"How To" Guides > Scanning Images
Scanning Photos and Documents
Properly scanning photo and document collections to create digital image files is an effective way of both safeguarding the image content of originals and dramatically expanding the ways in which the images can be shared. This article describes major scanning considerations, including recommended scanner resolution settings.
The Benefits of Scanning Images for Preservation
Even when properly stored, photo and document originals are prone to deterioration and are often fragile. Therefore, capturing and preserving the image informational content of paper-based photos and documents provide a number of benefits.
● When copies of images are available, originals can be properly stored and future damage from handling can be reduced.
● The informational content of the image is digitally archived and protected well into the future, and likely well beyond the useful life of the original.
● Duplicate image sharing possibilities are dramatically increased to the benefit of a much broader potential audience.
An existing photo collection, particularly a family collection, may already include many digital images. However, the same family, and most local historical societies, will have paper based photo prints and documents that would benefit from being part of a broader digital archive.
In certain situations, a photocopy of a document on archival paper may be a convenient choice to preserve a given image. However, scanning collections of old prints, slides, and documents allows you to create an easily stored and catalogued collection of images. The image collection, if properly organized, can be easily searched by keywords, dates, and other variables. Once your images are in a catalogued and easily accessible digital form, many easy and fun ways in which to share images will become obvious.
Scan Images Yourself or Pay to Have It Done
The decision as to whether to scan yourself or pay someone else to do the scans comes down to time, money, and equipment.. If you have a large number of images to be scanned, you want to assemble your digital library quickly, and your budget allows, it probably makes sense to have at least some bulk scans done through an online service or at a local photo shop/lab.
Keep in mind that you do not need to have all your images scanned at the same time, A project such as assembling, culling, organizing, and digitizing your images is probably best done in steps. Otherwise, it may never get done at all.
On the next page, some suggestions about having scans done elsewhere are offered. However, even if you send images off to be scanned, we recommend that you commit yourself to developing your own scanning expertise and capability. If you are serious about growing your digital image skills, and want to explore a broad range of image sharing possibilities, a clear understanding of image capture by scanning is useful. The expertise is likely to come in handy in a number of ways.
● There will be additional scans to do into the future as you manage and grow your photo and document collection(s).
● Knowledge of the scanning process and image editing software will be useful in cataloguing your library, and in preparing scanned images for various sharing projects.
● It is likely that some photos and documents will not be suitable for outside scanning due to copyrights, unusual dimensions, fragile condition, etc.
● Performing your own scans gives you additional control over scanner settings and the pace at which your project is completed.
