Many people have photographs of their childhood at home that become faded over time. And in order to save them for posterity, they must be scanned, and then the files must be written to CD / DVD.
For many users, the process photo scanning on a PC seems somewhat mysterious, so we will try to consider the most frequently used functions.

Built into all Windows standard program to receive images on a PC. We go to the Start button, the Programs menu, the Standard menu, the “Scanner Wizard or digital camera". We see the window:

In the list box, you select a scanner by its name. There can be several devices in the list, since several scanners and webcams can be connected to your PC. You choose yours by looking at its name and marking the desired icon. Click OK and see the window:

We put the photo in the scanner. In the scanner, on the plastic near the glass, there are arrows for placing photos and documents. Click the View button in the window to see what is in the scanner. And we see the window:

If the photo does not occupy the entire part, then the rest of the space is filled with black or white. With the help of cubes at the edges of the field in the window, we outline only the desired area of ​​​​the photo that needs to be scanned. To do this, we become the mouse cursor on the cubes one by one and drag them to the right place.

Now you need to decide what image quality you want to get. In the window on the left, select (put a dot near) Color or Black and White and it will be scanned with good quality (300 Dpi). If you need a different quality, then click the Configure button and see the window:

Change the Dpi value in the Properties window. The higher it is, the higher the quality of the photo and the larger the file size. If you need to send a document to e-mail, it is better to choose the extension 100 . With this value, the weight will be small and the quality will be good printed. After you have decided on the parameters, click Next and see.

Properly scanning an old photo, which has large cracks across or along almost the entire photo - 30% of retouching success. Real retouching of old photographs begins with correct scanning.

All images in the article are prepared specifically for the site.

1. Disable all color settings in your scanner driver (color management, auto contrast, sharpness, etc.)
2. Resolution settings - at least 600 dpi
3. Scan format settings - tiff (without compression) or jpg(minimum compression ratio)
4. The crack (damage) must be perpendicular to the path of the scanner lamp (see picture)
5. Press something against the photo and close the scanner lid (for example, a small book or smartphone)
6. Scan. Now this electronic photo file can be given for retouching.

There is not one crack in the photo, but two or more

What about photos that have two or more cracks instead of one? Find out visually where the most damage is. Are important parts of the photo (face or other important information)? If one crack passes on the face, and the other on the background, then in priority to put on the scanner glass perpendicular to the crack passing on the face. It is more problematic to remove from the face than against the background. In any case, before scanning, you can consult a specialist and find out the correct location of your photo in the scanner.

The photo has a texture, embossing

Texture on old photos can be removed. But scanning before such work is very milestone. What should be done? Scan the photo 4 times, rotating 90 degrees each time. Be sure to follow the first 3 points above. After these manipulations, give all these files for restoration. Using the Fourier transform, you can remove the texture of the paper, which is expressed in regular relief. I described one of the .

The photo is very old and was scanned a long time ago.

It happens that it is impossible to scan a photo for various reasons. Maybe there is no photo available, but it was scanned a long time ago and the electronic file of this photo remained. Scanning correctly will not work and the only option left is to give it for restoration. . You can also work with such photographs, but it is more difficult. Consequently, the price - the cost of the service will increase and this must be understood.

The problem of dark areas in photos

If you do not follow advice number 4 (see picture), then the photo after scanning will have one side dark and the other light, which makes retouching much more difficult. Therefore, be sure to place the photo correctly and be sure to press it against the scanner glass. Scanners often cannot press down an old photo very well. Therefore, you have to use improvised means that solve this problem and, as a result, there will be no dark spots, areas on the electronic version of the photo.

In the photo archive, any photographer stores photographs printed on paper. In order to effectively store them or use them for any purpose, they need to be digitized using a scanner. To do this, you need to know how to properly scan and save such photos.

You need to scan photos correctly right away, as this may no longer be possible. Scan errors can be costly, especially when it comes to hundreds or thousands of photos. How to properly scan photos and will be discussed further.

