Digital images are all the rage these days, and they undoubtedly have many advantages over printed ones. You don’t have to be concerned about them becoming less durable, scratched, or stained. However, some people associate their recollections with old printed images. The biggest issue, though, is that such photographs can’t be preserved in their natural state for that long; here is where digitizing comes in handy. You can use handy photo restoration software to make them look better and bring them back to life. Keep reading to find out the best ways to digitize old photos. 

Tips for Digitizing Old Photos

First, we’re going to share with you some tips on how to digitize photos, so you’ll be prepared and do your best. If you want to achieve a better result, then let’s look at some basic ideas. 

Avoid reflections and glare: It would be best to avoid scanning images that are in albums or frames because doing so would increase the chance of reflections and provide less-than-ideal results. Keep in mind that artificial lighting should be avoided because it frequently produces glare. Just find a place with natural light and do the test run before scanning all the images.

Clean your photos: Dust during scanning may result in the appearance of tiny dots in digital images. To remove it, use a soft brush or compressed air; never use liquid or water to clean your images because it could damage them. You can find more tips on how to clean your old photos by clicking the link.

Use a plain background: Sometimes different scan apps can’t find the edges of your photos because of textured and patterned surfaces. The white background can give you the best result.

Position carefully: Avoid taking shots at various angles and stay close when taking photos with your phone or camera. Check that the images are sharp and free of blur. 

Software and Apps for Scanning

The easiest way to scan images is to use a phone, as you just need to snap a photo of your old photos. But to get the best result, you can use special apps designed to scan and turn negatives into digital images. We’ve put up a selection of practical apps that will satisfy all of your needs.

Google Photo Scan

If you use Google Photos, then this app can be a natural choice for you. It automatically backs up scanned photos into your Photos Library. Google Photo Scan produces detailed images and has a feature that helps enhance images by removing some blemishes. When you tap the screen, you’ll see 4 circles, so you need to hold your phone over each until it fills to capture the photo. However, if you need to scan many photos, it will take you hours with this app as it can snap only one photo at a time. 

Microsoft Lens

This is one of the popular apps that can handle different tasks. With Microsoft Lens, you can not only scan documents but also digitalize old photos. The great thing about this app is that you can back up your files directly to the Microsoft cloud or export them into Microsoft documents. You can easily and quickly scan photos, but the drawback is that you can only do them one at a time. 

Picture Scan App by Photomyne

The Picture Scan app is by far the easiest and quickest way to scan images. With just one click, you can scan many images at once, and the app will automatically crop and edit them. Moreover, with this app, you can edit your images, crop them, apply various filters, or even colorize black and white photos. Just upload your photograph to the digital converter and do the job. 

Photo Restoration

Unfortunately, some vintage photographs are damaged, and after scanning, they will still have scratches, stains, and splits. But specialized restoration software can fix this issue. With it, you can fix the majority of the flaws in your old photo, making it appear as though it was just taken. Such programs and apps make converting negatives to digital images easier, even if you’re not experienced in editing. By doing so, you’ll give your images a new lease on life and preserve them for a very long time.

Now that you know how to restore old photos, you can easily bring your own vintage and faded images back to life. Make sure to follow the tips, and all the digitalized pictures will look as if they were taken yesterday. Pay attention to the software you use as it plays a huge role in restoration.