Archiving a picture is a common task many of us do to clear up space on our phones or computers. But what exactly happens when you archive a photo? Here’s a look at the process.
The Picture Gets Compressed
One of the first things that happens when you archive a picture is that it gets compressed. The original full resolution image gets scaled down to a smaller size in terms of pixels and file size. This makes the archived version of the photo take up less storage space.
For example, let’s say you have a 12 megapixel photo that is 4 MB in size. When you archive it, it might get compressed down to a 2 megapixel photo that is around 1 MB. The compression algorithms remove extra pixel data from the photo while trying to maintain image quality.
Lower Resolution Versus Original
Due to the compression, the archived version of the photo will be lower resolution than the original. This means it will have less detail and likely won’t look as sharp or clear if you zoom in or print it.
However, for viewing the photo on a screen, the lower resolution may not be that noticeable. It depends on the resolution of the screen you are looking at it on. Lower resolution screens can mask some of the image degradation from compression.
EXIF Data May Be Preserved
One thing that often does get preserved when a photo is archived is the EXIF data. This includes info like:
- Camera type used
- Aperture and exposure settings
- Date and time taken
- GPS coordinates of where it was captured
Being able to keep the EXIF data allows you to still retrieve useful metadata about the photo even after archiving it. However, some archive processes may strip out this info.
Original Photo Is Still Available
It’s important to know that when you archive a photo, the original full resolution version still exists in its original location. Archiving creates a new compressed copy of the photo, but doesn’t delete or alter the original.
So if you need to access the full original photo again later, you still can. The archived version exists for convenience of taking up less storage space.
Gets Put Into Archived Storage
After getting compressed, the archived photo gets moved into some type of archived storage. This is usually slower “cold storage” like cloud storage, network attached storage drives, external hard drives, etc.
The photo gets removed from your main photo storage location, like your smartphone camera roll or your computer’s hard drive. This again clears up your active storage space.
Takes Time to Access Again
Since the archived photo is now in cold storage, it will take a bit more time and steps to access it again later compared to a non-archived photo. You may need to reconnect to a network drive or re-download it from the cloud first.
So archiving does make accessing the image less convenient. But the tradeoff is you save storage space on your main devices.
Backup Benefits
Storing photos in an archive also serves as a backup. If something happens to the original, you still have the archived copy as a fallback. Having backups of meaningful photos provides peace of mind.
Some archive services like cloud storage even automatically keep multiple redundant copies of your archived photos to aid in recovery from disasters.
Can Add Searchable Metadata
When photos get archived, it’s common to add metadata like keywords, descriptions or tags to them. This makes the photos easier to search and organize later when you need to find a specific archived picture.
Some archive services even use AI to automatically generate descriptive tags for photos based on analyzing the image contents. This helps with searchability.
Works With Both Individual and Bulk Photos
Archiving can work on individual ad hoc photos or in bulk. Many apps have options to select multiple photos and archive them all at once with the same settings applied.
Bulk archiving is convenient for managing lots of photos from an event, trip or timeframe together. The photos don’t have to be archived one by one.
Helps With Photo Organization
By clearing photos you are less likely to view regularly into archived storage, archiving helps keep your main photo storage tidy. Your active photos are better organized into just your current pictures you need regular access to.
Less photo clutter also makes your device run faster and smoother. The storage is not filled up with as many files.
Archived Photos Still Need Occasional Maintenance
Don’t assume you can just archive photos and then forget about them forever. As storage technology changes over time, you will eventually need to transfer archived photos to new media.
Check your archived photo storage periodically and migrate to new formats or hardware when needed. This ensures your collection will remain usable and intact over many years.
Conclusion
Archiving photos is an essential task for managing storage and keeping just your most relevant images easily accessible. It compresses images to save space while still preserving a copy as a backup. Take time periodically to archive older or lesser used photos to optimize your photo storage efficiency.
| Photo State | Resolution | Size | Location | Access Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Full | Large | Main storage | Fast |
| Archived | Compressed | Smaller | Cold storage | Slower |
In summary:
- Archiving compresses photos to take up less space
- Original full resolution photo still available if needed
- Archived photo stored in external cold storage
- Takes longer to access archived photos again
- Allows you to clear clutter from main photo storage
So when you archive a picture, you are cleaning up your storage while still retaining a copy for backup purposes. Just be sure to transfer your archived photos to new storage periodically for long-term maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does archiving a photo delete the original?
No, archiving creates a compressed copy of the photo but does not alter or delete the original full resolution version.
How much smaller is an archived photo?
It depends on the compression settings used, but typically archiving can reduce photo size by 50-75%. A 20MB photo may be compressed down to 5MB when archived.
Can you edit an archived photo?
Yes, most archive services will allow you to retrieve photos from the archive and then edit or filter them like normal. Editing works on the archived copy though, not the original.
What if I need the original photo after archiving?
The original full resolution photo still exists in its original location after archiving. You can access this original at any time if needed.
Do you lose image quality when archiving?
There will be some loss of fine details and sharpness from the image compression. But for general viewing, the quality loss is usually acceptable.
How do you view archived photos?
You first need to restore the archived photo from cold storage back to your main storage. Then you can open and view it like any other photo. The restore process may take a few minutes.
Can you search archived photos?
Yes, most archive services allow you to assign tags, keywords or descriptions to archived photos so you can search and find specific images easily later.
What are the benefits of archiving photos?
The main benefits are clearing storage space on your devices, serving as a backup, and keeping your active photos better organized and less cluttered.
What if I archive the wrong photo?
You can typically restore the mistakenly archived photo back to your main photo storage. No changes are made to the original when archiving, so you can reverse it.
Is there a limit to how many photos I can archive?
This depends on the storage capacity of your archive destination. Many cloud services offer unlimited archiving within your storage tier limits. Local storage has hardware capacity limits.
Do you need internet to access archived photos?
If archived photos are stored in the cloud, you’ll need an internet connection to restore them. For local network or external drive storage, internet is not required.
Can you automate archiving old photos?
Yes, many apps support setting up rules to automatically archive photos after a certain date or once they reach a certain age. This saves you manually archiving.