Digitize Your Old Photos
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
- In this video, I’ll share the process that I used to digitize all of my old photos.
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*** A full transcript can be found at www.marblejar.net. ***
Hi, everyone! This is Lara Hammock from the Marble Jar channel and in today’s video, I’ll share the process that I used to digitize all of my old photos.
Occasionally, I have these morbid thoughts about what we might lose if our house burned down. I determined that as long as my family and dog got out safely, the only thing I would really mourn were our old pictures. I got my first digital camera in 2001, but I graduated from high school in 1989. So, that is 12 years worth of pictures that aren’t digitized and that don’t have back ups. Plus, there were some momentous things that happened in that period - like our wedding and honeymoon, for which I have like three albums of photographs. Would I be upset if something happened to all of those? Yes! So, I embarked on a project to digitize them and put them up in the cloud.
I considered using one of the services online where you can mail away your photos and get them back digitized on a thumb drive. There were two issues: 1) one of my albums was done scrapbook style with photos glued to the pages. I would have had to destroy the scrapbook and probably some of the photos to mail them away and 2) it’s expensive! One service offered 250 pictures for $250. One gave a quote of $.40 per picture, which sounded more reasonable, but I had over 1000 photos and shelling out that kind of cash did not sound so appealing to me. I figured there’s no rush, right? I can handle this project a little at a time once I had developed a process. You know - do an album a week - when I had time. (As an aside - that totally didn’t happen, once I started I spent every free waking moment doing this until I finished in just under a week).
Okay - there are three steps to this process: scan, modify, and upload. I’ll take you through each. First,
Scan
There are lots of ways to scan photos. You can now use your phone as a scanner if you use a scanning app like PhotoScan. The biggest issue with photos is the reflected light. Photoscan requires you to take 4 different photos at different angles to remove the reflection, which is time-consuming. In the end, I decided to invest in a reasonably priced flatbed scanner. Mine was $70 on Amazon and it stores easily (which was another consideration for me).
The scanner also comes with its own scanning software, which was a little glitchy, but worked well enough for my needs. Just double click on this icon and the scanning would start and automatically save the file into my pictures folder. I decided that scanning individual photos was too time-consuming, but putting too many photos on the scanner made cropping difficult, so I settled on three photos per scan when at all possible. The scanning software would attempt to automatically determine the edges of the scan, so the file would look like this, making it easy to crop. Obviously with the big scrapbook pages, I didn’t have a choice, but to scan the whole thing in multiple parts.
Modify
Okay - so here’s my scanned file. Obviously I have to modify it a bit to make it usable. I found using the Windows photo app worked well for rotating and cropping. It also helps that it is the default app that opens pictures on my PC. I double click on the file, it opens and I can rotate it and then crop photo 1, save a copy, crop photo 2, save a copy, and finally crop photo 3, and save the file. That way I have three distinct photos in three different files. OK, the photos look good, but I have to do one last thing - change the date.
My cloud photo service of choice is Google Photos. I love lots of things about Google Photos - you can see my many videos on the ways that I use it, but it does have some limitations. One is that your photos are always sorted by the date taken. You can’t sort by anything else: name, location, etc. It’s always chronological. The problem, as you have probably already guessed, is that the old photos that I just scanned have today’s date on them. So, they would be sorted in with pictures that I’m actually taking now. Having a hodge podge of new and old photos together might be okay for some people, but not for me. So, how do you change the date that is stored in the metadata of the photo? Luckily, you can change it using Windows file explorer. Choose a photo, right click on it, choose properties, then the details tab. Now you can change the date right here, which is what Google photos uses for sorting. Even better, you can change the date for multiple photos using this process also. Like the hundreds of photos from my wedding? 
Хобби
I can't tell you how helpful this video was to me. I have photos that are over 100 years old from great grandparents, plus all the years since then. I'm so overwhelmed, that I just want to walk away, but they are very important to me. I have a lot of organizing done, but still have much to do. Thank you for your video!
Thank you for this! It’s so nice to hear someone talk in simple terms, the best way to do this. I’m an IT geek and you’ve confirmed that the way I was planning to do this is actually the best way 😉
👍
Seriously.. Just fantastic.. changing the dates and being able to do them in bulk was MASSIVE! Thank you thank you...
Lots of great information packed into in a short and lively video! The scanning process will save so much time and I loved the ideas for cropping photos. The file dating tips are also a huge time saver. I'll keep watching for more great suggestions.
