How to scan old photos

You do not need special equipment to get old photos onto a computer. You need a scanner, a little patience and a plan for keeping them in order.

Pick a way to scan

• A scan shop. FedEx Office and similar shops scan photos for a fee, often by the stack. You drop them off or wait. Ask for the files on a USB drive or sent to your email.
• A self-service scanner. Many shops have one you can use yourself. Bring a USB drive. You are in control of every photo.
• Your phone. For a few photos, a phone scanning app works well. Lay the photo flat in good light, hold the phone steady and avoid glare.

Settings that work

• Scan photos at 600 dots per inch. That is plenty for a website and for a print.
• Save as JPEG for photos. Use the highest quality setting.
• Scan the back of a photo when it has writing or a stamp. The back often holds the name and date.

Keep them in order

• Scan in small batches, such as one envelope at a time.
• Name the first file of each batch with something you will remember, like “envelope-from-grandmas-closet-01”.
• Do not throw anything away after you scan it. Keep the originals.

Clippings and papers

Scan a clipping flat. If it is bigger than the scanner glass, scan it in two parts and say so when you upload. A scan shop with a large scanner can do it in one pass.

This guide is general information. TributeMaker is not a genealogy research service, and we do not verify family facts.