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What is the best scanner to scan old photos


8 Best Photo Scanners in 2022 (Updated)

Photo scanners come in so many different sizes, resolutions (dpi), prices, and features. It can be hard to know which one is best for you.

We’ve ‘scanned’ through the details of hundreds of photo scanners to find the very best available, factoring in the requirements of different users.

In the list below you’ll find the best photo scanners to digitize your prints. There are scanners for batch scanning, professional scanning, portable scanning, film and negative scanning, and so much more.

If you’re looking to purchase a scanner that has a reasonable price, decent resolution, and will allow you to scan hundreds of photos at once, we recommend this scanner:

Plustek ephoto Z300 Photo Scanner

A low-cost all-rounder with fast scanning for archiving photos in bulk.

Price from $199.00

Buy from Amazon

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Plustek ephoto Z300 Photo Scanner

Amazon

$199. 00

Buy Now!

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What is the Best Photo Scanner?

Before we discuss each scanner in detail, here is a quick roundup of our favorites and why we like them.

Plustek ephoto Z300 Photo Scanner

Best All-Rounder

  • Efficient design allows for feeding photos
  • Scans a 4 x 6 inch photo in two seconds
  • Enhances and restores photos
  • Simple to use without complicated functions

from $199.00

Buy from Amazon

Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless Photo Scanner

Best Batch Scanner

  • Bulk scan allows for 36 photos per minute
  • Enhances and restores photos
  • Scans photos up to 8 x 10 inches
  • Wireless connectivity

from $529. 99

Buy from Amazon

Canon CanoScan LiDE400 Scanner

Great Resolution, Low Price

  • High 4800 dpi resolution
  • USB powered
  • Cloud sync enabled
  • Large 8.5 x 11.7 inch scanning area

from $104.84

Buy from Amazon

Epson Perfection V600 Scanner

Affordable High-End Scanner

  • Very high 6400 dpi resolution
  • Scans 35mm and medium-format film
  • Large 8.5 x 11.7 inch scanning area
  • Enhances and restores photos

from $299.99

Buy from Amazon

Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner

Pro Grade Scanner

  • Very high 6400 dpi resolution
  • Professional grade scanning technology
  • Scans 35mm, medium-format, and large-format film
  • Improved productivity with film holders

from $1,249. 99

Buy from Amazon

Epson Perfection V39 Photo & Scanner

Great Resolution, Low Price

  • High 4800 dpi resolution
  • USB powered
  • Cloud sync enabled
  • Enhances and restores photos

from $109.99

Buy from Amazon

Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi Scanner

Best Portable Scanner

  • Compact and portable with battery power
  • Wireless connectivity
  • Cloud sync enabled
  • Works with an app on your phone

from $219.00

Buy from Amazon

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300 Scanner

Fast Batch Scanner

  • Scans 4 x 6 inch photos in under a second
  • Cloud sync enabled
  • Space saving design
  • Auto facial orientation and red-eye reduction

from $299. 99

Buy from Amazon

What To Look For In A Photo Scanner

Analog photography is in the midst of a revival. Many photographers a going back to film and analog cameras. And as a result, more people are looking for the best photo scanner to digitize their prints. The manufacturers have taken note and produced some excellent machines.

Many photographers will be happy with a single-purpose scanner. These machines are dedicated to scanning and have no other functions, such as printing or copying. All of them on this list are flatbed or tray-fed scanners.

If you’re looking for something more versatile, an all-in-one unit is what you need. A multi-function printer has printing capabilities but is also equipped with a flatbed scanner. They’re great if you want to duplicate your photos. But the scanning quality usually isn’t as good as single-function scanners.

Other models have more film-friendly features, with hardware for scanning slides and film negatives. These home photo labs are for serious film photography buffs. And they often have printing capabilities too.

The price can vary a lot with scanners. Single function scanners are often at the cheaper end of the spectrum. And as you add more features, the price tends to go up. But some specialist units can have high prices.

