CDs is a popular option, providing greater
security than keeping photos on a PC that
could crash, and greater longevity than storage on a conventional silver CD.
“Silver CDs are subject to oxidation of the
outer layer, and some start to degrade after
only two years” says Glen. “Using gold reduces
that reaction and supports long-term storage.”
Many members get their photo prints as
well as digital sets on two gold CDs—one
going into their safety deposit box.
Enlargements have become more popular with digital images due to the ability to
preview the image on a camera or a computer. Previewing also takes the pain out of
getting the passport photo you want—a popular walk-up service at all 1-Hour Photo
locations.
More with photos
The Photo Center at costco.com offers a
wide variety of gift items that can be personalized with photographs and even delivered
by mail. Among the most popular items are:
■ Photo books. Coffee-table-style books
compiled from your photos are a great way to
feature the new baby or family photos. Many
professionals create photo books to serve as
their portfolio. You pick the subject and publish your own book.
■ Calendars. What could be cooler than
a family calendar with birthdays designated
by a photo of the birthday observer? Anniversaries, graduations and other events can
likewise be depicted. Versions are available in
different sizes and finishes.
■ Posters. You can order posters up to
20-by-30-inch from single photos or use mul-
tiple photos for a collage poster.
■ Scrapbook pages. Digital scrapbook
pages can be created in 8-by-8-inch or 12-by-
12-inch sizes. These digital pages look great
and are a big timesaver for scrapbookers.
■ Stationery gifts. Notepads, notebooks
and stickers can be created from any photo.
The Photo Center also lets you create
mouse pads, pewter or porcelain ornaments ,
T-shirts and greeting cards. See the full assort-
ment of options when you upload photos to
your Photo Center account on costco.com.
What might be next when it comes to
photo sevices? The sidebar to the right describes Costco’s new movie/video/slide transfer program. Beyond that, be certain that
1-Hour Photo and the Photo Center on
costco.com will keep the quality high, the
prices low and the options plentiful when it
comes to processing and presenting your most personal memories. C
GETTY IMAGES
Saving memories
THE NEWEST SERVICE offered by
Costco 1-Hour Photo is a form of time
travel. It lets you dust off memories that
exist on old movies, videotapes or 35
mm slides, and transfer those memories
to archive-quality gold DVDs—
preserving them for generations to come.
This service fills an important role,
because it’s estimated that 700 million
home movies are stashed away in closets
and basements in the United States, many
of them wasting away because of the limited life span of film and video.
Costco member Elaine Bram took
advantage of this new service when she
saw it offered at the Staten Island, New
York, warehouse.
“I transferred a bunch of random,
unlabeled home movies on videotape,
and they did a beautiful job,” she says.
“It took three weeks. On the cover of the
box they put little segments [thumbnail
photos] of what’s on the DVD. Also,
when you play the DVD, you see an on-screen index.”
Bram was impressed when the lab
contacted her to report that some of the
original tapes were unplayable. She gave
them permission to attempt a rescue, and
the results were successful. It also
occurred to her that this service could
h elp with a gift she was
w orking on.
“My sister just celebrated her 25th
wedding anniversary, and I was able to
have a copy of her wedding tape transferred as part of her gift.”
Another member, Klaus Paur of
Clyde Hill, Washington, reports being
very happy with this service, which he
used to transfer old 8 mm and Super 8
mm home movies.
“Some of these movies were 40 or 50
years old,” he says “With old movies, the
colors change, but the transfer actually
enhanced the quality. I knew a few of the
films had been damaged by an alcohol
spill, but I pointed that out on the order
form and the lab was able to transfer
those really well.”
Paur also liked having the option
to select background music that can be
added when there is no soundtrack.
The list of media that can be trans-
ferred in this new service is extensive,
a real museum collection of archaic for-
mats. Included are 8 mm, Super 8 mm
and 16 mm movie film; VHS, S-VHS,
VHS-C, Hi- 8, Digital 8, 8 mm, MiniDV
and Betamax videotape formats; and 35
mm slides (cardboard or plastic mounts).
The Costco value proposition with
this new program is exceptional. Using
archive-quality gold DVDs is unique to
C ostco, as is the inclusion of a second
c opy—two DVDs for the price of one.
A lso included on each disc is Digital
S crapbook software that will launch if
y ou place the DVD in a PC. With this pro-
g ram, you can capture stills from your
v ideo, trim video clips, e-mail or order
p rints, create custom title pages or
b uild custom slide shows.
Can you think of some memo-
r ies you’ve ignored for too long?
B ring them in to 1-Hour Photo
s o you can preserve and enjoy
t hem all over again.—DW
FRANCE FREEMAN
Let 1-Hour Photo save your old
memories for future genera-
tions by transferring movies,
videos and slides to archive-
quality DVDs—two copies
for the price of one.
