Hi Iain The Archaeology Data Service here at York, UK - http://ads.ahds.ac.uk suggest MPEG as the archive format for moving images. They also state that moving images in Quicktime would also be acceptable. Their list of FAQs about digital archiving, and especially appropriate archive formats, can be found at: http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/project/faq.html#forms However, the other question that you should consider is that of storage medium. Digital data should ideally be stored on a server where backups, and refreshing can take place frequently. It is *not* a good idea to entrust your data to CD-Roms - they are not an archive format. Crucial too at every stage is to *document* your data - explain what it is for future users of it. The ADS can offer specific advice on issues of metadata and documentation. Contact my office colleague and the ADS's friendly User Services Manager, William Kilbride on [log in to unmask] for further info. :-) regards, Judith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judith Winters, Editor Internet Archaeology, the international electronic journal http://intarch.ac.uk Department of Archaeology, University of York King's Manor, YO1 7EP, UK Tel: +44 1904 433955 Fax: +44 1904 433939 On Tue, 16 May 2000, Iain Stuart wrote: > I have been asked to quote for the making of an archival video recording of > a ceramics factory. > > While I have got a good idea about how I will go about it (and I have a > Director's chair!) I was wondering about the question of how archival video > might be. does anyone have any pointers about the appropriate format for the > video? > > Industrially yours > > Iain Stuart >