Just because you’re into the latest tech doesn’t mean you have no connection to older ways of doing things, and most people have old family photos somewhere at home which deserve to be seen and enjoyed.
There are a few ways to go about this, while still preserving the look and functionality of your geek den.
Here’s how.
Getting Damaged Photos Restored and Digitized
If you’re interested in old photos, then you know the value of preserving them. But if your prints are damaged or faded due to age, that can be difficult, especially since traditional photo-restoration services take time and cost money.
Fortunately, there are plenty of digital photograph restoration solutions available nowadays. With just a few clicks on your laptop or phone, you can get those cherished memories back in perfect shape, and even turn them into digital files for easy storage and use. It’s fast, affordable and will make sure those special moments stay with you forever.
Using an Old Monitor as a Digital Photo Frame
If you’ve got an old monitor lying around unused (and let’s face it, if you’re reading this, you probably have), why not turn it into a digital photo frame? This is one of the most creative ways to display your photos in any tech cave.
You could then take your digitized images and either have them cycle through as a slideshow by using the monitor as a secondary display on your main PC, or by setting up the monitor with an entirely separate system. In the latter case, you could connect a small-scale computing unit that can be hidden discreetly while handling this simple task with ease; think of a Raspberry Pi, for example.
An adjacent option here is investing in a second-hand smart TV from a generation or two ago. Again, you might have one that’s been left unloved since a more recent upgrade. Even early iterations of smart TVs often came with USB inputs and the ability to display multimedia files, in which case you could simply add your photo files to a memory stick, wall-mount the TV, and have the slideshow handled automatically, without the need for any supplemental input device.
Repurposing Photo Prints Into Wall Art
Whether it’s an old family snapshot or a picture of your favorite character from your fandom of choice, turning prints into art is the perfect way to display photos in your tech cave.
With a wealth of online printing services available, you can easily and affordably order prints of any shape or size to suit the space you have available. Or, go all out and get creative by making custom canvases with multiple images printed on one surface. It’ll be sure to start conversations when visitors come over.
If you’d rather use the original photos, consider getting them professionally framed, perhaps replacing the old-fashioned frames that they originally came in. That’s a great way to modernize the look of classic snaps without having to go too far.
Creating a Photo Book for Casual Coffee Table Browsing
Finally, a photo book is an alternative way to make your old photos more accessible, more aesthetically pleasing, and more organized, while still being suitable for display in your tech cave.
Once again, online services ride to the rescue here, although you can of course make this a full-blown DIY project if you’re a dab hand with image editing software, and you’ve got crafting skills to spare as well.
Ultimately all of these projects are about making your old photos a talking point that you’re proud of, rather than something you keep out of the limelight.
Ashley Rosa is a freelance writer and blogger. As writing is her passion that why she loves to write articles related to the latest trends in technology and sometimes on health-tech as well. She is crazy about chocolates. You can find her at twitter: @ashrosa2.