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Backing Up Your Files
There's no need for us to regale you with horror stories about files that didn't get backed up, and the disastrous consequences when they were lost - you know them already. Nevertheless, we can acquaint you what the generally accepted backup procedures are in the industry, and give you some idea why they're advisable.
Print industry standard practice, greatly simplified: |
| Event: |
Liable for: |
Not liable for: |
| Service Bureau loses removable media (e.g. zip disc) |
Replacement of media (e.g. zip disc) |
Recreation of irreplaceable files stored on lost media |
| Printer loses film |
Replacement of film and proof at agreed upon service bureau; client must supply original files. Standard turnaround is expected, not rush. |
Recreation of artwork/files that no longer exist |
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| With this in mind, you can understand how crucial it is for YOU, THE DESIGNER to perform rigorous backup procedures. Our graphic design department backs up everything onto CD-rom. One copy is stored in Mr. Toad's backup library; the security of this copy is not guaranteed to the customer. The customer is given the opportunity to purchase backup copies of their graphics files on CD-rom; they are responsible for the safekeeping of such backups. For important in-house jobs, multiple CD-roms are stored in different geographic locations.
As the designer, it is imperative that you make certain that your backup procedures are adequate for the needs of you and your clients. Here are some guidelines:
- Marginal
- Files on removable media never the sole existing copies
- One copy of the final files kept upon completion of job (preferably not on magnetic media such as Zip - they degrade fairly quickly)
- Better
- Copies of working files kept along with final files
- More than one backup created at upon completion of job
- Great (if you can afford it)
- Nightly backups created automatically during design phase, such as those generated by a network backup system in a major graphic design firm.
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