What Type of Photos Scan Best? Glossy, Matte, Polaroid, and More
By: USA IMAGING, Inc.
If you're getting ready to digitize your photo collection, you might be wondering:
"Do some types of photos scan better than others?"
The short answer is yes—and knowing what to expect from each format can help you prepare your batch, avoid surprises, and get the best possible digital results.
Here’s a practical guide to how different types of printed photos perform during scanning—and tips to make sure each one turns out as sharp and beautiful as possible.
📸 Glossy Photos
✅ Scan Quality: Excellent
⚠️ Watch out for: Glare and reflections
Glossy prints are smooth, vibrant, and typically scan very well—as long as there’s no glare. Because the surface is shiny, glossy photos can sometimes reflect the scanner light, especially if the photo is slightly warped or curled.
Pro Tip:
We use non-reflective scanning methods to eliminate glare, but if you're preparing photos at home, try to keep glossy prints flat.
🖼️ Matte Photos
✅ Scan Quality: Very Good
✅ Bonus: No glare issues
Matte prints have a non-reflective surface, making them easier to scan without light interference. The texture helps reduce scanning artifacts, and they often produce natural-looking digital images.
Pro Tip:
If you have a choice between glossy and matte for scanning purposes, matte is slightly more forgiving in terms of prep and lighting.
📷 Polaroids
✅ Scan Quality: Good to Fair
⚠️ Watch out for: Uneven exposure, fading, and surface damage
Polaroids tend to be low-resolution by nature, with color shifts and fading common in older prints. They’re also prone to scratches and chemical damage, especially if stored improperly.
Pro Tip:
We recommend scanning Polaroids at 600 DPI or higher to capture every bit of detail. This also helps when color-correcting or restoring damaged prints.
🖼️ Textured or Linen Finish Photos
✅ Scan Quality: Fair
⚠️ Watch out for: Surface texture interference
Some vintage photos (especially from the mid-20th century) have textured finishes that can show up in scans as unwanted patterns or “noise.” These aren’t defects—just part of the print material—but they can reduce digital clarity.
Pro Tip:
These require advanced scanning techniques and post-processing to minimize texture visibility.
📚 Photos in Albums or Frames
✅ Scan Quality: Depends on condition
⚠️ Watch out for: Reflections, page curvature, adhesives
Scanning photos inside albums or frames can be tricky, especially if the covers are shiny or the pages don’t lie flat. Old adhesive can also cause damage if pages are removed improperly.
Pro Tip:
We recommend removing photos from albums unless they’re fragile or permanently attached. For mounted or delicate pieces, we use specialized flatbed equipment that scans without risking damage.
🧾 Faded or Damaged Prints
✅ Scan Quality: Varies
⚠️ Watch out for: Color loss, tears, or mold
Even severely faded or damaged photos can scan well with the right DPI and digital restoration—especially when scanned at 600–1200 DPI. This captures subtle details that can be enhanced post-scan.
Pro Tip:
If you’re not sure what can be saved, send a few test prints—we’ll evaluate them and recommend the best course of action.
🎯 Final Tips for Mixed Photo Batches
Group photos by size and type when possible
Avoid using sticky notes or paper clips—they can damage prints
Flat, loose photos scan better than album-bound ones
Include any written notes or dates—we can scan them too!
📞 Ready to Scan Your Photo Collection?
No matter what kind of photos you have—glossy, matte, Polaroid, or precious keepsakes—USA Imaging has the expertise and equipment to digitize them with care.
Call us at (858) 513-6565,
Email: [email protected],
or Request a Quote to get started.
We treat your memories like our own.
