I know that modern cameras can put the data onto the photo through some mysterious process. I also know that it takes me an average of 6 months to a year to develop films, by which time I've forgotten what the photos were of and where. Wouldn't it be fairly simple to use the date technology to put words on the bottom of your photo? Some kind of light source (leds?) that spell out words and appear at the bottom of the 35mm film when it is exposed, making a permanent title as part of the actual film. You could have one of those little calculator style keyboards from a pocket organiser embedded on the back of the camera with which to type in your title, info etc.

Of course with the rise of digital cameras replacing film this may be a moot point. Maybe it's already been done. If so, anyone know where I could get one?
-- AJCrowley, Apr 14 2003

Voice Recording http://amos.catalog...pcd=5822994&ccsyn=1
Nearest thing I could find, courtesy Froogle. [DrCurry, Oct 04 2004]

It is already possible to add text to digital photos, but that is after you've downloaded them. "Photag" is one program that I'm aware of. This wouldn't help your problem of forgetting where you were by the time you have your photos developed. For that I might suggest keeping a notebook in your camera case. Not just for when and where you were, but if you have a manual camera, it's also good for keeping track of what your settings were.

By the way, I like the idea, but would prefer if the info could be printed on the back of the picture.
-- Twibble, Apr 15 2003


I posted this exact idea about two weeks ago, and someone said this was already a feature of APS. I'm unfamiliar with the system, but I deleted the idea on the assumption that this was so baked I would look stupid. Anyone know the answer, cause I think its a great idea. Tentative croissant until someone tells me different.
-- sambwiches, Apr 15 2003


My APS camera allows pre-set text to be associated with photos (to then be printed on the back), so clearly the facility is there to be exanded upon. I posted an idea for a GPS camera, which would certainly tell you where you were, but that turned out to be Baked.

It is high time that cameras allowed free-form text entry, so this one gets my croissant anyway.
-- DrCurry, Apr 15 2003


Nope: my Elph lets me add (pre-set) text when shooting. (Of course, you won't see it until the film is processed.)
-- DrCurry, Apr 15 2003


I use a "Manual Palm Pilot," or "MPP" (pocket-sized spiral notebook, PSSN) and "analog MPP OS" (Bic pen) to keep records of when and where I shoot pictures (also works to keep useful information about exposure settings, film type, etc.) This information is then transferred to the back of the photograph once it's printed, again using my trusty "analog MPP OS."
-- whlanteigne, Apr 20 2003


I've used the "title frame" method with some success. It works if you can assume that the photos will all stay together, not unceremoniously dumped randomly into a box that's kept in the back of the hall closet (not that my mother, or anyone I'm related to, or anyone I have ever encountered, would ever store precious photographs that way.)
-- whlanteigne, Aug 06 2003


The hand-writing version of this idea was baked daily from around 1915 - 1930+ (rough dates) - the Kodak Autographic system. The camera came with a stylus, and the film had a special carbon paper (sort of). The camera had a little door in the back, you opened it and wrote with the stylus on the film's backing paper. The words appeared on the film, and eventually your print. It worked fine, millions were sold. Why did it die? (I don't know). If people were prepared to pay then, they probably are now.
-- parolyn, Sep 08 2003


A nice piece of info, [parolyn]. Thanks!
-- bristolz, Sep 08 2003



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