The Beginner’s Guide to Scanning Your Documents and Photos
One of the first things I did when organizing my collection was research the best practices for scanning documents and photos. I attended numerous classes, researched extensively, and determined some essential guidelines.
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Choosing the Right Resolution
Scanning at 600 DPI (dots per inch) for a standard-sized photo or document provides a high-quality digital copy. However, if you’re working with smaller pictures, you’ll want to scan at a higher resolution, around 1200 DPI, to ensure you capture all the details.
TIFF vs. JPEG: Which Format to Use?
The choice between TIFF and JPEG formats depends on how you use your scanned images. Here’s a breakdown:
TIFF: This format does not compress your file, meaning it retains full quality over time. It’s ideal for archiving or if you plan to edit the image extensively.
JPEG: This format compresses the image, resulting in a smaller file size. While it’s still high-quality, repeated editing and saving can cause quality loss over time.
When I scan my photos, I typically save everything as JPEGs unless I need to edit them. In that case, I save the original as a TIFF and edit a JPEG copy, ensuring I always have an unaltered version.
Getting Started with Scanning
When I first began digitizing my collection, I used a flatbed scanner. Although slow, it allowed me to work at my own pace, scanning photos and documents during my free time. If you're starting, here are some key recommendations:
Invest in a good flatbed scanner – It ensures high-quality scans without damaging fragile materials.
Use a resolution of at least 600 DPI, ensuring your scans are clear and detailed.
Choose your file format wisely – JPEG for everyday use, TIFF for archival purposes.
Organize your files with meaningful names.
Final Thoughts
Starting your digitization journey can feel overwhelming, but taking it step by step makes all the difference. Find a system that works for you, and most importantly, enjoy the process of preserving your memories! Happy scanning!
Who am I? How did this begin?
How did this business begin?
About five years ago, my family handed over many totes full of photos and family memorabilia. I had been a genealogist for about 15 to 20 years, so I knew how to handle facts, figures, dates, and familial relationships. I didn't know how to preserve these pictures and essential family documents for digital preservation and sharing with my family. This started my quest to find the best practices for scanning and archiving my family collection. My first stop was a visit to RootsTech. This was my first RootsTech ever, and it was so exciting to take all the classes. I found one class on photography that was incredibly helpful; he talked about formats and types of scanning, the kind of scanners to use, and all the necessary dimensions and resolutions. I had a place to start. Another exciting thing in that class was that he held a drawing, and I won my first flatbed scanner. For the rest of RootsTech, I walked around with the scanner and took it home to get started. After that class, I thought I knew a lot, but I realized I still needed to learn much more once I began scanning. So, I did what everyone does nowadays when facing a problem: I went to Google and searched for how to scan and store photos. I was led to a company called The Photo Managers. At first, I thought it was just a company, but I soon realized it was an emerging industry. They discussed the best practices for curating, saving, and archiving family photos. I began to research The Photo Managers more and explored some of the classes they offered, realizing this was what I wanted to do. I could help others with this process!!!! Genealogy, photos, and organization- three of my favorite things!!! I got so excited that I joined that week. By the end of the following month, I built a website, created an LLC, and launched “Angie’s Photo Organizing & Genealogy.”