You can scan photos yourself, or you can entrust a specialist in the nearest photo lab, but in any case, you need to understand how and for what purposes you will scan your photos. This is done in different ways for different purposes. Selecting a target for scanning photos is the first step in which scanning begins.

Photo Scanning Goals

The purposes of scanning photos can be different. Depending on how the photos will be used after scanning, the scan settings depend on the resolution, color depth, photo storage format. Proper scanning of photographs is always a search for a compromise between the settings that determine the quality and size of a future digital photograph.

Fig.1 Digitizing a family photo album is one of the most popular targets for photo scanning.

Targets for scanning photos can be:

1. Convert photos to digital form for efficient storage
2. Restoration of old photos from a family photo album
3. Copy photos from or for anyone
4. Create a Musical Photo Slideshow
5. Enlarging the size of a photo or part of it
6. Print a photobook from your photos
7. View on any device
8. Email forwarding
9. Placement on the Internet
10.Versatile storage

These are the top 10 goals for scanning photos, which show that in each case, photos need to be scanned differently. For example, in cases 1,2,5,10, the photos should be of the highest quality. In cases 3,4,6,7, the quality should be strictly limited, and in cases 8,9, the file size should be minimal.

In addition to these 10 goals, of course, there are others, but these are very common and they clearly show how different the files and sizes of digital photos can be after they are scanned. Of course, all photos can be scanned at maximum quality, but then their size will be very large, which will require additional resources.

When scanning photographs, the expression "The end determines the means" is relevant. The time spent on additional operations and the money spent on storing unnecessary amounts of information will depend on how the goal is set correctly. Choosing a scan target is the key to ensuring that you scan your photos correctly.

After the target for which you need to scan photos is selected, these photos need to be prepared for scanning. This is the second important step in photo scanning, which will help you significantly reduce the overall time for scanning a large number of photos and make the scanning process less tedious.

Preparing photos for scanning

If you need to scan one or more photos, you do not need any special preparation for this. But if the task is to digitize a large photo archive, then you cannot do without sorting photos. The more photos you need to scan, the more carefully they need to be prepared for this (Fig. 2).

Fig.2 Before scanning photos, they must be divided into characteristic groups according to a common feature.

Before scanning a large number of photos, first they need to be collected in a separate pile. After that, they are divided into groups, which are characterized by the same settings. It could be size, orientation, resolution, color depth, or something else. It is more convenient to rebuild the scanner for a group of photos, and not for each of them.

The process of scanning a large number of photos is a bit like running a conveyor belt. We take a photo from the stack, load it into the scanner, press the button, scan, extract the photo, and this is repeated with all the photos. The less you distract yourself from these activities, the faster you will finish scanning your photos.

To maximize the overall scanning speed of photos, you can scan multiple photos at once. To do this, you need to place more than one photo in the scanner, but for example, three or four at once. The only problem is that then they will have to be cut from the general file.

If you scan photos on autopilot, you can watch videos, listen to music, or do something else along the way that does not interfere with this. In order to scan photos continuously, you need to complete the third stage - correctly configure the scanner, taking into account the recommendations mentioned above.

Setting up the scanner for scanning

For scanning photos, it's best to have a flatbed labeled "Photo". Such a scanner has a special driver program for working with photographs. It is more convenient to scan photos directly from this program (Fig. 3), but it is also possible in other programs, such as Adobe Photoshop or xnView.

Fig.3 It is more convenient to scan photos using the scanner driver program.

Regardless of the brand of the scanner, the most important parameter to choose correctly is the resolution of the future photo. It is necessary to choose it for any one purpose, which was mentioned above. The higher the resolution, the better the image, but the file size of the photo will also be larger. It is important to choose the optimal resolution.

The optimal resolution for scanning photos for printing on paper is 300 pixels per inch. This is provided that the print is carried out on a scale of 1:1. If the photo is doubled when printing, then the scan resolution should be doubled.

