Scanning Help
Essentially, if the resolution is high, the scanner will capture more of the current details from your original print than if the resolution is low. Because a high resolution scan gives us a much more detailed digital copy of your old or damaged photograph, it gives us a great starting base to work with. If we have a good quality, high-resolution scan of your original photograph to begin with, the better the finished result will be.
When scanning a photograph, your scanning software will offer you a range of options from which to chose, depending on the quality of the scan you're looking to perform. Most scanning software will present you with an option titled "Custom" - clicking on "Custom" allows you to manually set the resolution at which your photograph will be scanned.
Please note that in some scanning software packages, the "Custom" option may be called something different. For example: In the Epson Scan software, the custom options are located under the "Professional Mode" tab.
As a general rule, here is a set of guidelines to follow for appropriate scanning resolutions in relation to photo sizes:
8x12 inch prints are best scanned at 300 dpi (dots per inch)
8x10 inch prints are best scanned at 300 dpi
5x7 inch prints are best scanned at 600 dpi
6x4 inch prints are best scanned at 600 dpi
4x3 inch prints are best scanned at 900 dpi
1.5 x 2 (UK passport size) inch prints are best scanned at 1600 dpi
35mm slides are best scanned at 2400 dpi
35mm Individual frames are best scanned at 2400 dpi
120/220 (Medium Format) individual frames are best scanned at 1200 dpi
4"x5" (Large Format) individual frames are best scanned at 900 dpi
If you have slides or individual frames of film, please first make sure your scanner is equipped to scan these forms of media before attempting a scan.
Scanning a print at the appropriate setting should result in a digital copy with a resolution of roughly 3600 x 2400 pixels (or dots). This is perfectly adequate for scanning both prints or film and enables us to complete our work to the highest standard. There's no need to scan your images at a higher resolution; all the details present in your original prints will be captured at this resolution.
Additionally, many scanning programs give you the option of applying "backlight compensation" when scanning a photograph. However, we find that more of fine details are often lost in an image when a backlight compensation setting is used. So, when scanning your prints please make sure that the backlight compensation setting is turned off.
Sending Your Scanned Images To Us
Once your scanner has completed it's scan of your old photograph, it will store it as a file on your computer. You can tell your scanning software exactly where on your computer you would like scanned photographs to be stored, by changing the preferences in the "Settings", "Options" or "Preferences" of your scanning software.
Once you know where on your computer the scanned image file is, you can send it to us. In the 'Uploads' page on the 'Services' menu there is a button labelled "Browse". Simply click on this button and you will be presented with a layout of the files on your computer. Select the scanned image file you want to send to us, click "OK" or "Open", and continue to fill out your name, email address and any requirements for the photograph before clicking "Send
We will then get back to you with a quote.