How to label a SDHC card
 

I am wondering how to go about labeling a SDHC card. I thought I could keep the cards for different projects separated but that isn't going so well. There is no space to write on the cards. I don't know what pens I can use to write on the cards. Can you write on the hard plastic part or do you have to find a spot on the label. I was just thinking about writing a letter on the back on one. I don't know what do you guys think?

I've written numbers on the back (non-label) side of SD cards using a fine-point _silver_ sharpie (much more visible than black when writing on a blue card).

There are various SD card wallets / storage cases out there for multiple cards... you could number each card and then keep an index on a piece of paper or large label in the storage case.

But a more important question: Has anyone done a serious study of the shelf life of data stored on SD/SDHC cards? (As compared to archiving on hard drives, DVD-R, etc.)

I might start using sharpie dots/dashes and maybe three letter codes or probably just dates for simple organizational labeling -- will work especially well on the whitish Delkin 16GB Class 6 cards I just got. The push-button topped sharpie will be handy for quick field labeling.


- different numbers of dots ... 060509 *, 060509 **, etc.?

- different colors? (red dash will mean card full??)

- then promptly put the cards for each project in a card-organizing page in a binder or at first in a sturdy/protective card wallet stored safely in zipped pants/shorts pocket?

- back up to Firewire bus-powered miniRAID in the field after downloading to laptop

labels generally aren't recommended, but the thin plastic labels printed with my brother labelmaker fit very neatly into the indent of the card, and I feel good about them.
Just make sure they are trimmed to fit, and keep an eye out for lifted edges.

fine point sharpie makes sense though...