Digitizing paper photos
I recently got custody of our historical family photos. In order to make them useful and viewable to as many as possible, and avoid the risk of losing them in a fire or flood, I have started to make digital copies of them.
You can use your ordinary camera app to do it, but I decided on using a specialized app instead. The main reason is that it can automatically crop and skew photos. That saves a lot of time. It is also quite easy to add Exif titles to images. I think that is a good way to tag photos with important facts like whoβs in it and when and where it was taken.
The app I use is called Unfade. There are two versions of it. One free and a pro version with extra features. Pro costs about 8 USD.
Using Unfade is very easy. You just open the camera view and point it at a photo. It finds the photo, adjusts focus, snaps and crops, and then waits for you to point it at the next one.
The most important thing for getting a good result is to find the right lighting. If you have a big window facing in a direction where there is no sun, use that. You want to avoid sharp shadows. If the photos are glossy make sure that the phone isnβt mirrored in them. Move the phone around until you get a good shot without reflections.
Do you have any advice for digitizing photos?
Best regards, Niklas π
I made a lot the old way for my children.
If you ever find a way to digitizing 16mm and 8mm films, please tell me.
My website: American version
Min hemsida: Svensk version
#1: We sent it to a company specializing in converting old films to video. It cost 300 or 400 EUR but it was worth having it saved. Now we all have or copies.
Best regards, Niklas π
#2 Yes I know what you did, but you should see what I have. I don't have money to let another do the work.
My website: American version
Min hemsida: Svensk version
If you have a film projector and a decent phone or digital video camera you should be able to do it yourself. You can test it by playing the film in the projector and film the screen with your video camera. I think you will have to use a high frame rate in the video camera. Perhaps someone else knows better.
Best regards, Niklas π
Yes I bought a camera that will be good to it, but I would prefer an easier way.
Maybe if any of the younger would be interested, we could manage it.
My website: American version
Min hemsida: Svensk version
After having read online it seems the only really easy way is to let someone else do it and the only cheap way is to do the laborious work yourself.
Best regards, Niklas π
#6 You are so right.
My website: American version
Min hemsida: Svensk version
I love this! Next time I visit my Nana I'll be sure to try this out, I always go through her photo albums when I'm there! Do you have any examples of the finished product Niklas?
All the best, Leia
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What a great photo! The app has produced it in great quality.
All the best, Leia
Host of Gluten-Free Living | News | English Language
I agree. Some photos turned out even better than the originals. The digital processing somehow got out more details than was visible to the eye in the photos.
Best regards, Niklas π
Impressed!
My website: American version
Min hemsida: Svensk version