Resources for Preserving Old Photographs
You know you’ve got to take care of those old family photos, so let’s get started by following a few simple guidelines. DIGITIZE now Scanning old family photos facilitates sharing and saves wear and tear in the original. The only type of scanner to avoid is an auto-feed machine. No sense in running the risk…
You know you’ve got to take care of those old family photos, so let’s get started by following a few simple guidelines.
- DIGITIZE now
- LABEL carefully
- PRESERVE the original
DIGITIZE now
Scanning old family photos facilitates sharing and saves wear and tear in the original. The only type of scanner to avoid is an auto-feed machine. No sense in running the risk of damaging a fragile image during the scanning process.
Whichever device you choose, select the highest quality scan options.
- 600dpi (dots per inch)
- tiff (file format)
If you are looking for a handheld scanning option, try PhotoScan by Google for glare-free, high resolution results. Images are auto-cropped, straightened and enhanced. Available for both iOS and Android devices.
Remember those old photo albums with black construction paper pages? These crumble within a few years due to high acid content and will cause the photos to age prematurely.
- Scan each page as a whole, and in order. It’s possible the original order of placement may answer identification questions.
- If there are 6 images on a page, make 7 copies.
- Crop individual 6 photos.
- Keep the full-page view for context.
See also:
Melissa LaMaster Barker, Preserving Old Black Paper Photo Albums on A Genealogist in the Archives blog, posted 13 June 2018. (http://agenealogistinthearchives.blogspot.com/2018/06/preserving-old-black-paper-photo-albums.html : viewed 10 June 2024.)
Richard Hall, The Ultimate Guide to Scanning: Understanding Scan Resolutions, File Types, and Best Practice posted at LinkedIn 21 April 2023. (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ultimate-guide-scanning-understanding-scan-resolutions-richard-hall : viewed 11 June 2024.)
LABEL carefully
Identifying individuals in family portraits is challenging, so it’s best to do this as soon as possible.
- Do not write on the face of the image itself.
- Once you’ve scanned, add a text box below the digital image to label people, location and approximate date.
- Consider using safe marking pencils and pens.
Preserve the Original
It’s difficult to find true archival storage materials, and they aren’t cheap. But can you put a price on saving a 150 year old tintype of a US Civil War ancestor? Gaylord Archival is my go-to place for finding acid-free, lignin-free storage solutions that have passed the P.A.T Test.
Gaylord Archival® Black Barrier Board Flip-Top Photo & Print Box
Print File® 8 mil Polypropylene Album Pages for 4 x 6″ Prints (25-Pack)
“The Photographic Activity Test (P.A.T.) is a simulated aging test developed by the Image Permanence Institute to predict which storage materials will cause accelerated deterioration or staining in photos, a very sensitive medium.”
Source: Gaylord Archival, Material Specifications & The P.A.T. Logo, posted 19 Dec 2023, (https://info.gaylord.com/resources/specifications-pat-logo : viewed 10 June 2024.)
Which ever scanning, labeling and preservation methods you choose, let’s get cracking!
Myrt
