professional. However, it might be better to hire one for the best results as it can be challenging without the correct tools.

If you can't get hold of the proper scanning equipment, go to a specialized store that offers these services at a low cost. They have the necessary equipment, which will save you time and some stress. An added benefit at the same time is they can remaster and retouch any damaged images.

These can then be turned into tabletop books if you would still like to have a hardcopy. At the same time, you have the same pictures stored as a backup in the cloud. Paintings and sculptures can't be scanned, and to capture their true beauty, it would be worth your while to have them professionally photographed.

It saves you an extra step as most professional photographers work with digital images.



Conclusion
No amount of money is going to replace precious memories if your photos or paintings get damaged or stolen. Digitizing your photos, slides, or artwork, immortalizes them in the cloud. It won't only be for your pleasure but also for your loved one's enjoyment for years to come.