What Should I Know About Scanning My Photos?
You only want to scan your photos once, so do it well.
Here’s what I think you should know about cost, digital files, scanning options and choosing a scanning company.
Scanning cost depends on:
what you need scanned – e.g. print, slide, negative, glass slide, other
the item’s size
what resolution or final file size you need for what you want to do with it
what image file type you want – typically jpeg or tiff
whether the item is loose or in an album, frame, slide magazine or other container
whether you have any special requirements – e.g. file names
how many items you need scanned
Not sure what you need for resolution, file size or file type?
Here are good general rules:
For internet/screen use (Facebook, Ancestry.com, other web uses and email), a smaller photo file, under 2 MB, works well for images that are intended to be viewed, not downloaded. Jpeg files are typically required.
For photo prints, book or video use, general home use and storage, you want images at a size you can make a print from, and maybe of the next size bigger than the original, but that aren’t so big that they are hard to manipulate or store. A print scanned at 600 dpi or a negative or slide scanned at 2400 dpi as a jpeg file fits this requirement.
For true archival reproduction, for that true heirloom old family photo or for images from small prints or slides you’d like to make a large print of or do Photoshop work on, a tiff file will fit the bill. Same scanning resolution as noted above, but the tiff files will be about 10x the final file size when compared with a jpeg file.
Need photos scanned? Here are three options:
You can take a picture of the photo print with your digital camera or smartphone
You need to know how to get the digital photo from your camera/smartphone to your computer
Cost – $0
Note: this option really only works for prints although it could work for film positives or slides on a light table (lit, of course)
You can purchase a photo scanner and scan the photo yourself
You can learn about digital images, scanners, and how to properly scan images
Once you’ve made your initial investment, you can scan as many photos as you need
You have complete flexibility to scan when it is convenient for you
You know how important these photos are to you and will treat them accordingly
Cost – $50 to hundreds
Note: you want a photo scanner, not an all-purpose scanner
You can hire out the scanning
You know the scanning will be professionally done and the project will be completed
You don’t have to learn about how about scanners or how to properly scan images
Cost – $10 to thousands, depending on type of scanning, number of images to be scanned, naming and filing requirements needed
Note: there are a variety of scanning services available, so ask around and do some research to see what service fits you best.
If you decide to “hire out” your scanning needs, compare services. Will they can scan the items you have, in the way you want to provide them, at the file size and type that you need? Be aware the low “per scan” price listed on the website may not be the type of scanning you want.
Here are some questions to ask potential scanning companies:
What type of preparation is required to get the low per scan price? (e.g. must the photos be loose? must they be grouped by size? are there limits to how they are organized?)
At what dpi will they be scanned? As what type of file? Is there flexibility in dpi or file type and what is the cost of those options?
Can you return the images in the same organization and order I provide them in? If that is an added cost, how much?
What files names will the digital images be given? Can I specify the file names? If so, how much does it cost?
Where is the scanning done? By whom?
Where are the original photos stored when they are not being worked on?
What happens to the digital image copy that remains after scanning and my project is complete?
What is your turnaround time? If I have to ship my photos, does that time include the shipping time?
Who pays the shipping cost (if using a non-local scanning service)?
What will you put my scanned photos on? Disc? USB? Upload to cloud for downloading?
Finally – your budget.
Scanning service pricing varies greatly; know what type of scanning you need to ensure the quoted price will give you what you want. Also, be sure you’re comfortable with working with the company – after all, these are your irreplaceable family memories.
There you go! My two cents…
Happy to answer all your scanning questions – call/text/email…
All the best,
Jiffy 🙂