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Scanning old(ish) photos?

  • 04-09-2016 5:48pm
    #1
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,550 ✭✭✭✭


    Hopefully Im posting in the right forum but if not perhaps the mods could move this to a more appropriate forum.

    I intend scanning some old photos which are mostly black and white with some colour pics thrown in for good measure. I want to share these with family and friends so I will either send them by email, burn to CD/DVD's or maybe copy them to usb sticks. Most of them would have been taken with bog standard cameras in the 70's through to the 90's or even the early 00's. There might even be a few from as far back as the 60's.

    A few questions now about this procedure:

    What would be the best resolution to scan them at?
    Should B & W be scanned a different resolution from colour pics?
    Is it normal to save them as jpeg images?
    Some pics are small in size (6 x 4 & smaller) so is it advisable to scan them individually or put 4 of them in together in the scanner?
    Any other advice or tips?

    As you can see Im pretty much a novice at this so all help welcome. Thanks :)


Comments

  • #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,888 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    muffler wrote: »
    What would be the best resolution to scan them at?
    Should B & W be scanned a different resolution from colour pics?
    Is it normal to save them as jpeg images?
    Some pics are small in size (6 x 4 & smaller) so is it advisable to scan them individually or put 4 of them in together in the scanner?
    Any other advice or tips?
    i'd typically scan prints at 300dpi, unless they're very soft (which means you could scan at a lower resolution); plus, a 6"x4" print scanned at that res would work out at not too far removed from full HD resolution (i.e. it'd be 1800x1200 pixels), so fine for viewing on screen.
    no difference in resolution for b&w.
    jpeg is normal, especially for the use you've mentioned; can't hurt to keep the jpeg quality level relatively high though.
    i'd generally scan as many at one time as possible, to cut down on scanning time. all that's left then is copy&paste, and straightening, colour correction etc.


  • #3
    OldGoat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,639 ✭✭✭✭OldGoat


    Scan the b&w's in colour if the scans are to be used at some point for retouching. Doing that opens a larger raft of tools for any retoucher to use.

    I'm older than Minecraft goats.



  • #4
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,550 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    Thanks for the advice guys. :)

    As you probably gathered Im pretty much a novice at this. I have scanned lots of documents, plans, maps etc which are pretty much a one touch operation but photos are a different animal.

    I'll get a wee look later at what the different resolutions are although I'll be guided by magicbastarder's suggestion in any event. There is a list of about 4 scanning options which I'll post back about and get your advice on. I think they are colour, B & W, true grey??? possibly and something else.


  • #5
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,888 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    OldGoat wrote: »
    Scan the b&w's in colour if the scans are to be used at some point for retouching. Doing that opens a larger raft of tools for any retoucher to use.
    surely the retoucher can do that themselves if necessary?
    not that there's much to be gained in terms of file size (if a jpg) if you convert to grayscale though.


  • #6
    OldGoat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,639 ✭✭✭✭OldGoat


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    surely the retoucher can do that themselves if necessary?
    not that there's much to be gained in terms of file size (if a jpg) if you convert to grayscale though.
    Any re-scanning leads to a further degradation in the quality of the image I think that scanning it well from the original is best policy.
    When the images are scanned in colour the re-toucher can mess about with the colour channels in PS which when dealing with stains is a real time saving option. The colour channels can also offer much better contrast options. Those options get locked out if the image is scanned in B/W.
    I'm probably pushing for way more that the OPs requirements. :)

    I'm older than Minecraft goats.



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  • #7
    tricky D
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,700 ✭✭✭tricky D


    muffler wrote: »
    Some pics are small in size (6 x 4 & smaller) so is it advisable to scan them individually or put 4 of them in together in the scanner?
    Any other advice or tips?
    If you have access to Photoshop you can use the Automate > Crop and Straighten Tool to scan multiple photos at a time. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaQNcgRc4qg
    Other advice: use batch processes where appropriate to save time.


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