How To Convert Old Photos To Digital

Buying a digital camera doesn't mean your old prints, slides, or negatives are obsolete. You can easily convert them with a scanner to bring them into the 21st century. To complete this how-to, you will need: Photos, slides, or negatives A computer A flatbed scanner with attachments for slides and negatives A soft photography or makeup brush A lint-free cloth Isopropyl alcohol Photo editing software Step 1: Organize your photos Before scanning, organize your photos -- and slides and negatives, if you have them -- into logical groups. This will make renaming and labeling them much easier later on. Step 2: Clean your photos Using a soft photography or makeup brush, gently clean your photos. Any dirt or smudges will be visible in your scans. Step 3: Clean the scanner Using isopropyl, or another cleaning agent that won't leave residue or streaks, and a lint-free cloth, wipe any dust, smudges, and fingerprints off the scanner's glass bed. Turn on the scanner's light to reveal any overlooked smudges, fingerprints, or dirt. Step 4: Select your DPI based on your image use For images you intend to print, a DPI (or dots per inch) of 300 is recommended. Slides or negatives need a DPI of at least 2400. For use on the Web, a DPI of 72 is acceptable. Step 5: Scan your old photos Using the software that came with your scanner, scan each photo into your computer. Step 6: Rename your digital scans Your scans will likely have numerical names that tell you nothing about the content of the ...