Film & darkroom
Map negatives to their scan filenames
Keep a roll understandable after scanning.
A scan folder is easier to use when every file points back to a physical frame.
Start with the roll identifier
Record the roll identifier, frame reference and scan view in a simple table. Preserve visible edge information where useful. Do not renumber a sequence casually because a few exposures are blank; keep the connection to the physical strip clear. Label edited versions separately from capture masters.
Test retrieval
Pick a scan and locate its negative safely, then pick a negative and locate its scan. Correct ambiguous filenames before building a larger archive. Include the frame map in your backup plan. The system should preserve both the photographs and the information needed to find their originals.
Evidence: Preservation guidance
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- US National Archives — digitising family archivesPreservation guidance