How to Bulk Scan Photos:
Considering Do-It-Yourself? Here's what you need to know:
Declutter first! Sort through your photos and discard blurry, unflattering, or duplicate shots.
Clean your photos with a lint-free cloth to remove dust and fingerprints.
Invest in a good scanner. Look for a bulk photo scanner with a feeder for faster processing. Flatbed scanners work too, but require more time.
Choose the right software. You'll need software to manage, edit, and store your scanned photos.
- Scanning DIY can be very time-consuming. Some customers spend several minutes scanning each image
Storage considerations. Digital photos take up space! Using a scanner with lower resolutions (300 DPI) will reduce the file size, but you will lose quality if you enlarge or reprint an enlargement.
Decide on image format and resolution. JPEG offers a good balance of size and quality, while TIFF offers the highest quality but larger file sizes. Choose a resolution based on whether you plan to print (300-1,200 DPI recommended).
Flatbed scanner tips:
Scan multiple photos at once, leaving a small gap between each.
- Or scan each image separately, which can be more time-consuming
Use a photo editing app to crop and separate individual photos.
Smartphone scanning tips:
Ensure proper lighting to avoid glare and shadows.
Hold your phone steady or use a tripod for sharper images.
Backing Up Your Photos
Don't risk losing your scans! Back them up on external drives, cloud storage (like Google Photos or Dropbox), or both.
Bulk Photo Scanning Services
Consider a service like VDOCS if you're short on time or want professional results.
VDOCS offers services like:
Naming, Indexing of Photos
Automatic image rotation, Cropping
High-resolution scanning (1,200 DPI)
Image Correction
Secure storage and easy returns
The choice is yours!
Weigh the pros and cons of DIY scanning vs. a service like VDOCS to find the best solution for your needs.