Printing photos on paper is a kind of guideline. This is the maximum quality required to view photos. To view other types of photos, you do not need such quality as, for example, to view from a monitor or TV screen.

If we talk about the format in which you need to save photo files when scanning, then there are two main graphic formats for this and . The rule for their use is very simple. To preserve the maximum image quality - TIF, in other cases - JPEG.

Photo scanning is a popular way to add digital photos to your photo archive, but there are others. Read about them in the following chapters of this article:

Scanning documents and photos from your printer to your computer is easy. For this you need:

1. Install drivers for your MFP. I wrote about this in detail in two articles below:

If you have the disc that came with the device, you can use it. Disconnect the printer from the computer, insert the disc into the drive and run the [.exe] file (usually Setup.exe). Follow the wizard's instructions.

1. Place the document on the scanner glass. In the vast majority of cases, print side down, but for HP ENVY multifunction printers, face up.
2. We turn on the printer and wait 30 seconds until it is detected in the system.
3. We scan. Here you can use different methods:

• Go to Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers. We click on the printer icon with the right mouse button and select "Start Scan". In the window that opens, set required parameters, click "View" and if everything suits us - click "Scan".
• Open the special scanning software that is installed on the computer with the driver for your MFP. It usually has a shortcut on the desktop. There you can open the settings and set the desired ones.
• paint. This utility comes with Windows OS. You can start it by opening the Start menu - All Programs - Accessories - Paint. Expand the File menu (or press the down arrow button in Windows 7). Select "From Scanner or Camera". In the window that opens, you can select the type of image to be scanned. If there is no time and you need to quickly scan something, immediately select the desired type and click "Scan". If you have time, you can select "Adjust the quality of the scanned image" and make more suitable settings.

1. We save. After the scanned image appears in the program, open the menu File - Save As - Image in JPEG format. Select a directory or folder to save the document on your computer, specify a file name and click "Save".

DPI

DPI is the resolution or dots per inch. The more - the higher the image quality, the higher its resolution (the number of pixels in length and width) and the more the file will "weigh", take up space on your computer's disk. The higher you set the resolution, the longer it will take the printer to process or scan a document.

• 100-200 dpi - if you need it quickly and you won't recognize documents.
• 300-400 dpi - suitable if you need to recognize text.
• 500-600 dpi - if you need the smallest details of the document.

With a resolution of 600 dpi, the father scans the old family photos that he manages to get. There need maximum resolution because the quality of the photo of the 20-30-40s is “not very good”.

It is convenient for me to scan at a resolution of 300 dpi. The quality of the photo is good and the text can be recognized if necessary.

There is one more nuance here. You can always reduce the resolution of the scanned file in the same Paint editor. But it will not be possible to increase the resolution. Will have to rescan.

Correct scanning of a photo is the key to a good result.

Cleaning the photo and scanner. Gently clean the photo of dust and dirt with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Do not use great effort to remove heavily adhering dirt, as this may damage the original. If dirt is difficult to clean off, scan the photo as is, you can remove the excess in a graphic editor without damaging the original.

If old photo printed on paper with embossing or has surface damage in the form of cracks, creases and tears, then it is recommended.

The scanner glass must be clean and transparent. Remove stains with a dry, lint-free cloth or special cleaner. If the scanner glass is damaged, move the photo at an angle a few centimeters and make another copy.

Scanner settings. All photographs, including black and white, are best scanned in color, regardless of whether you want to end up with a color or black and white image. Scan old photographs with spots and yellowed from time to time only in color, then the result during restoration and restoration will be the best. When scanning color images, you should set the highest color depth supported by the hardware scanner, preferably 24 bits or higher.

It is recommended that the image be scanned at a resolution of at least 600 dpi. If the photo is small, for example 3 by 4 cm, you can set the resolution to 1200 dpi. Large photographs, 15 x 220 cm and larger, scan at a resolution of at least 300 dpi.

