Old photos can be copied at home with a flatbed scanner in a careful, repeatable routine: clean hands and glass, a suitable resolution, a lossless file type and good file names. Work in small batches so you do not tire and rush. This guide walks through the full routine.
Prepare Before You Scan
- Wash and dry your hands, and handle prints by the edges.
- Lay out a clean towel or soft cloth to rest photos on.
- Brush loose dust off each print with a soft, clean brush.
- Wipe the scanner glass with a dry, lint-free cloth.
- Do not try to peel photos from sticky album pages if they resist, since that can tear them. Scan them in place, or ask a conservation professional for advice.
The Scanning Routine
- Place one print face down on the glass, aligned with the corner mark, or two small prints with a gap between them.
- Open the scanning software and choose a photo mode in color, even for black and white prints, because it keeps subtle tones.
- Set the resolution. A higher value suits small prints you may enlarge, while a lower one is enough for sharing on screens. Look in the maker’s guide for suggestions.
- Run a quick sample scan, check the edges and adjust.
- Scan, then save to a lossless format such as TIFF or PNG if you want a master copy.
- Make a smaller JPEG copy for emailing and albums.
- Write the date, names and place in the file name.
Settings at a Glance
| Goal | Resolution idea | File type |
|---|---|---|
| View on a screen | Moderate | JPEG |
| Reprint at the same size | Moderate to high | TIFF or high-quality JPEG |
| Enlarge or restore | High | TIFF or PNG |
Organizing and Protecting Your Files
Create one folder per family branch, event or year. Keep master files and edited copies in separate folders so you can always go back. Store the scans in at least two places, such as a computer and an external drive, and check them now and then. Add notes from the back of the print, since handwriting there often names people and places.
FAQ
Should I fix scratches and fading in the scanner software?
Automatic dust and color tools can help, but keep an untouched master so you can compare. Edit a copy instead.
What about photos stuck in frames?
Remove them only if they come out easily. If not, scan them behind the glass at a slight angle to reduce reflections, or leave them for a professional.
The Short Version
Clean hands and glass, scan one print at a time at a suitable resolution, save a lossless master and a smaller copy, and name files by date and people. Back them up in two places.