Thursday, March 31, 2011
Free Photo Scanning Even More Free
Just a quickie - our free photo scanning service will now return your photos free too. That makes our free scanning service entirely free of any charge from us.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Photos are Not Documents, So there.
I got into photo scanning with 1Scan via a simple job for a longstanding client. It was a straightforward task of scanning what turned out to be nearly 100 photos. I did it all on an Epson flatbed scanner. Then we won a really big job, or so I thought, just over 800 images. Same approach, it took nearly two weeks of brain numbing activity.
I spent a couple of years torn between the massive market for bulk scanning and the time it takes to scan. So I sympathise with those who ask if there's a better way than a flatbed scanner. If you have more than a handful of snaps, regardless of how much time you have on your hands, scanning one by one will drive you out of your mind.
Like me, you'll hit upon document scanners. Maybe, you'll say to yourself, this is the answer to bulk photo scanning. Well it's not. Photos aren't documents, and I'll explain why. First, most text is produced on rather flimsy paper (compared to the light card photos are printed on). 80 gsm paper bends nicely so look closely at the paper path a document scanner imposes and check that those priceless family snaps will bend that way. Chances are they will not. That excludes several products from people such as Epson.
Second there's so much more data on a photo compared with a sheet of A4. Yes, I know these days people slip in charts and graphs in their documents but for most of the time the scanner only needs to deal accurately with black and white. By contrast an image spans millions of colours, if you don't get them accurately your scan is worthless. From personal experience I can tell you document scanners just can't capture large amounts of colour accurately.
Thirdly, text dots don't match photo dpi. Look at the spec of a scanner - if its pitched at text chances are it will do a respectable job at low resolution. OCR is that good. Same resolution on a photo is just a disaster. Even when you up the published resolution you'll find a document scanner rated at 300 dpi will not match a photo scanner at the same resolution.
When we set up our free photo scanningg service we needed to get speed along with quality. Save yourself the bother of checking, there's only one game in town and that's Kodak. A straight paper path, reliable feeder unit, high resolution, special software just for photo scanning, they have the range of products which will address the unique demands of batch photo scanning.
I spent a couple of years torn between the massive market for bulk scanning and the time it takes to scan. So I sympathise with those who ask if there's a better way than a flatbed scanner. If you have more than a handful of snaps, regardless of how much time you have on your hands, scanning one by one will drive you out of your mind.
Like me, you'll hit upon document scanners. Maybe, you'll say to yourself, this is the answer to bulk photo scanning. Well it's not. Photos aren't documents, and I'll explain why. First, most text is produced on rather flimsy paper (compared to the light card photos are printed on). 80 gsm paper bends nicely so look closely at the paper path a document scanner imposes and check that those priceless family snaps will bend that way. Chances are they will not. That excludes several products from people such as Epson.
Second there's so much more data on a photo compared with a sheet of A4. Yes, I know these days people slip in charts and graphs in their documents but for most of the time the scanner only needs to deal accurately with black and white. By contrast an image spans millions of colours, if you don't get them accurately your scan is worthless. From personal experience I can tell you document scanners just can't capture large amounts of colour accurately.
Thirdly, text dots don't match photo dpi. Look at the spec of a scanner - if its pitched at text chances are it will do a respectable job at low resolution. OCR is that good. Same resolution on a photo is just a disaster. Even when you up the published resolution you'll find a document scanner rated at 300 dpi will not match a photo scanner at the same resolution.
When we set up our free photo scanningg service we needed to get speed along with quality. Save yourself the bother of checking, there's only one game in town and that's Kodak. A straight paper path, reliable feeder unit, high resolution, special software just for photo scanning, they have the range of products which will address the unique demands of batch photo scanning.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Photobooks? Photo books? Whatever - they're yours.
One of the most popular applications of the photos we scan is creating photobooks. So just over a year ago we set up a link to enable our clients to download software to create and then print photobooks (or is it photo books?). The service was popular, so this year we wanted to continue to offer the service with an even better supplier.
So we set about location a new supplier, and we found one, in photobox. We've used them before for great prints from scans, and they're one of the suppliers we offer via our free photo scanning service. We, and our clients, just love the quality of the photos they print, and their speed of delivery. As an added bonus they offer a wide range of other photo gifts too.
More about our photo books - take a look.
Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
So we set about location a new supplier, and we found one, in photobox. We've used them before for great prints from scans, and they're one of the suppliers we offer via our free photo scanning service. We, and our clients, just love the quality of the photos they print, and their speed of delivery. As an added bonus they offer a wide range of other photo gifts too.
More about our photo books - take a look.
Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Negative Scanning - A Positive View
As you will know, I operate a photo scanning service. We can scan photo prints, slides and negatives in virtually all sizes right up to those really old A4 sized negatives. One of the questions we're asked most frequently is should a client have photos or negatives scanned?
Not an easy choice.
Photo scanning is much quicker (for us) and so cheaper for you. Often, particularly with old images, our client only has the print. If a print is dull and faded we can go some way to restore its former glory and we get very positive feedback from clients. If you have an interest in Historypin then we'd expect your photo scanning needs to be for prints.
Negative scanning takes much longer, inevitably the cost is greater. Thanks to the features of our advanced Nikon and Epson scanners we can go much further to restore faded images, reduce grain and thanks to the wonders of Digital ICE remove dust and scratches. The data file we supply will probably be a better way of delivering the maximum detail from the image, giving you the option to produce bigger prints.
