ScanMyPhotos.com
ScanMyPhotos.com
3 Corporate Park Ste 160
Irvine, California 92606
phone: 949-474-7654
email: info@ScanMyPhotos.com
blog: blog.ScanMyPhotos.com

What is Accepted/Not Accepted for Scanning?

Preparing your Photos for Scanning

Right-side up scanned photo
Photos should be submitted right side up.
Up-side down scanned photo
Photos submitted upside-down will be scanned and placed on the DVD upside-down.
Face-down scanned photo
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.
  • Photos ready for scanning.
    Photos not ready for scanning.  Vertical and horizontal mixed.
  • Fan through all your photos. 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.
  • Any substance (i.e. water marks, pen marks, etc.) that is on the photograph will be scanned on the photograph.
  • Photos cannot be glued or taped to anything else. They will jam in the scanner as they are too thick.
  • Note: 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.
  • Scan in Order Service Explained

    If you do not wish to organize your photos by size or if you need your photos to be scanned in a specific order, you must order the "Scan in Order" service for an additional fee. Ordering the "Scanning in Order" service will let the scanning technician know that you need to have your photographs scanned in the order you have specified. This service overrides the necessity to place your order in size order but it is still highly recommended to organize your photos within each bundle by size to prevent unwanted bending of larger photos.

    If the additional scan in order service is ordered, we recommend that you include index cards, either standard 3.5"x5" or 4"x6" size, 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).

    Sample index card for Scan in Order serviceThe 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. To avoid any confusion, please ONLY use numbers, no letters or combination of numbers and letters (i.e. 1A, 1B, 2A, etc).

    Packing the Box

  • Stuff your box well and don't be afraid of tape to ensure your box remains sealed. 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.
  • 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.
  • For other questions, please visit our Scanning FAQ's
  • Legal Stuff

    Acceptable Packaging

    Unacceptable Packaging

    Photo scanning
    Photo scanning sample
    All similar sized photos are packaged together and laying horizontally. Photos packaged tight so no shifting will occur in shipping.
    Not organized by size. Photos are right side up and others face down. Photos are not packaged to avoid shifting in mail.
    How to scan your photos
    Pictures scanned quickly
    Large groups of photos rubber banded together, grouped by size. Empty side space used for more photos.
    Not all lying horizontally, not organized by size, not bound to avoid shifting in shipping.
    Pictures scanning service
    Scan your photos fast
    Photos organized by size, rubber banded to keep from moving in shipping. See below for more with this example.
    Photos in folders and envelopes, odd shaped photos, negatives enclosed.
    Scanmyphotos photo scanning
    Photo scanning service
    There was empty space on top of the photos, small rubber banded groups used to fill up empty space.
    Photos in Ziploc bag, photos not secured to prevent shifting. Photos facing different directions, not organized by size.