Make your memories last by learning how to scan disposable photos and other types of photography
For many years, no family gathering was complete without someone snapping photos with a disposable camera or handing out Polaroids. Now, a couple of decades after home photography went digital, film cameras are making a comeback. So whether you want to digitize photos from another century or the ones you took last weekend, here’s how to scan disposable photos like Polaroids, photo negatives, and printed photos.
How to scan multiple photos at once
If you have a collection of fairly sturdy photographs you want to digitize at once, consider using an automatic document feeder (ADF) scanner. Simply stack all the photos together, make sure your scanner is set to your preferred dpi and start scanning. If your scanner comes with sorting trays, make sure to use them. Consider putting more fragile photos inside a carrier sheet for added protection. Using an ADF will save you a lot of time, but it’s not without risk; it can bend or otherwise harm your photos, so weigh efficiency against the potential loss or degradation of your originals.
Did You Know?:Our comprehensive guide to scanning can help you figure out how to scan just about any document, from receipts to vintage photos. Click here to read it.
How to scan disposable photos
Give your photos a quick dusting with canned air. Try holding them by their corners as you do this so you don’t get any smudges on the already-delicate instant photo.
Any flatbed scanner or straight-path feeder can work well for digitizing disposable photos. You can learn how to scan disposable photos using a scanner with an ADF, but only if you don’t want to hold on to the physical copies since an automatic feeder can bend the photos. You can also try using a scanner with a manual front feeder slot if you want to scan photos in bulk without damaging them.
How to scan
- Make sure your scanner is set to the correct dots per inch (dpi) setting. The higher the dpi, the more detailed the image capture. If you’re planning to edit the images extensively, go for 400 to 600 dpi. If you’re only sharing photos online, a 300 dpi should be sufficient.
- If you’re using a flatbed scanner: Open the lid, clean off any debris with canned air, and place the disposable photo on the scanner, image side down. Close the scanner and proceed to scan.
- If using a scanner with a feeder slot (manual or automatic document feeder): Stack the photos together, making sure the stack is uniform. Place the stack in the loading tray, image side down, and proceed to scan the photos.
How to scan printed photos
The process for preparing standard printed photos is very similar to preparing disposable photos. Simply decide which photos you want to scan and give them a little dusting with canned air.
Use a flatbed or ADF scanner that can digitize photos. If you are planning to scan a full album’s worth of photos but are short on space, a portable photo scanner can work well. Then, follow the instructions in the “How to scan disposable photos” section.
Did You Know?:ScanSnap works Vivid-Pix’s RESTORE software to help seniors in assisted living facilities preserve memories by scanning and restoring photos. Click here to learn more.
Scanning vintage photos
Older photographs may not withstand the rigor of an ADF scanner, and they are also trickier to scan in bulk. Though you can follow the instructions in the “How to scan printed photos” section, you should be sure to wear nitrile gloves. Take your time scanning older photos one by one on a flatbed scanner, or invest in a contactless scanner to preserve the most delicate of images.
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