The 8 Best Photo Scanners

Brand Plustek

Model Z300

DPI (Dots per Inch) 600

Key Features Efficient design allows for feeding photos and it can scan a photo in less than two seconds

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Plustek ephoto Z300 Photo Scanner

Amazon

$199.00

Buy Now!

Photo scanners don’t come more straightforward than the Plustek ePhoto Z300. It’s a basic photo scanner without complicated functions. If you’re looking to digitize your photos without investing in professional-level equipment, the Z300 could be the right photo scanner for you.

There are no options for scanning film. But the Plustek ePhoto Z300 supports photos sizes of 3×5, 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10. You can also scan letters and A4 documents.

You need to feed each photo into the scanner one at a time. While that might sound time-consuming, it only takes two seconds to scan a 4×6 photo. You’ll have full albums done in no time. And it has a scan resolution of 600 DPI.

The Plustek ePhoto Z300 software includes image enhancement functions. The simple interface allows you to restore faded photos or enhance colors and details. You also have options to do minor edits and organize your photos.

The Plustek ePhoto Z300 is a simple and affordable solution to your photo scanning needs. And it is supported for Windows and Mac users.

Brand Epson

Model FF-680W

DPI (Dots per Inch) 1200

Key Features Bulk scan 36 photos per minute, enhances and restores, with wireless connectivity

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Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless Photo Scanner

Amazon

$529. 99 $599.99

Buy Now!

The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is a specialist photo scanner for home use. It’s one of the best batch scanners for digitizing your back catalog. And it’ll have your photo albums scanned and filed in no time.

The Epson FastFoto FF-680W uses a document feeder system rather than a flatbed for scanning. While aimed at photos, you can also use it for A4 document scanning. And Polaroid pictures aren’t a problem either.

The automatic document feeder holds 36 photos at a time. And it scans the whole album automatically. You don’t have to insert a new print for each scan. It’ll pull the next photo through, scanning one photo after another. The Epson FastFoto FF-680W offers the fastest photo scanning solutions.

The Picture Perfect imaging system restores old photos with color restoration and enhancement. The software also removes red-eye and dust spots for better-quality photos. And it’s a wireless machine, so you can scan directly to computers and mobile devices.

You can accompany the printer with the FastFoto app on your smartphone. It’ll receive scanned photos. And you can add text and effects, create slideshows, and share pictures directly to social media.

Brand Canon

Model CanoScan LiDE400

DPI (Dots per Inch) 4800

Key Features USB powered, cloud sync enabled, with a large 8.5 x 11.7 inch scanning area

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Canon CanoScan LiDE400 Scanner

Amazon

$104.84 $159.99

Buy Now!

The Canon CanoScan LiDE400 is an excellent photo scanner for home use. It’s a slimline scanner that uses a flatbed for scanning photos and documents. It’s simple and straightforward, and the scan quality won’t disappoint.

Photo scanners don’t come much more streamlined than this one. It takes up very little space in your home office. And it’s versatile, scanning photos, documents, and thicker media like books. Documents can be saved as editable PDF files.

With a scan resolution of 4800 DPI, your digitized copies will look as good as the original prints. And the Canoscan LiDE400 enhances colors and removes blemishes automatically.

The different scanning modes are intuitive and make storing and organizing your photos easy. You have options for documents, photos, and customized scans. And you can direct the files to specific locations on your device. Or you can scan directly to OneDrive or Dropbox.

The Canon CanoScan LiDE400 has energy-efficient performance. It connects to your computer with a USB, and that’s all the power it needs. And the photo scanner wastes no time warming up.

Brand Epson

Model B11B198011

DPI (Dots per Inch) 6400

Key Features Large format scanner for prints, 35mm and medium-format film

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Epson Perfection V600 Scanner

Amazon

$299.99

Buy Now!

The Epson Perfection V600 is the best photo scanner for serious film enthusiasts. It’s a single-function scanner without printing or copying features. But it’s a versatile scanner for people with a passion for film.

It’s a flatbed scanner, which allows you to scan A4 documents. But the main appeal comes from its ability to scan photo prints, slides, and film negatives. And it has the option for 35mm and medium-format (120mm) film types. And once you scan the negatives, you have excellent options to enlarge them.

