Step 1: Prepare Your Photos & Scanner

• Gently remove photos from albums or frames.
• Clean the photo surface with a lint-free or microfibre cloth to remove dust and hair.

• Wipe the scanner glass with a clean, slightly damp microfiber cloth. 
• Create a dedicated folder on your computer for saving the scanned images.

Step 2: Adjust Scanner Settings

Scan in colour even if the photo is black and white. It captures more detail this way. 

QUALITY - PPI, or Pixels Per Inch

• Adjust settings to scan @ 300 or preferably @ 600 ppi (pixels per inch) or higher.
• Do not compress, crop, straighten, correct, or retouch your photos after you have scanned them. Our digital artists will take care of all photo adjustments.  

SIZE

• Regardless of the original size of the photo, the digital image will be saved as a length by width pixel dimension. The higher number should be at least 3,000 pixels or more. 

Step 3: Save Your Photos

FILE FORMAT 

• Save files as high resolution JPEGs under 10MB for good quality and manageable file sizes.
• Label and organize your digital photos so they are easy to find:
  • Number_Collage recipient’s name_Descriptor_Approximate date 
    • Eg. “1_Robinson_Stampede_1975”, or “3_Robinson_Grandkids_Cottage_1984”.

Bonus Tips:

• Scan only one photo at a time for best framing and quality. 
• Keep your scanner clean throughout your session. 
• If you’re unsure about scanner settings, YouTube guides or tech-savvy friends can help.