How to Scan Your Old Photographs

This is a guest post from Max Ernst Stockburger of InstaRestoration.com. You can also read his blog: "Tipps and Tricks for Photos" Here is an example of photo restoration. 

What to consider when scanning your old photographs

For the best results in photo restoration, you need to have high-quality scans of your photographs. We then apply our expertise to this ‘raw material’ to restore the original beauty of your images. The good news is that you can easily follow our advice for proper scanning so that we can then have the best chance to repair and rejuvenate your old, faded, or even damaged photographs. As long as the ‘material’ you give us is of good quality, we can even fix instances of heavy damage such as watermarks and missing pieces.

In this tutorial, we will show you step by step how to set up and adjust your scanner for the best results on both MacOS and Windows 10. These settings work well with scanners of all manufacturers: Epson, Brother, Kodak, Canon, and so on. There are 7 easy steps to follow for beginners and professionals alike:

7 things to remember when scanning damaged photographs

1. Make sure your scanner is clean and free of dust and grease
2. Make sure your photograph is clean and free of dust
3. Make sure the whole of your photograph is being scanned
4. Try to avoid any reflections from occurring within the scanner while scanning
5. Always scan with at least 300 dpi
6. Always scan in 8-bit color mode (photo mode)
7. Name your files in a systematic way so that you can easily find them in the future.

Let’s go through each of these tips in a bit more detail.

1. Make sure your scanner is clean and free of dust and grease

Before you do anything else, check the glass surface of your scanner. Nasty particles and fingerprints can create optical aberrations or even hide certain details from appearing in the final scan. If you notice any dust or grease use a microfiber cloth and glass cleaning detergent to get rid of them. Always make sure the surface is dry again before you put your valuable photograph on the glass.

2. Make sure your photograph is clean and free of dust

What we said of the glass surface of your scanner equally applies to the surface of your damaged photograph. Any dust or particles on the photograph can hide valuable information on the resulting scan. On these delicate surfaces make use of a soft brush and/or a dust air blower with the greatest care. Never apply any force or use detergent as this may result in damaging the surfaces of your photographs.

3. Make sure the whole of your photograph is being scanned

If you are scanning multiple photographs or pieces of one damaged photograph make sure that neither individual photos nor fragments are overlapping or only being partially scanned. An easy way to avoid this is to take a look in the preview section before you do the final detailed scan.

4. Try to avoid any reflections from occurring within the scanner while scanning

Curled, torn, or damaged photographs can often cause reflections within the scanner during the scanning process. These reflections can then mask important details in the scanned image. There are two ways to approach this problem. The first is to flatten any curled or warped old photographs with heavy weights such as books. A tried and tested method is to simply place your damaged photographs between two heavy books and wait for a day or two. The second option is to place a reasonable amount of weight directly on top of your scanner. If you decide to follow this method, the vintage photograph is temporarily pressed upon the scanner surface during the scanning process. Both options help minimize internal reflections from occurring while scanning.

5. Always scan with at least 300dpi

nstarestoration.com as a professional photo restoration service needs to work with data that has been scanned at least 300dpi. This way we can guarantee you that you will be able to print your restored photograph at the same size as the original. If you would like to further enlarge the photograph please scan the image at 600dpi. To see how to set up the DPI take a look at the videos below.

6. Always scan in 8-bit color mode (photo mode)

Always scan your vintage photographs in 8-bit color mode, even if it is black and white. This setting produces the highest quality scans which in turn gives us the best material to which we can apply our professional restoration skills to deliver the best results to you. Check the video below to see how it’s done.

7. Name your files in a systematic way so that you can easily find them in the future.

This is very simple but important advice. When you save your scans make sure you carefully think about and decide on a method that will ensure you can find your photographs in the future. The name of the subject, the date, whatever works for you!