The scan quality is superb, with a 9600 PPI scan resolution. And the scan quality is improved by the digital ICE (digital image correction and enhancement) technology, which removes dust spots and scratches. The Epson Perfection V600 has digital ICE for photo prints and negatives.

The Epson Perfection V600 software also has one-click photo fix options, restoring faded color in older photos. Combine this with the ICE technology and you get pristine digitized photos.

The Epson Perfection V600 is powered by the Ready Scan LED light. It’s energy-efficient, and there’s no warm-up time required. You can start scanning straight away, saving you time.

Brand Epson

Model B11B224201

DPI (Dots per Inch) 6400

Key Features Professional grade scanning for photos, 35mm, medium-format, and large-format film

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Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner

Amazon

$1,249.99

Buy Now!

The Epson Perfection V850 Pro is one of the best photo scanners for professional photographers. With stand-out scan quality and fantastic photo-centric features, it has everything a film photographer could want in a photo scanner.

The Epson Perfection V850 Pro works well as a document scanner, with a flatbed scanner big enough for A4 sheets. But the photo scanning is where the V850 Pro stands out. You get film holders for 35mm and medium-format film.

The scan resolution is 9600 DPI, with exceptional color quality and tonal range. And the high dynamic range brings out the detail in dark and light areas. You’ll get high-quality scans for both photos and film negatives.

The digital ICE technology puts the Epson Perfection V850 Pro in the league of professional-level photo scanners. The digital ICE removes defects from your photos, removing scratches and spots. And it restores faded colors and detail with very impressive results.

The Epson Perfection V850 Pro uses patented ReadyScan LED lights and a Dual-lens system for scanning. It isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the best photo scanners for serious professionals.

Brand Epson

Model Perfection V39

DPI (Dots per Inch) 4800

Key Features USB powered, cloud sync enabled, with features to enhance and restores photos

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Epson Perfection V39 Photo & Scanner

Amazon

$109.99 $119.99

Buy Now!

The Epson Perfection V39 is a cheaper Epson Perfection model than those previously listed. It doesn’t have some of the features film photographers might want to see. But it’s still one of the best photo scanners for home use.

The scan resolution is 4800 DPI, which gives you stunning digital versions of your photo prints. And you have color restoration and enhancement options in the bundled software.

The Epson Photo Scan software allows you to scan photos directly to Google Drive or iCloud. And the high-rise removable lid makes it easy to scan larger media like books.

The scanner has a sleek and slim body. And it’s easy to hide away in any home office. It’s powered by the USB connection to your device, so it’s a low-energy scanning option.

Brand Doxie

Model DX255

DPI (Dots per Inch) 600

Key Features Compact and portable with battery power, wireless connectivity, and cloud sync

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Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi Scanner

Amazon

$219.00

Buy Now!

The Doxie Go SE is the best portable scanner on the list. The compact form allows for easy transport and the rechargeable battery means you don’t need to bring a power cable. We particularly like the Wi-Fi connectivity and expandable memory. It makes scanning on the go a breeze.

Unfortunately, the 600dpi resolution holds back the performance for photo scanning, which is why it’s not higher on the list.

One key advantage is the sheet-fed design, which means you don’t need to continually open the scanner lid to change out the photos you’re scanning. This allows for bulk scanning, even if there is no automatic feeder.

If you don’t care about wireless connectivity, check out the version without Wi-Fi for a slightly cheaper option.

Brand Fujitsu

Model PA03805-B105

DPI (Dots per Inch) 600

Key Features Scans 4 x 6 inch photos in under a second with auto facial orientation and red-eye reduction

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Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300 Scanner

Amazon

$299. 99 $348.00

Buy Now!

The final scanner on our list is very similar to the first scanner, the Plustek ephoto Z300. It has the same dpi and actually scans photos a little faster than the Plustek scanner.

It has a space-saving design, automatic facial orientation, and red-eye reduction, and it’s also cloud sync enabled.

But the major drawback is the price. It’s approximately 50% more expensive for many of the same features.

We still think it deserves a spot on the list as it has some extra features that you may find is worth the extra cost.

