| Although digital cameras have been around for a few | | | | number of dots per inch that the scanner can produce. |
| years and are becoming more and more popular | | | | Most scanners can scan at 1200 DPI or more. Usually |
| many of us still have a large number of older film | | | | the scanner can be set to scan at different resolutions. |
| camera paper prints, slides and negatives. Most people | | | | The higher the resolution the slower the scan and the |
| keep their paper prints and negatives at their homes | | | | bigger the photo file size will be. For most paper prints |
| and only use digital formats for new photos they shoot | | | | scanning at 300 to 600 DPI is enough but you can |
| with their new digital cameras. In this article we will | | | | experiment scanning at higher resolutions if you feel it |
| discuss converting your old paper prints into digital | | | | provides better results. |
| format. | | | | Speed: If you have a small number of photos speed is |
| Photos are usually kept at home in one of three | | | | not an issue. If you have hundreds or more of photos |
| formats: | | | | scanning speed becomes important. To get fast scans |
| Paper prints: the most common format, usually at sizes | | | | you would have to scan at the lowest resolution |
| like 4X6 and 5X7. Over time paper prints tend to lose | | | | possible that results in good enough scans - for most |
| their quality. Depending on how well they are kept the | | | | paper prints 300 to 600 DPI is enough.. Also if you're |
| paper might turn yellow and bend and the colors might | | | | going to buy a scanner check the scanning speed |
| fade. | | | | (usually measured in the number of scans per minute |
| Negatives: also known simply as film. This is the | | | | make sure that you check the speed at the DPI you're |
| processed film usually 35mm from which the prints | | | | going to use). |
| where made. Although negatives can get damaged | | | | Photo feeding: if you only have a small number of |
| over time they are more likely to maintain their high | | | | photos this is not an issue. If you have many photos |
| quality. Negatives are hardly used unless new paper | | | | make sure that the scanner you buy allows fast and |
| prints are needed. | | | | easy loading of photos. Some higher-end scanners will |
| Slides: very similar to negatives used for projecting | | | | let you load a stack of photos and will automatically |
| photos on a large screen. | | | | feed and scan them for you. These scanners are the |
| There are many advantages to digital photography. | | | | right choice if you are planning on scanning hundreds or |
| Having your photo album in digital format allows you to | | | | more photos. |
| easily print paper copies either at home or using a | | | | Scanning negatives and slides |
| printing service, to view your photos on your computer, | | | | Scanning negatives and slides is harder than scanning |
| to share photos with friends and family and maybe | | | | paper prints. In most cases it is easier and maybe |
| most importantly to practically archive your photos for | | | | cheaper to use a professional scanning service (such |
| eternity. So if digital format is that good why not | | | | services include and many more). If you want to scan |
| convert all those old photos from traditional paper and | | | | at home your standard flat scanner will not be good |
| negatives to digital? Here is how: | | | | enough. In most cases you will need to spend money |
| There are different considerations when converting | | | | on purchasing a film/slides scanner. Those scanners |
| from paper to digital. Professional photographers spend | | | | are more expensive than the flat paper scanners. |
| a lot of time and money on this process. For most | | | | Negatives and slides are small high resolution sources |
| amateurs and consumers very simple methods can be | | | | and thus require scanning at higher DPI than paper |
| used which are both cheap and easy. Scanning paper | | | | prints. In most cases 2400DPI or higher should be used. |
| prints and negatives requires different equipment and | | | | The considerations for scanning negatives and slides |
| considerations. For most home users scanning the | | | | are similar to scanning paper prints. If you need to scan |
| negatives is not necessary. | | | | just a few negatives or slides speed and ease are not |
| Scanning paper photos prints | | | | important but if you're going to scan hundreds or more |
| Photo paper prints are easy to scan. You can choose | | | | you should spend more money on scanners that can |
| to scan them yourself at home (purchasing a scanner | | | | feed the negatives or slides automatically or can just |
| that can do the job is usually cheap and costs less | | | | load a roll of film and scan it. |
| than a $100). You can also choose to mail them (or | | | | The good news is that in most cases scanning |
| hand them) to a professional scanning service that will | | | | negatives is not needed at all. For most amateurs and |
| scan them for you and mail you back the originals and | | | | consumers scanning home photo paper prints is more |
| a DVD with the digital scans (such services include | | | | than enough and scanning the source negatives is a |
| and many more) | | | | not needed. It is recommended of course to keep the |
| There are pros and cons to scanning at home or using | | | | negatives in a safe place. You can use the digital |
| a professional service. If you have a small number of | | | | scans for future prints or just for viewing on your |
| photos scanning at home is easier. If you have plenty | | | | computer screen and sharing with your friends and |
| of photos using a service might be easier but you can | | | | family. |
| end up spending more money. In addition mailing your | | | | In conclusion scanning your photo paper prints is easy. |
| one and only hardcopy of your photos is a risk since | | | | You can do it yourself at home or you can use a |
| they might get lost. | | | | professional scanning service. You can convert all your |
| If you are going to scan at home consider the | | | | memories into digital format with a small investment |
| following: | | | | and make sure that you can enjoy those photos and |
| Resolution: the resolution of a scan is measured by the | | | | also keep them in their original quality for eternity. |