By Daniel Roberts, Director, www.OPUSalbums.com


It is a well known fact that the 60-70 age bracket spend more on home computing than any other decade of life.  More free time, more disposable income and a desire to keep fresh are reasons.  But what do you do? 
 
As we get older the value of our past memories increase – not only for us, but for our loved ones.  We take and look at more photos, we go back over family history, we share them – not just for immediate gratification.  A teenager would take a picture on his or her mobile and send it to a friend.  That is immediate.  We like to look at things in the longer term.

Indeed as a company we researched the market and found that 97% of people wanted to keep their best photos for the rest of their lives.  Indeed half wanted to pass them on to the next generation.   We would contend that leaving photos in an electronic format – on a computer, on a disk or an online service is dangerous – computers fail, disks become obsolete and on-line services come and go.

Printed documents are the solution.  Well presented computer output is permanent (if with the right ink and paper), looks good and can be seen at all times.  What joy can you get from picking up a DVD?  Even when viewed you lose the feel.

The next question is – print your own or get it printed.  If we are talking about photos – 6x4” prints or albums?  Prints are easier – quick to hand round and the decision as to shop or home printing is one of cost vs. immediacy.   But if you want to preserve them there is a choice of a tatty plastic wallet or an expensive, bulky photo album – and adding text or non photographic elements is messy and unattractive.

We recommend albums, printed at home with your own inkjet printer.  We would wouldn’t we – but they are easy and inexpensive – and make very good presents too.  OPUSalbums.com has a range of albums from the popular Print&Bind to the quality PhotoArt range.  It offers several software packages to make it easy and effective.  What is more the site is full of guides and tips for various occasions.   Using software such as Fotoslate4 – available from OPUSalbums.com you lay out your album using templates – adjust size and position, add a background, add a story and the names of people you would otherwise forget and you print – at home on your own inkjet printer one or several copies, using the appropriate print setting.  The result is more than just a collection of photos.  It is a preserved memory.

You can of course have the album printed outside.  The results are very good – and the book is professional.  However you have to wait a few days, you cannot change a page or two (correct mistakes, updating) – and it lacks that personal warmth that something your own work gives.

There are so many times our albums can be used.  The next articles in the “Albums for the Silver Surfer” series will focus on weddings, holidays, family and of course Christmas.

For more information contact

OPUSalbums.com
PO Box 561,Rochester, Kent, ME1 9DF
Tel 0845 8386 286
See www.opusalbums.com
e-mail Daniel@opusalbums.com

For our free guide “Make a great Photo Album (or Digital Scrapbook) yourself” go to www.opusalbums.com/freeguide