This is an excellent tutorial about archiving old photos. Thank you Lara.
Genius! I really loved it!!! Thank you for sharing your expertise.. kudos!
I watched for the photo scanner recommendation and what a bonus the additional instruction of current usable existing applications to edit and store them. So helpful - thankyou!
Love your videos. You always are very detailed in your explanation. You inspire me to get my photos digitized. Thank you
Very organized, thanks. For a long time, I've considered many of your ideas before and now, but I think for quality and time, I'll probably go with a dedicated company to do the scanning for me.
Very clear, engaging and quick moving. Thanks!
Very organized and thorough. Thank You !
Thank you for sharing your smart method! You must be a very clever person. You made it very simple and clear ! I use Mac, but I'm sure I can modify! thanks
Thank you sooo much! You were very helpful!!
Thanks for posting. Scanning takes longer than I thought. So I tried snapping pictures with my phone on a stand but, yes, reflection is a problem. Thought about using a photography umbrella to tamper the reflection but it might be back to the scanner.
Thanks for the info. My problem is if I have to stop and come back another day the sequence is screwed up, for some reason it wants to start the numbers over when I just want to add to the album.
Excellent video, thanks
Thank you!!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for a very helpful video.
Thanks for the information
oh man do I need this...
I didn't know that about Google photo and the date sorting via metadata. Good one! Thanks
You ROCK!
You can actually change the date right in Google Photos, including in batch
I would love to see all that using a Mac. I love your videos and look forward to more. Thanks!
Sea Journey it should be the same process. The only thing will be with the date changing process.
Nice vid , helped a lot
too good
How does one possibly toss out the original photo? I don't know if I could do that without feeling guilty :(
That´s very interesting, I didn´t know I could change the date on the photos using Windows. What about the photo order? I mean, if you change all the dates on a batch of photos, do they upload in the order you scanned them? (of in the order you renamed them?). Thanks for the video.
I don’t know the answer to this! If you figure it out, come back and let us all know. Thanks!
@@marblejarchannel Hi. I´ve learned that Google Photos lets you change the date in the "edit" feature. You can select many photos and change them in batch. About the order: it uploads in the order you scanned (or photographed) the photos. One more thing: if you decide to use your phone to take digital pictures of the paper photos, it´s better if you turn off the camera geotagging; if it´s ON, Google Photos will put the location where the phone was when taking the pictures. Let me explain... suppose you are taking pictures of photos taken in New York (but you live in Los Angeles). If geotagging is ON, Google Photos will assume the pictures are from "Los Angeles". With geotaggin OFF, you can edit the location in Google Photos. I don´t know if I was clear, sorry.
The problem with this method could be the quality of the scanned photos ... :( 300 dpi won't be enough for most of your photos!
Hiya! Do you have any recommendations on physical albums to keep original photos (of all different sizes) in? I was thinking of getting a scrapbook as I don't mind sticking them in, however, I am not sure which to get! :)
Hi, Anders. I don’t really. Considering how much patience I have for digital projects, it’s amazing how little patience I have for physical photo storage. I don’t have too many hard copy photos now, but in the past I have used this kind of album for standard sized photos (www.amazon.com/Spiral-Photo-Bi-Directional-Pockets-Photos/dp/B00004ZBOJ) and an annual file folder for bigger ones. Good luck!
What settings on your scanner for the sake of resolution, and also, fixing issues with older photos. Not every scanned photo is pristine. Can you comment on these 2 issues.
Great video. Very clearly presented. The date thing is a very big deal to me, so thanks for that.👍
Hi, Richard. I believe I just used the standard setting on the scanner for resolution and wasn't at all a perfectionist on fixing issues with older photos.
I think it depends on what you intend to do with your photos. If in the future you want to print some of those photos, a good resolution is needed, like 300 dpi. If you just want digital copies to see on the internet, phones, etc, you can scan them using 150 dpi or even lower. The higher the resolution, of course, the bigger the digital file will be.
Thanks for information love from india 🇮🇳
I have acquired all of the old photos from my grandma and I got the majority of them to different family members, certain family members asked if I could make some digital and share them so that they don't have photographs piling up. I know how to scan them into the computer but what app, or program would be best to share files with other people?
I use Google Photos and have a ton of videos on how I use it. Good luck!
Thanks for this, any Idea how it might work on a Mac?
Sorry - I’m totally unfamiliar with Macs!
Do you know if I scan old photos that have "keeper" writing on back, using a duplex scanner if it will print later, that same way?