Do not correct or enhance the image with a scanning program, leave this job to a dedicated graphics program. It is not necessary to crop the image, but this will reduce scanner time and file size. It is better to leave a little empty area around the image than to remove part of it - alignment is included in the restoration.

Saving a file. The digital image must be free of scanner streaks, lint marks, or stains on the glass, and the image must be as clear as the paper original. Save the image in TIFF format, setting the highest quality if possible. If your scanner does not allow high-quality digitizing of photos or lacks experience, it is better to contact a specialized center for this service. The resulting file can be saved to in electronic format, send by mail or upload to a special server for . It will not be superfluous to create several copies, them on different media.

How to improve a scanned photo? Any paper photographs fade over time, and even with the most careful storage, scuffs appear. But on a scanned photo, you can remove any damage with the help of processing and return it to its original appearance.

When scanning old photographs for restoration, it is better to set a high resolution. The method of printing photographs until the middle of the 20th century gave good clarity. This means that when scanning with high resolution the photographs show small details that are not visible to the naked eye: elements of jewelry, awards, clothing. On the photo from good resolution facial features will be better seen. And although 300 dpi is enough for printing photos without enlargement, it is better to scan old photos at a resolution of at least 600 dpi. Then, when you enlarge the image in electronic form, you will be able to see the details better, and it will be much better to restore it.

A digital image is made up of pixels - individual dots with different colors and brightness. A resolution of 300 dpi means that one inch (2.54 cm) consists of 300 pixels, that is, a square inch of the image is 300 by 300 pixels. When enlarged, the digital image resembles a mosaic, and the pixels resemble its fragments. The more "pieces" of the mosaic, the more details in the image.

Fragment of a scanned photo with different resolutions.
Left to right: 1200dpi, 600dpi, 300dpi.
Above is the original scale, proportionally enlarged below.

Almost all old paper photographs have cracks, stains, or scuffs. During restoration, pixels are copied from entire areas and pasted in place of the damaged ones. When there are few pixels, this limits the possibilities of restoration. Firstly, damaged pixels merge with intact ones, which distorts facial features, and secondly, it may not be enough for proper restoration. necessary information. Large quantity pixels allows not only to accurately restore the photo, but also to enlarge it when printing.

scan with a normal resolution of 600 dpi, at 100% scale

low resolution scan at 100% scale

enlarged low resolution scan

The scanner manual states the maximum optical resolution, above which it is useless to scan. The scanner will add pixels that are not in the original image by interpolation. For a good restoration, original pixels are enough, the rest instead of useful information will only increase the volume.

When saving photos for restoration, it is better to choose the TIFF format. The format can be set in advance in the scanner program before scanning or after, depending on the model. The save must be uncompressed. A JPG file reduces the file size by losing information in the image. When saving a file as JPG, the algorithm splits the photo into rectangular blocks: the more information is lost during compression, the more blocks become visible. When this happens in an area with fine details, the details are lost and blurred, tone and color transitions become invisible: this is called the JPG artifact. However, the default scanner settings often include compression. JPG file so they need to be installed manually. Settings with the phrases "File format" or "quality" should be set to the maximum, compression or compression should be at a minimum. A sure-fire option for scanning old photographs is the TIFF format, where files are saved without quality loss.

Photo in JPG format
On the left, minimal compression and high volume; on the right, strong compression and less volume.
Top is original size, bottom is enlarged.

On the Internet you can find such recommendations for photos how to scan it with a resolution of 300 dpi and save it in JPG format. This saves memory and speeds up file transfer at the cost of loss of detail in the image. Consider whether it is worth giving it up for a little savings. Modern technologies allow you to store and transfer photos to best quality, so saving on file size is practically not relevant today.

top photo scanned at low resolution, bottom - 1200 dpi resolution

on the left is a photograph scanned in an album and blurred, on the right is straightened and pressed against the scanner glass, below after restoration