How do I scan thicker photos or heirlooms?

I am so in love with my Epson FastFoto scanner that I can’t stop talking about. It makes digitizing old photographs a breeze. Unfortunately though, there are a few situations where it is NOT the best option for getting a digital copy of old photographs.

Alternative Scanning Solutions

I was recently asked to scan portraits from the late 1800’s. These pictures were not your typical pictures printed on photo paper, they were literally printed on a cardboard. The Epson FastFoto scanner (and similar scanners, like the Plustek Photo Scanner) have a feeder. They make scanning quick because they zip the pictures right through the machine. However, cardboard is not going to make it’s way through the feeders. I needed a different solution. Here are a few options for getting that job done!

These are some of those photographs that I received that are printed on board. They were unfortunately damaged from flood water during Hurricane Ian. My project this week was to get them digitized and then do digital restoration to fix the damage.

Phone Scanning App

Download an app to your phone. I suggest Photomyne. This app makes scanning pictures a breeze. It crops and straightens the photos, so it is a better option than just taking a phone picture. It also has some neat added features like sharpening pictures and colorizing black and white photographs. This is an easy and affordable method, however it does require a little thought to make sure you are getting the best quality scan. Check out this recent post I did on the Photomyne app for more information on how to get that perfect scan!

Flatbed Scanner

You do have to place each photo into the scanner one at a time, but at the end of the day you will get a great scan with a flatbed scanner. They are typically easy to use. Simply follow the instructions to install the scanner on your computer and you’ll be scanning pictures in no time!!

Hire a Service

Don’t rule out getting the pros involved! Sometimes you just have to box those pictures up and send them off to a professional to get the job done! During a recent trip I was able to sit down with Mollie, the owner of Pixologie. She offers a one stop shop for every aspect of photo organizing. Her and her team are dedicated to solving photo organizing dilemmas!! Reach out to Pixologie if you are ready to hand that job off and officially check it off of your to do list!

Bonus Method 🙂

When it came to my project scanning those old pictures from the 1800’s, I actually went with the method I do not suggest for most people! Camera scanning.

Camera scanning produces a great quality scan, but it is just not a realistic method for most people. It requires having a quality camera, specific lens, tripod, lighting, space… See where I’m going here…. Unless you have those items on hand (professional photographer here, so I actually do) it isn’t something you can easily dive into. If you do have those things and think you may want to jump into camera scanning, you’ll want to check out the course at this link. It’s “The Practical Guide to Camera Scanning”. It’s definitely for the more technically minded person, but if that is you it’s definitely something to check out!

And if thick photographs and heirlooms aren’t a big part of your photo organizing project, I’ll always bring it back to this rockstar tool! I love my Epson FastFoto scanner! From set up to scanning, there is no easier way to get digital copies of print photographs!