Conclusion: The Best Photo Scanner

Having researched hundreds of scanners, we’re happy to recommend all of the scanners on this list.

They are each uniquely good at what they’re built for.

But if you’re looking for a low-cost scanner that’s efficient for batch-scanning, then look no further than the Plustek ephoto Z300.

Plustek ephoto Z300 Photo Scanner

A low-cost all-rounder with fast scanning for archiving photos in bulk.

Price from $199.00

Buy from Amazon

×

Plustek ephoto Z300 Photo Scanner

Amazon

$199.00

Buy Now!

Best Photo Scanner to Digitize Old Prints & Negatives in 2022

This is a guide to the best photo scanners of the year to help digitize your prints and film for backup, viewing and sharing.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got piles of old photo prints and negatives in a cupboard somewhere collecting dust…

Thankfully, you can use photo scanners to convert them all into digital files, so you have an online backup in case your house burns down… or maybe you want to order from an online photo printing service to get some prints or canvases.

After researching and experimenting, we’ve chosen one clear winner – the Epson Perfection V600, which we’ve named the best photo scanner for most people.

Editor's Choice

Epson Perfection V600

At up to 1 photo per second at 300 dpi, this scanner offers unbeatable power, speed and image quality.

Check Current Price

This product is perfect if you only have a few photos to scan since it’s what’s known as a ‘flatbed scanner’.

(If you’re looking to do hundreds of photos at once, we have a ‘sheet-fed scanner’ recommendation for you below. Also, see our other guide for the best film/slide scanner recommendations.)

Most of the best photo scanners offer general-purpose scanning with optical character recognition (OCR) for digitizing documents, while others allow you to scan film negatives – useful for when you’ve lost the original photo print.

While you can get all-in-one printers that can scan photos for the best in image quality, we recommend the dedicated scanners below.

(We’ve also included a handy FAQs section that answers all the most common queries.)

So dig out your old photos and negatives, and let’s take a closer look at the best photo scanners of the year.

Table of Contents

What are the Best Photo Scanners in 2022?

Image Product Features
Epson Perfection V600BEST OVERALL
  • Scan a wide range of photo and film formats
  • Restore film and photos with DIGITAL ICE technologies
  • Scan to multi-page searchable PDF
  • High-quality 6400 dpi film and photo scanner
View Price →
Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  • Create files quickly
  • One Button Simplicity
  • Scan any document
  • Versatile paper handling
View Price →
Epson Perfection V39BEST BUDGET
  • High Quality scanning for photos and documents
  • Scan oversized prints, documents and artwork
  • Restore Colour to faded photos
  • Ultra slim & USB Powered 
View Price →
Epson Perfection V850 ProBEST FOR PROS
  • Remarkable tonal range
  • Exclusive dual lens system
  • 6400 dpi resolution
  • Automatically remove dust and scratches
View Price →
Plustek Photo ScannerPOPULAR CHOICE
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Automatic continuous scanning and processing
  • Supports Windows and Mac OS
  • Automatic and advanced image adjustment tools
View Price →
Kodak Slide n Scan Film ScannerBEST FOR FILM
  • Instantly preview images
  • Connect and display images on your TV
  • One-touch scanning
  • Continuous feed option for negatives
View Price →
Canon CanoScan LiDE 400
  • 4,800 x 4,800 dpi
  • Auto Scan
  • Upright scanning
  • Scan to cloud
View Price →
Kodak Mobile Film Scanner
  • Easy to operate
  • Foldable cardboard stand
  • Film conversion with your phone
  • User friendly
View Price →

 

Epson Perfection V600

See More Reviews

Editor's Choice

Pros

  • High-resolution scan output
  • Scans negatives and slides
  • Digital ICE technology for both prints and film
  • Reasonable price
  • Includes OCR software

Cons

  • Scanning software not user friendly
  • Has some Windows 10 issues

Check current price

One of the more affordable and versatile flatbed photo scanner options, the The Epson Perfection V600 is a great starting point for photographers who need high-resolution scans, but don’t want to fork out the money for the pricier high-end options.

