Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

Your question was digitizing. That is a far different process than we UHHer's can do. Costly and complicated and done off site.

Now, you did not say how you plan to store the images. PDF maybe?

I am currently working (off and on) on a similar project with the family photo albums. Using a Manfrotto tripod with the center inverted lets me adjust for height to frame different size clippings or pictures. Tamron 60mm macro lens on a T3i. Raw only. Lots of post processing, yes but the cleaned and sharpened pictures are a joy to see. Same goes for news clippings, the yellow tint can be removed in Photoshop.

Lighting. All the overhead lights in my "studio" are daylight LED or CFL. I use a secondary spot light, LED on a tripod for additional illumination. All the lights in the room on the same wavelength really helps the camera sort out white balance.

Then I save as a jpg to a DVD, and to a PDF for easier emailing to the in-laws.

This way nothing needs to be removed from the album pages.

It takes a lot of time, my family was big into pictures 70-80 years ago, Dad was in the early 50's. But it is worth it.

The above process does not require any more equipment than I had, just lots of time.

Good luck on your project,

Ken

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Use a tripod and invert centre column as previously suggested. Take time to set the camera perpendicular to the floor (budget hotshoe spirit level is good for this). Looks like you live in an area where there is snow, the snow will provide a very flat and even light in a room, use it to your advantage. Place set up near window and fire away positioning the pages on the rear screen and using mirror lock up with a cable release or the timer. About f8 for starters, and don't forget to turn off stabilisation.

Go for the centre of the room if window is high of the ground to avoid shadow. No snow? Fog can flatten the light as well.

RonBoyd

I have been itching to try this App... just haven't had time.

https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

RonBoyd

I have been itching to try this App... just haven't had time.

https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

RonBoyd

I have itching to try this App... just haven't had time.
https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

RonBoyd

Okay, I give up. How does one delete superfluous posts?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I had a couple of papers from the 1950s, and I used a scanner. Worked fine. I put them on a CD and gave them to the library.

http://www.veridiansoftware.com/knowledge-base/top-10-tips-newspaper-digitization/
http://www.ala.org/alcts/preservationweek/advice/digitalnewspaper
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal/GuidelinesForDigitizingANewspaper_181557_7.pdf

djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

You've gotten a lot of good advise here. As for using a tripod, when I was asked to attempt a restore of an old (1902) photo, I just placed it on the floor. I placed the tripod over it, camera pointing down and juggled the zoom so I didn't have the tripod legs in the picture. 45 degree lighting, etc. A good tripod has a lot to offer. djt

aellman Loc: Boston MA

You should be able to get an accurate exposure by shooting an 18% gray card. You can get them at any photo supplier. >Alan

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My one tripod had a cap that screwed into the bottom of the stem that prevented the stem from coming out if lifted too high. I unscrewed the stem and removed it, inserted the stem from the bottom. Good luck.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Agreed. I have an ancient tripod allows for inverting the center column. Works great for copy jobs like yours. No copy stand necessary; any diffused light will work if the pages are not glossy. If you don't have a macro lens, front end macro magnifiers may be "good enough." I have used them a lot and have always had good results.

Dik

With your 1.6 crop factor camera, a 50mm Macro lens needs a little over three feet of working distance to cover 11"x14".
That will require a tall (expensive) copy stand.
I suggest a semi horizontal setup, with the scrapbook on an easel that is tilted back ~ 15˚. camera on tripod, pointed down same angle. Use a mirror on the easel for perpendicular alignment.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

Are there archives or another library near you, that does the digitizing in-house? Or if not in-house, will they tell you where they have it done?
With something as fragile as 70-year-old books and clippings, I wouldn't touch them at all and pay someone to do it right.

If you really want to do it yourself:
To digitize each page, right away means frequent handling: do you have white cotton archival gloves?
You would want the books to lay as flat as possible for taking photos of the pages: Will they open flat?
If not, may I suggest a lectern-type of cradle for the books, so they don't have to be opened flat, but you will still be able to place your camera at an (almost) exact 90 degree angle to the page, with the help of a tripod. See image: <https://www.diybookscanner.org/ >

Ideal would be, if you could find a library or archives that has a scanner specially designed for scanning book pages. The glass plate goes all the way to the edge of the scanner and the book never needs to be opened further than 90 degrees.
I can't find a picture of this kind of scanner on-line, but if you really like to know what they're like, and possibly find one in your area to use, may I suggest you contact the Legislative Library in Edmonton, AB, Canada. They have one of these, and when I have visited there, I have found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. The contact information here: < https://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/staff.htm >

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

My daughter is also looking into another library that has a scanner that would handle 11x14 sheets. You and others have been most helpful.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

If your worried about bright lights damaging the papers use the normal room lighting with a longer exposure.