Hi, Debi -- unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the situation you are asking about, but I'd love to know if you find a way to make it work!
I was looking for a flat bed scanner copier as we need both for personal and medical legal docs. I see some that will take pictures in stacks and such, just not sure if worth the money. I don't mind investing in something functional and reliable with longevity. I will have to take your lead on the different programs and learn, as I am retired I have the time and educated to be able to understand. What is your suggestion to us older boomers on scanners and simplification.
Hi, Lewis. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to do any of this! My suggestion and advice is: don’t be afraid to make mistakes and try to not to get frustrated. Good luck!
This was well done...thank you.
GREAT, organized explnantion. But so fasssst. Had to keep stopping, rewinding and listening. Slow down a bit? Because this is too valuable to skim!
Sorry! I’m a fast talker, but I have two suggestions. One is that RUclips provides the ability to change the speed of most videos. Just tap on the 3 dots and then Playback Speed. The other suggestion is that I provide transcripts for all of my videos at my website: www.marblejar.net. Hope that helps and thanks for the comment!
Hey Laura, I am about to start a similar project. I have read flatbed scanners are the best, but I have literally hundreds of photos and was considering a photo scanner with a feed tray. Did you consider this type of photo scanner?
Hi, Michael - I think I had ruled out a feeder option mostly because I was being cheap, but I think it would potentially be much faster!
@@marblejarchannel I understand. I would not mind investing in a costly photo scanner with a feeder, but after this project, I really would not have any use for it. Well, I will keep researching options.
Hi! This is really good information.
Thanks!
What model scanner did you use
I used this model: Epson Perfection V39 Color Photo & Document Scanner with Scan-To-Cloud & 4800 Optical Resolution, Black. Thanks!
Which scanner did you get please? And was it high resolution? Thank you
This was the scanner I got: Epson Perfection V39 Color Photo & Document Scanner. Hope that helps!
FYI google photos now only allow upto 15 gb of space in total and free photos will not be available from next year.
I have a lot of ektachrome slides. Did you have any and did you find a way to digitize them at home?
My parents have a ton of these, but I didn’t have any. Let me know if you figure out a good method. I have a feeling I’ll be doing theirs next!
@@marblejarchannel you need a scanner with transparency adapter
Are the finally photos good enough to be printed?
I think it depends on your expectations of photo quality. I wouldn’t want to print them for display using this method.
It's not "walla" but "voila". Thanks for your advice!
but what do we do with the old photos??
I threw mine away - except for the wedding photos or anything that was in a nice album!
What did you do with the actual photos after scanning?
I use Google Photos to organize all of my photos. If you are interested, I have lots of videos on Google Photos!
@@marblejarchannel I'm pretty sure they mean the physical photos after they’re scanned. I'm wondering the same as I'm starting this project myself.
Oh, right! Most of them I actually just threw away. There are some that were already in scrapbooks that I just couldn’t bring myself to pitch, but the rest are entirely digital now.
Anyone know of an automated way to crop the photos and create separate files for each? I can't use the 3 stacked photos as many of the photos are different size and don't fit in my scanner. Right now my only option is manually with Photoshop. Great video BTW
Did you ever find an answer to your question? I know its possible but I cant remember the name of the utility.. hopefully you were able to Google it!
Photoshop will do it. Just open the file with all the photos on it and click on File - Automate - Crop and Straighten Photos. It will find each photo and make a separate image for each one. There are tutorials on RUclips. Just leave a little space between each one so PS knows where the edges are.
I have an older Epson Perfection V200 flatbed scanner. I scan my photos using the "full auto" mode in the Epson software. I can place (4) 4"x6" photos on the scanner glass (9"x12") touching each other and I will get one image with the 4 photos which must then be cropped. However, if I place the photos say 1/2" apart, I end up with separate files for each photo. In my case I can place (3) 4"x6" photos on the scanner and get 3 separate files. With smaller 3"x5" photos I can get 4 photos on the scanner allowing for separation.
Do you have any tutorials for using Google Photos?
Hi, Patti. Yes, I have lots of videos about Google Photos and how I use it. Here’s a link to my playlist: ruclips.net/p/PL-7Z8pkzpJtOTmBml8jyl3YqiiRO133dw.
For someone who has never uploaded pictures this is not enough detail to be able to do this.
Please not to offend but look up Vocal Fry .
No offense at all! My dad is always telling me I have a tendency to dip into vocal fry. :-)