{"id":8075,"date":"2016-05-11T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T05:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webafrica.co.za\/blog\/?p=8075"},"modified":"2020-06-02T14:40:47","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T12:40:47","slug":"preserve-old-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.webafrica.co.za\/blog\/general\/preserve-old-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Digitally Preserve Your Old Photographs"},"content":{"rendered":"

You probably have albums of images stored on your PC and backup device, but those are only your recent pics \u2013 ones likely taken some time after 2000. What about the ones prior to that? Photos of your high school graduation, your baby\u2019s tiny toes or those black and white family heirlooms. If you haven\u2019t digitised them yet, then you probably should, because not only do photos deteriorate over time, if something more substantial than wear and tear were to happen to them \u2013 small hands and puppy dog teeth are forces of great destruction \u2013 they would be lost forever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get Organised <\/b><\/h3>\n

Go through your old photos and organise them. Back in the day photos were so precious that you likely kept even the blurry ones. Now you can separate the wheat from the chaff. Don\u2019t worry you don\u2019t have to bin the blurry ones if you don\u2019t want to. But you also don\u2019t have to digitise them. Scanning in every photo you\u2019ve ever taken might take some time, not to mention getting them all out off and back into the album, so it makes sense to be selective. <\/span><\/p>\n

Invest In A Scanner…<\/b><\/h3>\n

Once you have selected the best shots, you are ready to start scanning. For this you will need a scanner, so if you don\u2019t have one yet, you might need to invest. (If you have one, skip ahead to the next point.) These days there are loads of great options for flatbed scanners, and long gone are the days that you had to shakily pull the scanner across the page and have it get stuck on the edges, the table, the cable or your hand! <\/span><\/p>\n

Expect to spend anything between R1,500 and R4,000 depending on what sort of scanning experience you are after. An option such as the<\/span> Canon CanoScan LIDE 220 A4 Flatbed Scanner<\/span><\/a> at R1,349 is ideal for at-home photo scanning and offers a maximum optical resolution of 4800 pixels. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you want something much more professional, then you can consider a machine that offers a maximum resolution of up to 7200 pixels, but you can also expect to pay about double the price for these ones. In this category you can look at a scanner, such as the Epson Perfection V550 Photo Colour Scanner with resolution capabilities of 6400.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026Or Use Your Phone<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re not ready to invest in a scanner you can also scan your photos with your phone using a free app. This works best with a phone that has an good camera, such as an iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S7 or Huawei P9. The quality won\u2019t be quite as good as with a scanner, but if you do your scanning in a well-lit area you can get pretty good results! Scanning to your phone also allows you to share your images on social networks, such as Instagram. Say hello to a world of throw back Thursday options! <\/span><\/p>\n

Try <\/span>Shoebox from Ancestry.com<\/span><\/a>. This free app works on iOS and Android.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prep Your Photos<\/b><\/h3>\n

Before you start with any scanning process it is a good idea to wipe your photos delicately with a microfibre cloth. If your photos are really dirty, check at your closest specialty camera or photo development shop for an alcohol-based cleaner to get off stubborn marks. Dust off the inside and outside of your scanner if necessary. If you are using a camera, clean the lens with a cotton earbud or a microfibre cloth. <\/span><\/p>\n

Get Scanning <\/b><\/h3>\n

Each scanner and app out there works differently, so it is impossible to give detailed instructions. You will have to follow the directions in the manual or on the screen, but here are a few tips that will help you get the job done! <\/span><\/p>\n