Writing on the back of photographs

[roadrunner465]

I have a question regarding labelling photographs. Is it advisable to use a Pen/Pencil? Or is there a better method to inform people who or what the photograph is?
Thanks in advance

[dennford]

I personally prefernot to write on the back of photo's, in fact as far as my collection of old ones go I refuse outright to do so - I keep each one in an envelope, writing any details on the envelope (before putting in the pic').
Photo's done digitally are not a problem. your graphics prog, can be used to write at the bottom/top of the pic'.
If it is absolutely necessary to write on a photo' I was allways taught to do so with the softest graphite pencil I could find, making sure that the point wasn't a point.

                                                              Denn

[pjbuk007]

Despite digital technology, I have always wondered the best way to do  this - I have thousands of prints in boxes, and if I and others HAD written on them at the time the task of sorting them would be less daunting.

[Gadget]

I go along with Denn on this one - only write if absolutely necessary and with a very soft pencil. You could code them in some way - just a number or letter or combination and then keep a seperate referenced list with more details.
Best to scan them and store them away from from light and fingers, etc. using PH neutral material if poss.
I wish my ancestors had been a bit more careful with some of mine - my dear old Dad mending photos with sellotape right across the front, etc. Took me ages to restore. Mind you, I can talk, I do have a few with childish Gadget colouring on 

Gadget

[roadrunner465]

Thanks for your answers. I do not mean to write on the back of the originals, but rather the ones that I produce and reprint. As there are more than 500 pics so far, I need to assign a name so that once I am no longer around, people know who there ancesters are.
A pencil is a good idea thanks for the info
joy

[dennford]

      In that case I dont see a problem with using a pencil. If you are printing your own photo's, another way out would be by using your graphics prog' to write the info on a blank and then print that on the reverse side of your pic'. The ink is exactly the same as you used for the picture side and so could not conceivably do any harm.

       One problem I should mention with storing old photo's in an envolope, is that although it is fine while I have control. Future generations may find that the photo's may no longer be with thier respective envolope - but then again, it wont be my problem, will it?
                                                 Denn