It comes with trays for photo slides and negatives, OCR software for document scanning and editable text, and produces great results from both 35mm and medium format photos.

There’s also digital ICE technology for removing dust and scratches from both photos and film, which is a great help in restoring old photos – even the best photo scanner models don’t include this feature.

Sure, it doesn’t quite come to par with the top-of-the-range photo scanners out there, but for just a little over $200 you’ll get quality that will meet the needs of any but the most demanding of photographers.

Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500

See More Reviews

Editor's Choice

Pros

  • Super fast
  • Extremely easy to use
  • Touch screen
  • Nice software bundle included

Cons

  • Lower optical resolution (600 dpi)
  • No ethernet connectivity

Check current price

If you’ve been wondering what the fastest way to scan old photos is, you might want to look into the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500.

Using its automatic sheet feeder, the ScanSnap ix1500 can ingest literally piles of photos at once – up to 30 photos at a time. It’s a full 5 pages faster than its closest competitor, making it the best photo scanner if you’re in a hurry!

Even at this speed, its scan quality is surprisingly good. Photos come out quickly, even with an optical resolution of 600 dpi – a lower resolution than its competitors, but enough for most users. (Here’s what DPI means.)

At about twice the price of the Epson Perfection V600, the ix1500 photo scanner isn’t cheap, but if you have a huge photo collection, you can’t really go wrong. High-resolution photo scanning has never been quicker than this.

Epson Perfection V39

See More Reviews

Editor's Choice

Pros

  • Sharp scan quality (4800 dpi)
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Scans to Google drive
  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Doesn’t scan slides or film
  • Cheap parts

Check current price

At just under $180, the Epson Perfection V39 is definitely one of the best budget photo scanners on the market. It’s a bit lower resolution than the V600 and doesn’t do slides or negatives, but is a great low-price option if you only need to do photo scanning.

Other features include the ability convert documents into editable text or searchable PDFs and to scan directly to Google Drive.

As long as you’re not needing a slide scanner or a particularly high scan resolution, the V39 is definitely one of the best budget options available.

Epson Perfection V850 Pro

See More Reviews

Editor's Choice

Pros

  • High-quality scans (4800 dpi)
  • Dual-lens scan system
  • Removes dust and scratches
  • Scans film and slides

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Sub-par software
  • Large footprint

Check current price

One of the more expensive scanners on this list, the Epson Perfection V850 Pro was designed for pros who want quality and are willing to pay a little more to get it.

With a dual-lens system and what Epson calls “High Pass Optics,” the V850 Pro yields extremely high-quality photo scans with great accuracy and color depth.

For slide scanning, you can get up to a 6400 dpi optical resolution, which makes for a pretty impressive scan size from 35mm film. There’s even an extra pair of film holders for streamlining your workflow.

The only real drawback to the v850 (other than price) is the software that comes with it. It’s definitely not as user friendly as it could be.

Otherwise, this is one of the best photo scanners for photographers who really want pro-quality, high-resolution scans.

(If you don’t like the v850’s price, check out its lower resolution little brother: the Epson Perfection v800.)

Plustek ePhoto Z300

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Editor's Choice

Pros

  • Faster than a flatbed scanner
  • Compact
  • Great Price
  • One-touch sharing to social media sites

Cons

  • Scan quality could be higher (300 dpi)
  • Limited scanning resolution options
  • No automatic document feeder

Check current price

Plustek ePhoto Z300 is one of the more popular budget photo scanners for those with lots of photos to scan. \It’s not the fastest sheet-feed photo scanner on the market – it uses a manual document feeder – but it’s certainly faster than flatbed scanners.

While its scan quality isn’t as good as it could be (300 dpi scan resolution), we found that it’s more than good enough for everyday household use.

You’ll be delighted at how easy it is to use and you won’t find a better price, despite it not being the best photo scanner for photographers with higher imaging demands.

