| 1. We recommend using professional photo scanning services at your location. This is fast, relatively inexpensive and you can even keep your photos in your possession if you wish. Local services range from kiosks you can use, to full service, and are available at most photography stores, chain drug stores, and big box stores. |
| 2. Use your own scanner to scan your photos and save them to your MyStoryFolder. Be aware that most home scanners are slow. Or you can take a few photos to a scanning kiosk at a local store. Almost any teenager can help you get started. Print this page. |
Digital Focus: Scanning Old Photos
Preserve memories by scanning those old photos.
Dave Johnson
February 28, 2006 PC World
Most of us have a large collection of aging photos that are years, perhaps decades old. Recently, my parents started archiving old photos that date back to the early 20th century, for instance; and I've been squirreling away pictures of me and my sister from when we were kids. One thing has become clear: No matter howcarefully packed or protected, these photos are decaying. There are scratches and tears, and the colors are fading--and no preservation effortsin the universe can prevent this.The only way to make sure that historic photos survive is to scan and digitally store them.
Plan Before You Scan
Obviously, the first step toward restoring your old photos digitally is to scan them into digital files. But if you want to get a good digital copy of an old photo, it pays to plan ahead. There are a few things you can do to improve the quality of your scanned photos before you ever turn on the scanner. Consider your source material, for instance. You can scan whatever you happen to have: prints, negatives, or slides. However, if you have both prints and negatives stored in the attic, I would pass on the prints and use the negatives instead (assuming they are in as good or better shape). The same goes for slides: They are preferable to prints, unless they are damaged. Negatives and slides are best because the inks used to print photos tend to fade quickly and unevenly, adding an undesirable color cast to the photos. That is why old photos often have a reddish or yellowish hue. If you are working with prints, it is worth pointing out that you should not try to clean or improve them. It is easy to ruin old photos by over-handling. If your prints are dusty, gently wipe to away the grime with a dry cloth. If something is stuck on, leave it there. Most importantly, never use any kind of liquid to try to clean a photo. If your photo is torn, don't try to fix it with tape--especially on the print side. Most adhesive tapes discolor over time and you will likely end up with a yellowish stripe running across your photo.
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