Ideally everything that you want to keep forever should be stored on two hard drives and at least one CD or DVD.

• Hard drives are very vulnerable to crashes and data recovery is extremely expensive and isn't always possible.
  
• CDs are estimated to have a dependable longevity of 6-7 years, if stored properly. DVDs are thought to have a shorter life span.
  
• DVDs/CDs should be stored upright, out of direct sunlight, in moderate temperature, away from moisture, not bent, scratched or written on. Do not use labels.
  

Ink-jet prints printed on Epson paper by an Epson printer will last:

• over 100 years if pigmented inks
  
• from 6-25 years if printed with dye-based inks
  
• glossy paper has the least longevity
  
• matt paper has the best longevity
  

Traditional Chromogentic Color prints from a lab:

• Fujicolor 60 years
  
• Kodak 22 years
  

Tony Wood is a photographer in the Philadelphia area

http://www.learnphotographybasics.com

http://www.anthonywoodphotography.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_chocolate_trio/