Kodak Slide n Scan Film Scanner

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Editor's Choice

Pros

  • Quick-feeding tray technology
  • Nice 5″ LCD screen
  • Lightweight
  • Good image quality
  • Nice software

Cons

  • Only stores to SD cards
  • Cannot convert super 8 rolls

Check current price

If what you’re really looking to do is scan film, take a look at the Kodak Slide’n Scan Film Scanner.

This handy little scanner beautifully converts just about size film you have into digital files. Everything’s convneintly saved onto an SD card or transferred through a USB cord.

Like it’s big brother the Kodak Scanza, the Slide’n Scan has a scan resolution of 14/24mp – more than enough for most purposes.

Scanning with this little guy takes mere seconds. Loading the film is particularly easy with its Quick-Feeding Tray technology. We also love the included software which is a breeze to use.

Though definitely not a pro-level photo scanner, the Slide’n Scan is definitely one of the best photo scanners for household and everyday use.

Canon CanoScan LiDE 400

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Editor's Choice

Pros

  • Small footprint design
  • Good scan quality
  • Easy to use
  • Saves to cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive
  • Connects via USB C

Cons

  • No support for wireless or wired networking, mobile apps, or remote scanning
  • Many users have problems with the software

Check current price

Another popular option for photo scanning, the Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 is especially good for photographers with small businesses that need to do document scanning as well.

It’s not the quickest nor most powerful photo scanner out there, but it certainly hits the sweet spot for a combination of decent price, great out-of-the-box photo scans, and a simple setup.

A quick glance on the forums does reveal a few complaints regarding the software, but we were unable to find any issues when testing.

Definitely a worthy entry-level flatbed photo scanner.

Kodak Mobile Film Scanner

See More Reviews

Editor's Choice

Pros

  • Scans directly to your phone
  • Decent companion app
  • Inexpensive
  • Minimalist

Cons

  • Made of cardboard
  • Mediocre scan quality

Check current price

If you’re looking for a fun gift for your favorite film photographer, check out the Kodak Mobile Film scanner.

Built like Google Cardboard, this little film scanner is made from cardboard and collapses nicely back into a box when you’re done.

It’s fun, minimal, simple to use, and connects directly to your phone, so there’s no need for a computer or other device.

Lightweight and portable, the Kodak Mobile Film Scanner retails for around $40. Nothing more is needed beyond a couple of AA batteries.

A fun, cheap option for someone who wants to go super low tech.

Scanning Photos – FAQs

Where can I convert my photos to digital?

If you don’t want to buy your own photo scanner there are many professional online scanning services available. These will scan everything for you at a professional level. A quick Google search will reveal the best options in your area.

What is the best resolution to scan old photos?

This depends on what you want to use the photos for. For photo prints a higher resolution is ideal – no less than 300 DPI and ideally far higher. If you’re planning to use them on the web only, a DPI resolution of 72 to 96 will be enough.

How do I digitize photos at home?

  1. Choose the photos you want to scan in this session
  2. Clean off the photos and the scanner bed
  3. Make sure the scanner is set to “color” (even for black and whites)
  4. Review and select the settings for resolution, etc.
  5. Scan the photos

How do I digitize old photos on my smartphone?

You can digitize old photos onto your smartphone using the Google PhotoScan app. You can also use a photo scanner like the Kodak Mobile Film Scanner above.

Is it better to scan or photograph old photos?

While photographing old photos with your smartphone might be more convenient, you’ll get much higher image quality by using a photo scanner.

How do I digitize thousands of photos?

If you have the budget for it, take them to a professional service. Otherwise invest in a sheet-feeder photo scanner like the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix1500.

Is it better to scan photos as PDF or JPEG?

Saving to a Jpeg format is fine for anything online. PDFs are good for images that contain text. Saving as a TIFF will give you the best image quality.

Final Words

So there you have it, this year’s guide to the best photo scanners on the market.

Any one of these models will help get you on the way yo digitizing your prints and film for backup, viewing, sharing and anything else you can think of.

What do you think? What’s your favorite way to digitize old prints?

How to scan a photo correctly

Scanning a photo correctly is the key to a good result.

Photo scanning tips.

Cleaning the photo and scanner. Gently clean the photograph 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 the old photo is printed on embossed paper or has surface damage such as cracks, creases and tears, then it is recommended to scan it in a certain way.

