How to scan old photos for restoration (scanner or phone)

The better the copy you send, the more of the real face we can keep. You do not need special equipment — a flatbed scanner is best, but a careful phone photo works for most prints.

With a flatbed scanner

• Resolution: 600 dpi for normal prints, 1200 dpi for small ones (wallet size, 2×3″ or smaller).
• Format: save as TIFF or PNG if you can; a high-quality JPG is fine too.
• Color mode: scan in color even if the photo is black and white — the faint tones of old paper help us restore it.
• Clean the glass with a dry microfiber cloth. Dust on the glass looks exactly like damage on the photo.
• Leave it as it is: turn off “auto enhance”, “dust removal” and sharpening. We want the photo as it really is.

With a phone

1. Take the photo out of the frame and glass if you can do it safely — glass adds reflections. If it is stuck, photograph it through the glass rather than forcing it.
2. Put the print on a flat, dark surface next to a window. Soft daylight, no direct sun, flash off.
3. Hold the phone directly above the photo, parallel to it, so the corners are square. Fill most of the frame with the photo.
4. Tap on a face to focus, then take two or three shots and keep the sharpest.
5. Send the original file, not a screenshot or a photo sent through a messaging app — those are compressed.

Fragile, curled or stuck photos

Do not flatten a curled print by force and do not peel a photo off glass or another photo — the image layer can come away. Photograph it as it is; we can straighten the picture digitally. Torn pieces can be laid next to each other and scanned together.

What size do we need?

For a sharp result, send at least 1000 pixels on the long side; 2000+ is better. On the order page we warn you if a file looks too small.