Taking photos of old photos: Hi Gang, My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the...

MRL706 Loc: Pennsylvania

Hi Gang,
My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the scanner. They have asked me to photograph these larger photos and I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and if they could offer some advice as to techniques, settings etc. Thanks.

BermBuster Loc: Hi Desert S.Cal

May not be the best way, but I usually set the pics on an easel -get the lighting as best I can, set-up camera on tripod, and use a polarizer filter to knock down any glare across the photo.
Good Luck.

MRL706 wrote:

Hi Gang,
My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the scanner. They have asked me to photograph these larger photos and I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and if they could offer some advice as to techniques, settings etc. Thanks.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

MRL706 wrote:

Hi Gang,
My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the scanner. They have asked me to photograph these larger photos and I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and if they could offer some advice as to techniques, settings etc. Thanks.

Important to make certain the sensor plane and art work are parallel.

rich808 Loc: Honolulu

MRL706 wrote:

Hi Gang,
My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the scanner. They have asked me to photograph these larger photos and I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and if they could offer some advice as to techniques, settings etc. Thanks.

If u use two lights at 45 degrees you'll avoid shadows. I'd try normal bulbs even florescent if its hot you can adj easily in photoshop esp if they're bnw

MRL706 Loc: Pennsylvania

Thanks for the tips. Hadn't considered using the filter.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

If it's not too big, I scan in sections and put them together in post processing.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

rich808 wrote:

If u use two lights at 45 degrees you'll avoid shadows. I'd try normal bulbs even florescent if its hot you can adj easily in photoshop esp if they're bnw

Use 5000°K CFL's.

willet

Take the print out side and place photo on a flat surface and in the shade. Use tripod or hand held if lighting is bright enough. No shadows involved. Use PP to take out spots or other boo boos on the originals.

av8nbuff Loc: Rock and Roll Capital, Cleveland, Ohio

I might suggest if you are going to do several larger photos/documents, or this might be a task you do more than once, it would be wise to purchase a piece of non-glare glass from a frame shop or craft store. I have done this while copying several larger photos and its benefits are that it keeps the item being copied flat and it helps to reduce glare as well. I usually use a table top and 45 degree lights for illumination...and the easel idea is one worth considering too. I will. Good luck!

EstherP

wlgoode wrote:

Important to make certain the sensor plane and art work are parallel.

An easy way to do that, that I just read about (have not yet tried it for myself):
Put a mirror on the easel, and using a tripod, place your camera so that when looking through the viewfinder, you see the lens front straight on.
Now place your photo so that the exact centre of the photo falls on the exact centre of the lens. Using a sheet of see-through paper over the mirror with lines drawn on it will help).
This method will give the least distortion.
Don't use the on-board flash, you may get some dreadful flares staring back at you. If at all possible, I'd say use natural light.
Anyway, my 2-bits worth.
EstherP

gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta

MRL706 wrote:

Hi Gang,
My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the scanner. They have asked me to photograph these larger photos and I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and if they could offer some advice as to techniques, settings etc. Thanks.

I would check with places that deal with large-format scanning (e.g., engineering drawings) and see if they can do what you need. We have a large-format scanner in our office that will handle up to 48" wide with unlimited length ... I think it might max out at 300 dpi, though I have never checked for higher resolutions. This one is is pretty old technology these days so I would be shocked if you couldn't find a place that can handle larger size scans at a good resolution for you.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Mogul wrote:

Use 5000°K CFL's.

In my film days I had a "copy stand" made just for this.
a large piece of plywood with adjustable lights on both sides and a 4 directional camera mount on one end.

edb00

Scan the photos in sections with plenty of overlap.
Keeping the photo square with the scanner for all the scans makes it easier to join them
PhotoShop will auto stich them in no time
I do up to 24x36 etchings on a 11x17 scanner with as many 8 scans. Excellent results

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

MRL706 wrote:

Hi Gang,
My local historical society is in the process of scanning their collection of old photos and they have some that are too large to fit onto the scanner. They have asked me to photograph these larger photos and I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and if they could offer some advice as to techniques, settings etc. Thanks.

I have done this. Set the photo up where the lighting is good, but not direct. I tape it to a wall. Use a great low light lens, such as the Canon 85mm F1.2, or the Canon 50mmF1.2. Post process in Photoshop, including whatever repairs that must be made to the image. If it is at least 8 X 10, the final result may be better than the original. If the picture is very small and faded, it may be irreparable.

Rufus Loc: Puget Sound area, WA

It is important to have the color (measured in degrees kelvin) of the lights match the color sensitivity of the camera sensor,if you have a choice. If you are in the dark on this (ho,ho), shoot with different settings and compare.