So which should you go for? Well, in pure technical terms, have the negatives scanned every time. But if your budget is constrained, or you only have the print, don't feel you're going to get a vastly inferior result.
Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
Not an easy choice.
Photo scanning is much quicker (for us) and so cheaper for you. Often, particularly with old images, our client only has the print. If a print is dull and faded we can go some way to restore its former glory and we get very positive feedback from clients. If you have an interest in Historypin then we'd expect your photo scanning needs to be for prints.
Negative scanning takes much longer, inevitably the cost is greater. Thanks to the features of our advanced Nikon and Epson scanners we can go much further to restore faded images, reduce grain and thanks to the wonders of Digital ICE remove dust and scratches. The data file we supply will probably be a better way of delivering the maximum detail from the image, giving you the option to produce bigger prints.
So which should you go for? Well, in pure technical terms, have the negatives scanned every time. But if your budget is constrained, or you only have the print, don't feel you're going to get a vastly inferior result.
Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Photo Scanning Free?
We operate two photo scanning services, one of which is our free photo scanning offering. Whixh is right for you?
If you're scanning photos its hard to argue against free. Our service creates an online album for you and you can share this anyway you please. It is password protected, so no prying eyes. If friends and relatives want copies of any of the images they can order and pay for them. We know from experience how "Oh could I just have a couple of prints" soon adds up to a heavy personal bill and organisational headache.
However if you know you want a digital copy of a complete set of images, and you're happy to manage family distribution and access, paying upfront is going to be a better option. It is also the business format most people are used to and expect.
Although our two services are different as business models, what's the same is the way in which we scan, restore colour, save your images. Done by the same people, on the same equipment, at the same technical specification. So free or paid for - you really do have a choice.
If you're scanning photos its hard to argue against free. Our service creates an online album for you and you can share this anyway you please. It is password protected, so no prying eyes. If friends and relatives want copies of any of the images they can order and pay for them. We know from experience how "Oh could I just have a couple of prints" soon adds up to a heavy personal bill and organisational headache.
However if you know you want a digital copy of a complete set of images, and you're happy to manage family distribution and access, paying upfront is going to be a better option. It is also the business format most people are used to and expect.
Although our two services are different as business models, what's the same is the way in which we scan, restore colour, save your images. Done by the same people, on the same equipment, at the same technical specification. So free or paid for - you really do have a choice.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Photo Security
As a photo scanning service we take security very seriously. Locally we back up all our files but we're finding clients are asking how they can backup their albums too. Here are two methods.
The first is an all singing all dancing online photo album service. You can use it to both backup and share your images, plus add a host of other goodies like getting your photos printed, put onto gifts such as T shirts and so on. Reasonably priced, in US dollars, check out Zenfolio.com - we think its great.
Second, an automatic backup service with a great unlimited storage capacity. Runs on Mac and PC, billed at a dirt cheap $5 per month, UK users supported too. Automatic software. Worth taking a look for the quality of the website if nothing else. Backblaze - snappy name too.
The first is an all singing all dancing online photo album service. You can use it to both backup and share your images, plus add a host of other goodies like getting your photos printed, put onto gifts such as T shirts and so on. Reasonably priced, in US dollars, check out Zenfolio.com - we think its great.
Second, an automatic backup service with a great unlimited storage capacity. Runs on Mac and PC, billed at a dirt cheap $5 per month, UK users supported too. Automatic software. Worth taking a look for the quality of the website if nothing else. Backblaze - snappy name too.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
35mm Slide Scanner Amnesty from 1Scan
We also operate a photo scanning service, and I'm tired of all the calls I get from people who have been persuaded to buy cheap 35mm scanners. On the face of it they're a great idea - take the guts from a digital camera, stick a slide or negative holder underneath, add a light source and wham, a whole new market opens up. Cheap, simple slide scanning.
Sure, some people are happy with these units. I suspect they're people who have no idea how good a scan can be (in part that's my problem). But I worry that some people will conclude that our scans will also be blotchy, poorly saturated, with bleached out highlights. Other people ing is, deeply disappointed with the results they're getting. What, they ask, can they do to make decent scans?
Well the short answer is there's nothing you can do. They simply aren't up to the task. You can't use any software or tweaking to put into an image file data that was never there because the scanner is too puny to capture it. Best to give up and try another tack.
That's where 1Scan comes in with our 35mm Slide Scanner Amnesty. Simply send your old horrid unit to us, we'll scan your 35mm slides, 35mm negatives or prints and credit you with the cost of your scanner against our services. You get proper, high quality scans at 4000 dpi, with Digital ICE to remove dust and scratches and you get some value back for a sorry purchase.
Sure, some people are happy with these units. I suspect they're people who have no idea how good a scan can be (in part that's my problem). But I worry that some people will conclude that our scans will also be blotchy, poorly saturated, with bleached out highlights. Other people ing is, deeply disappointed with the results they're getting. What, they ask, can they do to make decent scans?
Well the short answer is there's nothing you can do. They simply aren't up to the task. You can't use any software or tweaking to put into an image file data that was never there because the scanner is too puny to capture it. Best to give up and try another tack.
That's where 1Scan comes in with our 35mm Slide Scanner Amnesty. Simply send your old horrid unit to us, we'll scan your 35mm slides, 35mm negatives or prints and credit you with the cost of your scanner against our services. You get proper, high quality scans at 4000 dpi, with Digital ICE to remove dust and scratches and you get some value back for a sorry purchase.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)