One of the most valuable and cherished assets we have are printed photographs, capturing moments and stories from childhood and generations past. Digitizing these photos can ensure their long-term preservation and opens up a world of possibilities for creating keepsake books and videos that capture the essence of your family’s legacy.
In this article, I’ll outline some best practices for digitizing printed photos to help you achieve high quality results in your family history project.
1. Gather tools
Before you begin the digitization process, ensure that you have the right tools at hand. Here are two options to choose from.
Option 1: Professional grade
High quality equipment can significantly enhance the final outcome of digitized photos. Traditionally, professionals recommend using the following tools to achieve the best results:
- High-resolution flatbed scanner
- Cotton gloves
- Soft microfiber cloth
- Compressed air
- Photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom
Option 2: High quality alternative
The average person may not have access to professional level equipment, and that’s ok! Technology has come a long way and it’s possible to achieve favorable results with minimal supplies:
- Smartphone
- Photo scanning app such as Google’s PhotoScan
While photo-scanning apps offer convenience and ease of use, it’s important to note that the image quality may not match that of a high-resolution flatbed scanner. However, they can still produce satisfactory results, especially for sharing on digital platforms or smaller print sizes.
2. Prepare workspace and photos
Start by organizing your printed photos in a clean and well-lit workspace. If you have the supplies, remove any dust, debris, or fingerprints from the photographs using compressed air and a soft microfiber cloth. Wearing cotton gloves while handling the photos can help prevent smudges and marks.
When using a photo-scanning app, ensure you are in a well-lit area with diffused natural light or use additional lighting to minimize shadows and glare on the photo. Position the photo flat on a contrasting surface to enhance the app’s ability to detect edges accurately.
3. Capture with care
If using a scanner:
- Place each photo individually on the flatbed scanner, ensuring it is aligned correctly.
- Set the scanner resolution to a minimum of 300 dots per inch (dpi) for optimal image quality. Higher resolutions may be required for larger prints or if you plan to zoom in on specific details.
- Save the scanned images in a lossless format like TIFF or PNG to retain the highest level of detail and avoid compression artifacts.
If using a photo scanning app:
- Follow the app’s instructions for aligning the photo within the frame.
- The app typically guides you to capture multiple shots from different angles to reduce glare and increase overall image quality. This process helps create a composite image that combines the best parts of each photo.
4. Edit and enhance
Once you have digitized your photos, you can use photo editing software to enhance their appearance. Adjusting brightness, contrast, and color levels can bring new life to faded or discolored images. If using a photo scanning app, the app usually offers tools to adjust the cropping, rotation, and perspective of the composite photo.
Warning: Exercise caution and aim for a natural look, preserving the original character of the photograph. If you lack expertise in photo editing, consider consulting a professional or using automated tools specifically designed for photo restoration.
5. Organize and save
Accompany each digitized photo with relevant metadata, such as names, dates, locations, and any other pertinent details. This information will add context to the images and contribute to a more comprehensive family history. Consider using photo management software or digital asset management tools to help organize and tag your photos efficiently.
Important: Digital files are susceptible to loss or damage, so it’s crucial to create backups of your digitized photos. Store copies of the images on multiple devices, such as external hard drives or cloud storage services, to ensure their long-term preservation. Regularly verify the integrity of your backups and make additional copies when necessary.
Need more guidance? Experts can help
I am happy to help with basic photo digitization as part of a Log Your Legacy project.
For especially delicate or valuable photos that require expert handling, consider reaching out to professional digitization services. These services often use specialized equipment and have experience working with a wide range of photo formats and conditions. They can help ensure that your precious memories are preserved with the utmost care.
Recommendation: My friend, Melissa, at Pix & Pieces Photo Management & Digital Organization can help digitize and organize your photos — ensuring they’re not only safe, but you always know where to find them!
Every photograph tells a unique story, and safeguarding them ensures that these stories will endure. By following these best practices, you can maximize the quality of your digitized photos, allowing them to shine in your projects and be cherished for generations to come.
