Scanning Photos Still In Albums
Jan 10, 2021 08:55:07 #
I just bought a new Epson V 600 scanner to finally scan in photos going back 40 years. The photos in the oldest albums are “stuck” to the back of the page and I fear pulling them out will tear them. I started to scan with the plastic cover still on. The photos are ok but not great. Some show the glare of the plastic. Any suggestions on how to scan better with the plastic cover on? Any suggestions how to remove old photos from the album sheet without damaging them? Thanks so much for your help.
Jan 10, 2021 09:05:47 #
Jan 10, 2021 09:07:45 #
Jan 10, 2021 09:16:15 #
bamfordr
Loc: Campbell CA
par4fore wrote:
Can you cut them out and just remove the viewing side of the plastic?
With any luck that could work. The only problem to be careful about is whether the photo is also adhering to the plastic. I’ve had that happen in some albums from the 1950s.
Jan 10, 2021 09:32:58 #
Warm the album a bit (not hot). That will make the plastic more flexible.
Jan 10, 2021 09:40:10 #
David Martin
Loc: Cary, NC
Usually you can peel back the plastic and scan the photos still stuck on the back to the page.
Jan 11, 2021 06:30:10 #
ptmedia6300
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
Try the combine use of a light meter with a booster. The booster is designed to get the reading of light reflection off the plastic or any reflective material e.g., glass, mirror, plastic, even bright snow. Boosters aren't used much, but for your challenge it might prove very useful. I have the Sekonic L-508 light meter that I use with the Sekonic Booster to get the correct metered lighting from reflective objects.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Jan 11, 2021 06:32:46 #
Jan 11, 2021 06:33:35 #
Jan 11, 2021 06:34:28 #
Jan 11, 2021 07:38:45 #
About 4 years ago, I also had the same problem. I slipped a 4-inch putty knife under the photos, moving the putty knife slowly until the photo was free. They came out nicely - no tears, no rips, no curls.
Jan 11, 2021 08:54:44 #
raypep wrote:
Now there is an idea. Thanks !
If you have pictures on both sides of the page, cutting them out could be tricky. Can't you just remove the plastic?
Jan 11, 2021 09:02:24 #
Before you try and remove the plastic cover get the best scan possible of the photo. The photo may get damaged and the resulting scan may be worse than with the cover still on.
Jan 11, 2021 09:09:35 #
Cotondog wrote:
About 4 years ago, I also had the same problem. I slipped a 4-inch putty knife under the photos, moving the putty knife slowly until the photo was free. They came out nicely - no tears, no rips, no curls.
Putty knife ! Never thought of that. Thanks .
Jan 11, 2021 09:40:14 #
raypep wrote:
I just bought a new Epson V 600 scanner to finally scan in photos going back 40 years. The photos in the oldest albums are “stuck” to the back of the page and I fear pulling them out will tear them. I started to scan with the plastic cover still on. The photos are ok but not great. Some show the glare of the plastic. Any suggestions on how to scan better with the plastic cover on? Any suggestions how to remove old photos from the album sheet without damaging them? Thanks so much for your help.
Scanners are great, until they aren’t! Take a different approach entirely.
When confronted with customer originals in albums, I often resort to macro copy photography. It can be faster and better than scanning.
If pages are removable (and replaceable!), remove them from the album. If plastic is removable easily (and replaceable!), peel it off.
Use color correct, photo grade, 5000K to 5500K CFL or LED lights, 37.5 to 40 degrees above the copy surface, equidistant from the copy board, and feathered to create perfectly even illumination.
Use full manual exposure in reference to a custom white balance target, and be sure to lock it down for every exposure at the same distance! Record raw data files for post-processing.
Use a TRUE macro lens for best results without distortion.
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