To keep things simple, save all of the scans into a folder on your desktop. You can separate them out once they’ve been scanned. Instead, lay out multiple photos next to each other on the glass, making sure that they don’t overlap. However, you’ll quickly realise that scanning photographs one-by-one isn’t sustainable and will, if you have a backlog of snaps as large as mine, take years. Step 4: Maximise your scansĪfter you’ve washed your hands (to prevent the dreaded thumbprint), you’re finally ready to begin scanning. If the issue persists, it’s worth trying out the PhotoScan app (see below), which does a good job of removing glare. Moreover, it’s always worth scanning in colour, even if the photograph is black and white, as it will be easier to edit afterwards – you can always make it greyscale in your chosen photo-editing software.īe warned that some glossy photos will reflect the light of the scanner, potentially obscuring parts of the picture – a problem that can be somewhat rectified by adjusting the contrast and brightness. Make the most of the “preview” or “prescan” tool to see what the scan will look like and, if you’re still stuck, a minimum of 300dpi (dots per inch) is a good rule of thumb. Unless you have a special image scanner, finding the best settings may be a case of trial and error. However, don’t use any products containing ammonia, acetone, benzene or carbon tetrachloride, as they can damage the glass. If there are stubborn smudges, put a bit of glass cleaner on the cloth.Run a lint-free, microfibre cloth over the scanner glass – and be gentle!.Unplug your scanner (just turning it off isn’t enough).Give your equipment a spring-clean by following the steps below: There’s no point investing hours in archiving your collection and then realising that an errant hair or speck of dust on your flatbed scanner has ruined every image. Try to be as discerning as possible: is it really worth preserving that blurred photo of a seagull in Bognor Regis? Or the multiple images where Grandad Joe had his finger over the lens? The more brutal you are, the more time you’ll have to focus on the truly irreplaceable memories. Step 1: Get sortingīefore you begin scanning, take the opportunity to sort through your snapshots. So, here’s some hard-won advice on scanning and archiving photographs for posterity. Although I’ve still got a long way to go, the few hundred images I’ve scanned so far include school sports days, parties, childhood portraits from the 1920s, weddings and a precious photograph of a family member taken shortly before he became a casualty of the First World War. Yes, it’s a time-consuming and repetitive project, but it’s worth it in the long run and will give you the peace of mind that everything’s safe.Īnd I can speak from experience, having recently embarked on creating an archive for my family. Indeed, there’s nothing quite like passing glossy, old-school prints around at a gathering of family or friends – but what happens if the snaps get lost, wet or, God forbid, destroyed in a fire? Those memories would be gone forever.Ĭonsequently, whether they’re dusty portraits of Edwardians with huge moustaches or questionable fashion choices in the 1980s, preserving your treasured snaps in a digital archive is a must. The vast majority of us have shoeboxes and albums stuffed with old photographs from the halcyon days before digital cameras.
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