A little planning can vastly improve your scanning results
Image scanners are an affordable way to take printed photographs and benefit from the flexibility and control that comes with digital images. Scanning an image is not a complicated task, and most scanners come with easy-to-use software that can reduce the process to a couple of clicks. You'll get better picture quality, and better scan results, if you save time by practicing several steps.
Instructions
1. Get the right scanner for the job. Think carefully about how you will use the scans: if you intend to print them out, particularly at very large sizes, you may want to pay a little extra for a high-quality scanner. If you will only be using the pictures online, you may only need a budget model, but check reviews to make sure you aren't making a false economy.
2. Use a negative scanner when possible if you have kept original negatives along with your prints. As long as you've kept them in good condition, the negatives will give you a much better quality than scanning a print, particularly if you want to use the pictures at a large size. Some low-budget scanners allow you to add a gadget called a transparent material adaptor, which enables you to scan negatives without the cost of purchasing a dedicated negative scanner.
3. Use the right resolution. HP recommends scanning at 300 dots per inch (dpi) if you want to eventually print the image at the same size as the original. It also suggests scaling up the resolution proportionally if you want to enlarge the picture. Don't go overboard, though: scanning at very high resolutions might not bring much benefit if the original picture isn't great quality, and larger file sizes may create performance issues with computers low on drive space.
4. Read the manual for your scanning device and use the preview settings functions to adjust the image for best results. These allow you to select a particular area of the image to make some adjustments to brightness and contrast before creating the final scan, saving editing time later on.
5. Set your scanner software to save in TIFF format if you plan to do any editing. Although formats such as JPG and PNG are more efficient for publishing pics online, TIFF will give you the best quality to work from when editing. You can then convert to another format once you are happy with the picture.
6. Save your finished file with a descriptive filename. This will make it much easier to organize your digital photo collection and find particular images later on.
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