Get the Best Results
Scanning Recommendations
If you are scanning a photograph yourself before sending it to us, a few simple settings make a big difference to the final restoration. Here are our top tips.
Choose “Photo” Mode
Check your scanner software carefully — many scanners have separate settings for documents, photos or text (OCR). Always select the Photo setting.
Avoid the Quick-Scan Button
The physical buttons on the front of a scanner are usually set up for fast, low-quality scans. Use the scanner software on your computer instead for full control.
Scan at High Resolution
Choose the highest resolution available — ideally 1200dpi. This keeps as much fine detail as possible for restoration work.
Save as a TIF File
Save your scan as a .TIF file rather than .JPG. TIF files don’t compress the image, so no detail is lost before we even begin.
Select Just the Photo
Before scanning, make sure only the photograph is selected on the scanner bed, not the whole glass area — this avoids confusing the exposure settings.
Avoid Smartphone Photos Where Possible
A photo taken of a photo with a smartphone rarely gives the sharp, evenly lit result a proper scan does — use a scanner if you have access to one.
Not able to scan it yourself? No problem — you can post your original print to us instead, and we will scan it professionally in our studio. See how it works.