Photo Prep Instructions

How to prepare your photos for scanning.

Photo preparation instructions:

To get your photos ready for camera-ready high-resolution digital scans, please follow these instructions:

  • Remove all photos from albums, envelopes, etc. Make sure no staples, paper clips, post-it notes, etc are attached.

  • Photos must be at least 3" x 3" and no larger than 8" x 10". Due to the thickness of Polaroid photos, all Polaroid photos must be separated from the rest and some may not be scanned.

  • Group all of your photos in bundles by size. For example, all the 4x6's are bundled together, all the 5x7's are bundled together. The entire order must be organized in this manner. If you do not organize your photos in this way, you will be charges additional fee for "Scan in Order" service.

SCAN IN ORDER SERVICE EXPLAINED:

If you have grouped your photographs into categories, make sure the groups are bundled together well. The contents of your box can shift a lot more in transit than most people think. By ordering the "Scanning in Order" service, this will let the technician know that you need to have these photographs scanned in the specific order and is an additional cost. If the additional service is ordered, we recommend that you include index cards with handwritten notes describing the category or year. These will be scanned along with the pictures and will be the first image in each series of photos.

DO NOT use Post-it notes (they will be either scanned on the image or thrown away) or scraps of paper (they will jam in our scanner and be thrown away). This also overrides the necessity to place your order in size order and will require more time to complete. This does not, however, override taking all of your photos out of envelopes. Only photos out of envelopes and albums will be accepted.

The number in the top right corner tells us the order in which to scan. If the bundle order is not important, we do not need the number. We do not offer reorganize your photos in chronological order. We either follow the number in the corner or scan in random group order when no number is present. Please ONLY use numbers, no letters or combination of numbers and letters (i.e. 1A, 1B, 2A, etc).

  • Photographs cannot be thicker than a modern Polaroid picture and represent the thickest photograph we can accept for scanning. Many older (1906's era) Polaroid's were mounted on cardboard. These old Polaroid's are too thick and cannot be scanned.

  • Newspaper clippings, odd-shaped photographs, and laminated images cannot be scanned.

  • Do Not send any pictures with glue or sticky material.

  • Make sure every photo is right side up and face up. If upside down the scans also will be upside down or face down (so the back of the photo is scanned, not the front).

  • HELPFUL TIP: Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe the front and back of each photo to remove any excess dust to achieve optimum scans.

  • All photos must be categorized and labeled in order to name correctly.

Photo Orientation

Make sure every photo within a bundle is right side up and facing the same direction. If upside down the scans also will be upside down or face down (so the back of the photo is scanned, not the front).

Photo should be right side up.

Photo will be scanned up side down.

Face down, will be scanned as such.

Learn More About Our Services

USA Imaging offers convenient photo scanning services to allows you to re-live and share your history effortlessly.

(858) 513-6565

(858) 358-5825

12923-D Pomerado Rd. Poway, CA 92064

Mon - Fri: 8am - 11pm

info@usa-imagin.com

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