A DIGITAL IMAGE ARCHIVING SYSTEM MAY INCLUDE ALL OF THE FEAtures and components of a full image measurement system, the difference being that the primary purpose of archiving is to provide efficient and convenient yet powerful methods for capturing, identifying, storing, and retrieving digital images and associated information rather than to extract structure measurement data. Such a system may include sophisticated database software or simple filing schemes for identifying images by a range of user definable classifications and keyword associations. As with digital image measurement systems the selection of archiving must be based upon an evaluation of existing and projected needs.