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

• Due to the nature of the prepaid boxes, we cannot offer a refund once the empty box has been shipped.
• Remove all photos from albums, envelopes, etc. Make sure no staples, paper clips, post-it notes, etc are attached.
• This service is for photo scanning only. Negatives, slides and other media are not accepted.
• Group your photos in size order with the smallest photos up front and the largest ones at the back for the entire order. The entire order must be organized by size from smallest to largest, not just the rubber banded groups. The largest size acceptable for the prepaid service is 8x12 inches which will only fit in the Enlargement Photo Box. The smallest size that can be scanned is 3 x 3 inches. Due to the thickness of Polaroid photos, all Polaroid photos must be separated from the rest.
• Packaging restrictions: Contents must reasonably fit within the Priority Mail packaging. Box cannot be reshaped or deformed when closed. If you do not comply with this USPS requirement, the post office will return your box unprocessed and you will be liable for the cost to repack and resend to ScanMyPhotos.com
• 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 over rides 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.
• 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).

Photos should be submitted right side up.

Photos submitted upside-down will be scanned and placed on the DVD upside-down.

Photos submitted face down will be scanned and placed on the DVD face down.

• Additionally, all photos must be lying horizontally regardless of orientation (vertical or horizontal). If you wish to have your vertical images rotated to the correct orientation, we do offer that as an additional service for an additional $94.95 per box or this can be done on your home computer.
• Fan through all your photos and shuffle the pictures like a deck of playing cards (without sorting or getting it out of order). This helps confirm that the photos are loosely presented and without any impediment, such as glue or sticky materials. This also helps to identify if your pictures are dusty and to help remove any materials that might cause an imperfect scan, such as lines and dust on your digital files. Any substance (i.e. water marks, pen marks, etc.) that is on the photograph will be scanned along with the photograph.
• Curled photos may have a haze or be scanned out of focus due to their inability to lie flat on the scanning glass. Often times this presents itself as a purple haze over part of the image.
• Photos should be fairly evenly stacked in a box and packed so shifting will not occur during shipping. We recommend using rubber bands to group them in batches of about 100-150 photographs. Please do not put them in baggies as this method of storage does not ensure the photographs will not shift around and are limited in space. STUFF YOUR BOX: Use newspaper or other packing materials to make sure your box is completely full and solid; if your box has extra room, your photos might shift during delivery and there is a risk that the box might otherwise get creased or crushed. DO NOT USE POPCORN for packing your photos. It breaks apart during shipping and sticks to the photos. This greatly increases your chance for bad/dirty scans.
• Due to swift technological changes, your returned prepaid box order for scanning must be received back to ScanMyPhotos.com within 364-days from the date the order was placed. Otherwise, the box expires and no consideration, obligation or monetary reimbursement of any kind will be provided; so, you have a year to gather your pictures and have us scan it. If multiple boxes are ordered, there is no need to send them all in at the same time. Fill one up, save the others for a later time, or send them all in at the same time. It is up to you.
• If these guidelines are not followed, the unprocessed order will be returned to you and a handling fee not to exceed $25.00, plus the return postage will be charged to your card.
• For other questions, please visit our Scanning FAQ's