Whether you want to restore vintage family photographs or create a digital archive of your favorite snapshots, scanning is the first step in preserving your photos for years to come? Here are some tips and techniques to help you scan like a pro.


Picture selection
Choose your photo to scan? You can enhance faded color and sharpen some fuzziness with image-editing software, but it's best to start with clear, vibrant images whenever possible. The better your photo is, the better your scan will be.

The right resolution
Scanner resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi). More dots translate into a sharper image. A good rule of thumb is to scan a master copy of your image at 300 dpi. This gives you flexibility if you want to use the same image in different ways. Perhaps you want to feature your photo in a scrapbook layout and e-mail it. You can make copies of your master and then resize them. Of course, if you have a specific use in mind, you can scan at a lower resolution.


Resolution to use:
72 dpi - Scanning photos for e-mail or the Web
150 dpi - Scanning photos for inkjet printing
300 - Scanning photos for archiving (storing a high-resolution master copy of your photo on your hard drive or on a disc)
Above 300 dpi - Scanning slides or negatives for prints larger than 5" x 7"

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