The scanner glass must be clean and clear. 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, whether you want to end up in color or B&W. 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 to scan the image 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 using a scanning program, leave this work to a special 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, or stains on the glass and 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 electronically, sent by mail or uploaded to a special server for storing files. It will not be superfluous to create several copies, saving them on different media.

How do I 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 the resolution to high. The method of printing photographs until the middle of the 20th century gave good clarity. This means that when scanning at high resolution, small details appear in the photographs that are not visible to the naked eye: elements of jewelry, awards, clothing. A high-resolution photo will show facial features better. 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 consists 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.
Original scale above, proportionately enlarged below.

Almost all old paper photographs have cracks, stains or abrasions. 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 whole ones, which distorts facial features, and secondly, the necessary information may not be enough for correct restoration. A larger number of pixels allows not only to accurately restore the photo, but also to enlarge it when printing.

normal 600 dpi scan at 100%

low resolution 100% scan

low resolution scan at

The scanner manual specifies the maximum optical resolution above which scanning is useless. 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 photographs 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 JPG file compression, so they must be set 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.
Original size above, enlarged below.

On the Internet you can find such recommendations for a photo 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 in the best quality, so saving on file size is practically not relevant today.

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

left photo scanned in an album and blurred, right straightened and pressed against the scanner glass, bottom after restoration what quality to scan old photos

Author: Alex, 25/01/10 • Category: Tests
Tags: dpi • choice • quality • resolution • scanner • comparison • test • Photos

In my spare time, I decided to transfer all family photos to electronic form. Faced with many questions. One of the main questions is with what quality (in what resolution) to scan photos. After reading articles on this topic, I got even more confused: someone says 150dpi is enough, someone says at least 600dpi. By the way, the resolution of 300dpi was most convincingly substantiated.

Reference: DPI - resolution characteristic when inputting or outputting information from / to flat media. Measured by the number of dots per inch of surface. In scanner specifications, manufacturers indicate DPI as a resolution, but the scanner actually does not put points (dots) anywhere and it is more correct to use pixels per inch (PPI).
For example: resolution 240dpi means that there are 254 dots per inch (25.4 mm), i.e. each pixel of the image will have a size of 0.1×0.1 mm

Accordingly, in order to figure it out, I took one old photo and scanned it several times with different resolutions: 300dpi, 600dpi and 1200dpi. I used an old Epson Perfection 1270 scanner with an optical resolution of 1200x1200 pixels. Simultaneously with the increase in the resolution of scanning a photo, the file size of the photo and the dimensions of the photo in pixels increase:

300DPI - photo size 484x301 Point - File size 306kb (TIFF)
600DPI - photo size 968x603 Points - File size 1100kb (TIFF)
1200DPI - photo size 1937x1206 Points - File size 3870kb (TIFF)

also when scanning is scanned with different resolutions, the time that the scanner spends on data processing is very different! In the case of my scanner, the time differed significantly - from 30 seconds for 300dpi to three or four minutes for 1200dpi.

Below are pieces of 300x200 pixels cut from the same photo in different scanning modes:

Crop at a resolution of 300-600-1200dpi

As you can see, the image detail increases in proportion to the scan resolution. Now the main question is how to choose the optimal resolution for scanning old photos. I took and compared in different resolutions the same fragments of a photograph containing small details.

Which pieces I compared.

The result is the following picture. The 600 and 300 dpi fragments had to be scaled up to the size of a 1200 dpi fragment for visual comparison. When increasing, the algorithm was used - Nearest neighbor:

Comparison of details at different scanning resolutions

As you can see, at 300dpi resolution, details are completely lost in small details . I discarded this permission for myself, but I think it has the right to exist for not particularly valuable photographs. There is no fundamental difference in 1200dpi and 600dpi resolutions, the quality of small details is almost the same. Therefore, based on the scanning speed and the resulting quality - , I settled on a resolution of 600dpi ! I scanned in TIFF format because. in it, the resulting image will be saved without distortion, which will be very important for further processing.


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