Scanning Guidelines
The last thing we need is for everyone to waste time getting the wrong results from their scanner then getting fed up and giving up so here are a few tips. Every scanner is different and you may need to read your instruction book - search online for instructions if you don't have one - or go into the settings via Windows Explorer. If it's all too complicated you can always send me the photos instead!
1) Make sure the scanner bed and the photos are clean. Use a soft cloth (clean cotton handkerchief works fine). No window or glass cleaner as that will leave smears even if you can't see them.
2) Set the scanner to scan at 300dpi if the photo is at least 4 inches wide, otherwise set it at 600dpi. You will probably find your scanner has a default setting of 200dpi. That's no good and is designed for documents. Even if it says it's a photo setting, 200dpi is no good (see the notes on resolution HERE. You can usually set up a custom setting, give it a name, make it default etc so you don't have to keep changing it if you're scanning a batch of photos.
3) If the photo is of a person with lots of unimportant background try to select a smaller area with them in it and scan at 600 or even 1200 for a very tiny photo.
4) If photos are in an album try to take them out. Put a plain piece of paper over the back of the photo so any glue residue doesn't mess up your scanner. If you can't take them out try to peel back any plastic sheet on the page. If you put a whole album on the scanner you might have to put something heavy on the lid or put a dark towel over it so light doesn't get in and spoil the scan. Just do your best!
5) Tagging: If you have Windows XP or above your computer will ask you if you want to tag the photos before "importing" them. It should automatically add the date of the scan. Please enter the name of the person or event as a tag. It doesn't have to be permanent. I'll re-tag later anyway but it helps me work out what's what if I get a lot of scanned images at once.
6) Don't scan too many photos at once. You'll get very bored with it and the scanner will get too hot and not work properly. Once you've finished a batch and sent them to me stick a label on the envelope (Scanned and saved in ....... sent to Sharon) so you don't do the whole lot again.
7) You can put several photos on the scanner bed at once. Leave a small gap between them. Your scanner might pick them up as separate images (check whether you need to go into settings to tell it to do this) but if it doesn't I can separate them later.
1) Make sure the scanner bed and the photos are clean. Use a soft cloth (clean cotton handkerchief works fine). No window or glass cleaner as that will leave smears even if you can't see them.
2) Set the scanner to scan at 300dpi if the photo is at least 4 inches wide, otherwise set it at 600dpi. You will probably find your scanner has a default setting of 200dpi. That's no good and is designed for documents. Even if it says it's a photo setting, 200dpi is no good (see the notes on resolution HERE. You can usually set up a custom setting, give it a name, make it default etc so you don't have to keep changing it if you're scanning a batch of photos.
3) If the photo is of a person with lots of unimportant background try to select a smaller area with them in it and scan at 600 or even 1200 for a very tiny photo.
4) If photos are in an album try to take them out. Put a plain piece of paper over the back of the photo so any glue residue doesn't mess up your scanner. If you can't take them out try to peel back any plastic sheet on the page. If you put a whole album on the scanner you might have to put something heavy on the lid or put a dark towel over it so light doesn't get in and spoil the scan. Just do your best!
5) Tagging: If you have Windows XP or above your computer will ask you if you want to tag the photos before "importing" them. It should automatically add the date of the scan. Please enter the name of the person or event as a tag. It doesn't have to be permanent. I'll re-tag later anyway but it helps me work out what's what if I get a lot of scanned images at once.
6) Don't scan too many photos at once. You'll get very bored with it and the scanner will get too hot and not work properly. Once you've finished a batch and sent them to me stick a label on the envelope (Scanned and saved in ....... sent to Sharon) so you don't do the whole lot again.
7) You can put several photos on the scanner bed at once. Leave a small gap between them. Your scanner might pick them up as separate images (check whether you need to go into settings to tell it to do this) but if it doesn't I can separate them later.
