steve49 Loc: massachusetts

I did a photo book for each of my siblings of the old family photos I had around.
I have a stunning b&w image of my grandmothers family that was taken around 1895 that still astonishes me with its quality. The original artist knew what he was doing!.
This is a worthy effort.

I will post a copy of the photo another time. You will appreciate it I think.

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

I investigated e-frames and decided that I like a stand-alone computer better. I put all the photos into a screen saver file (I have sub-folders [by topic or person] I can choose if I want to, such as for someone’s birthday). That way I get a larger screen than e-frames have, and I can store/show a larger number of photos. Plus, I can edit any photo that I notice needs something because I have GIMP (free post processing app) on the machine.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Great job on the presentation!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

For 1000+ photos scanning two at a time you are probably looking at 24 hours of labor not including the occasional break to clean the scanner glass. And that is just scanning.

There are photo scanners that you can feed and automate some of the process, but the ones I have seen have a lower maximum resolution than dedicated flatbed scanners. My feeling is, if you are making archival copies for a day when the prints and negatives are no longer viable, you want the most you can get in file quality.

If you really plan to scan over 1000 images you might be at the volume that makes a scanning service makes sense. If you do use a service make sure it will deliver a high quality product that will meet you current and future needs. Many of the services may not provide the resolution you may want.

You will definitely be able to post process the files. You can use standard software, if yo have it. There are also a lot of free or low cost apps out there that focus on restoration.

I would distribute them through an online process. I would likely use Dropbox as my platform. Personally, I would post a 100 photo group at a time letting people know they are up and when you are going to take them down. I think if you put all 1000+ photos up at one time, people will procrastinate and ultimately loose interest. The same might happen if you do a thumb drive and send it out. In small lots you can post them by topics that might generate more interest and involvement. You could even break up the scanning in the same manner. Let everyone know you are scanning all of the "Smith" side of the family and posting them one week and follow a week or two later with the "Jones" side. Or Aunt Jane's family, Uncle Mike's and then family reunion picnics over the years. Or the 1950's followed by the 1960's, etc... Maybe poll your audience and see what they are interested in. It can generate more involvement and bring people together.

D74M

Thanks! We are culling as you’ve suggest. Probably have gotten rid of several hundred so far, but relatively certain we’ll still end up with the 1000+ number.

D74M

Excellent presentation! I’ll print the pdf; so we’ll done.

D74M

Thanks. Hope I’m using the Quote Reply correctly...

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The last three have been fine. 😁

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I'm currently in the process of scanning all old photos, will get around to the negatives after the prints, lot more photos in the negative pile than the print pile, bought an Epson V600 scanner, came with software, which works well even correcting some problems semi-automatically ( pick your options in pro scan, some auto color restoration is available ), also can work with my PSP, I do like digital frames, on my third now as they do seem to expire, I use SD cards in them.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

This is excellent. Thanks for sharing it and your experience with us.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

1. In terms of quality, does it matter whether one scans prints or negatives (I don't have negatives for all of our prints)?

Prints scan beautifully. A good flatbed scanner such as an Epson V550, V600, V800, or V850 and the supplied software is all you need for equipment. You WILL need to learn a bit about the scanner's controls and perhaps post-processing skills. But prints scan well. They also copy well, if you have a real copy stand and digital camera with macro lens.

As for negatives, black-and-white scans reasonably well if you know the right settings. However, a good digital camera with a macro lens provides sharper results. The only downside to re-photography is the heavy amount of post-processing required to invert the image to positive, then rotate, crop, scale, and dust spot it. Color negatives are a crap shoot. Dyes fade over time. No two emulsions of color negative film are the same, so the color balance is unpredictable, and achieving nearly accurate color can be a challenge. But again, a good flatbed scanner such as an Epson V600, V800, or V850 and the supplied software can work reasonably well.

2. The printer/scan we currently have is a Brothers Multifunction Printers. Would we be better of getting a dedicated photo scanner and, if so, can you recommend make and model?

Yes, a dedicated photo scanner will do a far better job, because it will have the right software, and MAY have Digital ICE, a technology that removes dust and scratches, restores color balance (somewhat... don't expect miracles... it can't restore what isn't there), removes or reduces the appearance of grain, and enhances highlights and shadows.

3. I assume once prints have been scanned and in digital format I would be able to do some post processing if needed (some of the older color prints show some color fade)?

Yes, although the right scanner with Digital ICE can do much of it for you. If you scan to TIFF files in 16-bits per channel mode, you have the freedom to do a LOT of manipulation. If you copy prints or film on a copy stand with macro lens, record raw files. You can post-process them as you would any other raw data.

4. If thumb drives and a digital picture frame is the better alternative, do you have recommendations for digital frames (adjustments to roll over time from photo to photo, an internal hard drive, USB port(s), etc.?

I have a bad memory of digital picture frames. I bought three of them for my parents when they were still around. All of them failed within a year.

Definitely make USB flash drives. Get USB3 drives, if you have a computer with USB3 ports, because they're ten times faster than USB2.

You might also consider burning M-Discs, which are made for archival storage.

ESPECIALLY consider posting the photos to some sort of photo sharing or social media site. You can usually password-protect your account, so only those with the password can view your work.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

One more note: Doing this can be tedious, or addicting, depending upon your personality. I've made quite a few videos from photo albums. Some of them were for sales meeting awards shows, and chronicled the careers of successful sales people. I copied photos from their family albums and their friends, to make those. I added video interviews of them, thanking those who helped them succeed.

A few were for college reunions... my classmates sent me photos to copy/scan and include in a retrospective video that also commemorated deceased classmates. It was shown at our 30th, 35th, and 40th reunions, and updated for each.

One was a memorial to my Dad, shown at his wake. THAT was a hard one. My sister collaborated with me on the choice of images.

I use a Mac, so my tools of choice for making video slide shows are basically iMovie and Lightroom/Photoshop (Apple Photos or Affinity Photo would work). Add an Epson V600 and a copy stand with my camera and macro lens and that's my setup.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

You are. See how easy this was for me to spot and respond to?

Jack B Loc: Mount Pleasant, SC

Using the Epson V600, to date 38 B&W rolls and 97 Color rolls of 35mm negatives have been scanned. Some of these date back 80 years, one of me in a stroller at age 6 months (now 81 in 10 days). The results have been most pleasing! Still have many more color rolls to go. Will start soon on slides of which there are several thousands! The scanner is not the fastest but the results are excellent. The cost was around $200 from B&H.
Jack B

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

When you are weeding and sorting be careful. What may seem commonplace and mundane today, may after a passage of time become significant and meaningful showing information that would otherwise be lost.
Also converting hard images to digital is fine, but I think that if I wanted to insure that the photographs were going to available decades into the future, I'd put my money on the shoebox and the photo album as opposed to the cloud, thumb drive or other such digital storage choice.