Digitizing Photos

My mother wants to purchase a "digitizing machine" (her words) for my step father on his birthday and asked me if I knew anything about them. Obviously, I don't and told her I'd ask here as well as do some online research. I told her basically digitizing photos requires scanning and a good software program, but I want to confirm that. After viewing a few sites, that's about it in a nutshell. Though, there could be more than I know which leads me to here.

Anyone have input/suggestions for this?

Thank you.

Most decent multi-purpose printers that have scanning capability will have software that enables you to output the scanned image in a JPG format. They may also have the ability to output as BMP or TIF, also both usable for photography. Like many of the peripherals the more you spend the potential is there for a better machine. I would look at the Canon line of printers carrying the word Pixma. They are relatively simple to operate. One thing you might want to check is the intent of the machine. If part of the task is to scan old slides for instance some of the machine have built-in capability to do slides, again at a higher price.

I think it's more about your step fathers' computer 'comfort' level. Is he knowledgeable enough to install a scanner, scan the image into a photo editing program such as Photoshop Elements (that's what I use), do whatever touchups are needed, save the image, catalog it or at least put it in a folder that identifies the group of pictures? And then to have backup drive/CDs in case the hard drive they're on fails?

I'm a Social Security receiving geezer, but I've been in computers for 48 years now, so effectively using computers isn't a problem for me. But I have friends older and younger that barely know how to turn on a computer, and have to 'stretch' their knowledge just to do an email or play on Facebook.

So, depending on where your step father is on the computer knowledge scale, and how many photos he wants to scan, using an outside service do it might be a better solution. About a year ago, as a favor to a friend, I scanned in perhaps 200 family pictures in her fathers' estate, some dating back to the 1930s. With editing, naming, saving, etc, I think I spent 10-12 hours on the project.

Prints or Slides?

Does he have the negatives?

bratkinson wrote in post #17230590
I think it's more about your step fathers' computer 'comfort' level. Is he knowledgeable enough to install a scanner, scan the image into a photo editing program such as Photoshop Elements (that's what I use), do whatever touchups are needed, save the image, catalog it or at least put it in a folder that identifies the group of pictures? And then to have backup drive/CDs in case the hard drive they're on fails?

I'm a Social Security receiving geezer, but I've been in computers for 48 years now, so effectively using computers isn't a problem for me. But I have friends older and younger that barely know how to turn on a computer, and have to 'stretch' their knowledge just to do an email or play on Facebook.

So, depending on where your step father is on the computer knowledge scale, and how many photos he wants to scan, using an outside service do it might be a better solution. About a year ago, as a favor to a friend, I scanned in perhaps 200 family pictures in her fathers' estate, some dating back to the 1930s. With editing, naming, saving, etc, I think I spent 10-12 hours on the project.

He has a good deal of knowledge on computers. He's an explorer type who will learn how to do something when he wants. He has resolved many computer related problems by reading and/or simply doing. Therefore, yes, I have much faith in his ability to do these tasks if needed.

stevewf1 wrote in post #17237164
Prints or Slides?

I believe prints.

windpig wrote in post #17237175
Does he have the negatives?

Uncertain, but I tend to believe no.

I would probably opt for a Canon Flatbed Scanner .... easy to install and setup and scans quickly and includes necessary software to get started with - also has facility to scan negatives/slides. Maybe at later date consider more versatile photo editing software like Photoshop elements ....

Do your homework if you're going to use a flatbed scanner to scan slides... You might be better off using some kind of service like ScanCafe.

A few years ago I took on a project to scan my families old up to 100 year old photos and negatives. I used an Epson 750 scanner and it produced wonderful results. Easy to use software. Easy 1 step automation that in default mode still produces good results.

I second the standalone Canon flatbed scanner, does a beautiful imaging job and also interfaces very well with Photoshop, which not all do as I found out the hard way. (Assuming he uses Photoshop).