Do you have old photos printed on photo paper and want to make them digital? You can convert them and in this article we will see 3 ways to do it.
If you have white hairs on your head then you definitely have in your drawer old photos printed on photo paper. The ones you took from your neighborhood photographer after you first handed him the negative film. These natural photos are now more than 15 years old and slowly lose their original glow of their colors.
Today, printing photographic paper, as well as the machines that use negatives tend to exist only for the few enthusiasts and their prices are particularly "bitten" compared to digital cameras. Everyone now owns a digital camera, whether it's a device or built into one mobile phone and they can share digital photos with each other via social media.
But you do not want, and you do not have to let, your old photos go down. Fortunately, there are several simple ways, though not necessarily cheap, to digitize the old photos. So if you've found a box with old forgotten photos, check out what you can do next.
The old photographs were photographed by the two photographers in two forms: the paper prints of the photographs on special photographic paper, which briefly used simple photographs, and the negative ones. Printed on paper photos are easier and cheaper to digitize, but you will get better results if you digitize using negatives. If you have both, the solution is up to you.
If you have the photos
If you have the pictures, then things are really simple. You can take a photo with your phone, but if you want better quality then read some better choices below.
Use your scanner
Most modern printers come with a built-in scanner and are capable of scanning photos. It is also possible for yours to have a special photo scanning function. You should scan to the maximum possible resolution of your scanner. And the greater the resolution your machine has, the more faithful it will be to digitize your photos. You may need to make some minor color adjustments or change the scanning limits, but it is easy, reliable, though not necessarily the quickest choice.
If you proceed with this solution, you will also need a photo editor to make any color corrections that may be needed.
Use Google Photoscan
The Google Photoscan app, available for iOS and Android , is one of Google's least-known applications. Uses your smartphone's camera to scan and digitize your photos by taking a series of pictures of the same photo, which then combines them into a final photo, thus trying to avoid flashes and reflections of light.
Photoscan is a smart application that removes glare and is fast enough to use. It works better with old photos because it does not correctly mark the color of the skin. You may need to play with the surround illumination of the space to get the best result. However, if you just want to scan some pictures to upload them to social media where they do not require the perfect picture, this is the easiest way to do it.
Go professionals
The above two techniques are quite time consuming especially if you have a large stack of photos that you want to digitize. So if you have a lot of images to scan and want to make sure it's done right, the best thing to do is to go to a professional. There are many available and at Internet and centre of each city, and prices vary depending on the number of images you want scanned, the quality you need, and whether or not you want color corrected.
Before going to the Internet, however, we would suggest that you first check if your local photo shop offers you photos. Stores are usually staffed by experts who are almost always willing to help and give advice. They will be able to recommend exactly what your photos need, even if they cost more.
If you have the negatives
With negative films, things are not as simple as paper. But if you digitize through them, the resulting images will probably be higher than if you swept the original photos.
Buy a Scanner
If you have a lot of negatives to scan, the most cost-effective solution would be to buy a Scanner Film. While the color may not be the best, prices start at 50 euros. You could also consider buying a high quality document and photo scanner that can also scan negatives and slides, such as Epson Perfection V600 ($ 190).
Go to the professionals
As with paper photos, the best option if you have a huge one collection that you want to be digitized, it is likely to go to a professional. The cost here again varies depending on the format of the photos, the quality you need and how many negatives you have. As always, we recommend checking with your local photo shop before going ahead with an online service. The staff there will be able to advise you on the best method.
Remember, however, that photos are only getting worse over time. If you have a large collection of old photos, the faster you digitize the better you will have and you will not be in danger of being destroyed by time or mistreatment.
