- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Anyone digitizing a ton of old pictures?
Posted on 3/10/25 at 11:22 am
Posted on 3/10/25 at 11:22 am
I have thousands of old pictures from my MIL who just passed that we would like to digitize. Anyone used a place to do that before? Any place local to the lafayette/br/nola area?
3
Posted on 3/10/25 at 11:48 am to NOLAGT
I did this a few years ago, but under 500, using a Canon Flatbed. The software that came with it would let you scan multiple pictures on the glass, and "grab" them individually. I would just do a stack for an hour or so, and pick it back up the next weekend if I had a few minutes.
I assume you don't have negatives, and only the end prints, right? I think negatives can be scanned in a more automated way, but with the various sizes of prints you're probably dealing with, I don't think that's possible ($$$.)
I assume you don't have negatives, and only the end prints, right? I think negatives can be scanned in a more automated way, but with the various sizes of prints you're probably dealing with, I don't think that's possible ($$$.)
Posted on 3/10/25 at 11:50 am to LemmyLives
Yea its just the actual pictures, no negatives. There is also a wide array of sizes to add to the complexity. I thought about scanning my self but it would take forever I think 
Posted on 3/10/25 at 12:03 pm to NOLAGT
I had to buy a scanner last year when pops died. While going thru the scrapbooks mom wanted me to go ahead and scan everything in them since we were taking them apart to get dads photos out. Epson makes an autofeed one that will scan a stack of photos at a time. I had to pay $500 for it, but with the amount of pictures I had to scan it was worth every penny. It even scanned the backs ot the photos that had handwritten notes on them.
This post was edited on 3/10/25 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 3/10/25 at 12:03 pm to NOLAGT
You can certainly try it for a hundred of them to see if it's tolerable. I bought the scanner on ebay for $75 or so, an LiDE 70. I think I just needed about 1/4" of space in between photos when I put them on the glass for it to recognize that it was 4-6 pictures. If it doesn't work out, after you price what it will cost to have someone else do the manual labor, you can pack it back in the same box and sell it for what you bought it for in all likelihood.
I know there are places where you can mail them (ads in the back of Popular Mechanics, etc.)
I know there are places where you can mail them (ads in the back of Popular Mechanics, etc.)
Posted on 3/10/25 at 12:47 pm to SaltyMcKracker
quote:
Epson makes an autofeed one
I checked out one they have, im assuming its the same one you got for around $500 FF-680W? That sure looks like a fast option if so. It really scans that fast and has good quality? I would spend that much sending it off to someone to do it im sure.
Posted on 3/10/25 at 12:52 pm to NOLAGT
Yeah it was awesome. I also have a big family so I was able to lend it out to some kinfolk and it has been a champ for us. Filename option are limited, but for us it was fine. Filenames are in a numbered order like jpgs from a camera but if it detects writing on the back it will name it XXXX_A.jpg and XXXX_B.jpg which was really nice b/c my grandmother had written on a lot of the photos.
Posted on 3/10/25 at 12:55 pm to SaltyMcKracker
Very cool, I will look into that one some more.
Posted on 3/15/25 at 10:19 am to SaltyMcKracker
Just curious, what specific Epson model are you talking about?
Posted on 3/15/25 at 6:21 pm to NOLAGT
A few years ago, I scanned several shoe boxes worth of pictures plus a photo album I dug up for my mother's 90th birthday.
I bought a Canon scanner, some cotton gloves to avoid fingerprints, then hunkered down and scanned 100 pics a night until I was finished. Took me ~2 weeks off and on.
Her expressions at seeing these old photos made it worth the effort.
I bought a Canon scanner, some cotton gloves to avoid fingerprints, then hunkered down and scanned 100 pics a night until I was finished. Took me ~2 weeks off and on.
Her expressions at seeing these old photos made it worth the effort.
Posted on 3/17/25 at 3:50 am to Unobtanium
That's damn impressive.
Like everyone else, we also have a ton of photos and negatives is love to scan.
Do color negatives hold up better than old color photos because so many of these are from the 70s and 80s and the color has faded dramatically.
I never thought about scanning in the negatives.
Oh and on a personal note sorry for the text bomb, nolagt
Like everyone else, we also have a ton of photos and negatives is love to scan.
Do color negatives hold up better than old color photos because so many of these are from the 70s and 80s and the color has faded dramatically.
I never thought about scanning in the negatives.
Oh and on a personal note sorry for the text bomb, nolagt
Posted on 3/17/25 at 5:32 am to LSshoe
Epson FastFoto FF-680W
Posted on 3/17/25 at 6:23 am to CAD703X
My project consisted of photos, mainly because the negatives were long gone.
I have negatives dating back to 1977, still in good condition. The associated photos have faded, even when stored properly.
I have negatives dating back to 1977, still in good condition. The associated photos have faded, even when stored properly.
Posted on 3/17/25 at 12:33 pm to NOLAGT
quote:
I checked out one they have, im assuming its the same one you got for around $500 FF-680W?
I have the FF-640 and it did a fantastic job scanning hundreds of pictures. Some were those old hard cardboard types ones from the 60s. Really worked well.
Posted on 3/17/25 at 1:20 pm to CAD703X
quote:
Oh and on a personal note sorry for the text bomb, nolagt
Posted on 3/22/25 at 2:27 pm to NOLAGT
I've scanned a few 100 photo prints with a Canon scanner/printer with mixed results. The worst results were for textured color print. The "bumpy" surface of the print scans poorly. The only solution I found online was to create a smooth surface by painting a clear finish on. I never tried that.
If you have a few outstanding old photos that you'd like restored and reprinted, I highly recommend Larry Johnson in BTR. His studio work is pet photography... most impressive. He's also a master of digital restoration. LINK /
If you have a few outstanding old photos that you'd like restored and reprinted, I highly recommend Larry Johnson in BTR. His studio work is pet photography... most impressive. He's also a master of digital restoration. LINK /
Posted on 4/5/25 at 11:17 pm to SaltyMcKracker
quote:
ff-680w
Update on this. Picked up one of these scanners and it fits the bill 100%. Fast and scans images as good as they need to be for my purpose. I am doing some mid 70s pics and the auto enhancement makes a big difference. No idea how many I have to scan but several thousand for sure.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News