How to digitize old family photo albums

Choose the right resolution and file format

Standard prints scan well at 300 to 600 DPI, while smaller photos or slides need 1200 to 2400 DPI to capture enough detail for future enlargements. Save an uncompressed TIFF as the archival master copy, and a high-resolution JPEG alongside it for everyday viewing and sharing.

Handling photos still glued into an album

For pages that are bound or glued into a book, a copy stand is a better tool than a flatbed scanner. Use book supports or wedges so the album can be opened comfortably without forcing the binding, which protects both the photos and the album itself.

Scan technique that avoids new damage

Set the scanner on a stable, flat surface to avoid the vibration blur that comes from an unsteady table, and calibrate for color accuracy, especially with vintage prints that have already faded. A multi-pass scan option can add color depth and sharpness on faded originals, and keeping the scanner glass dust-free avoids introducing new specks into every scan.

Don't get rid of the originals

Keep the physical prints after digitizing them: digital files carry their own preservation risks and can be lost, so the originals remain the real backup. Store them in acid-free photo albums or archival boxes, in a cool, dry place with humidity below 60 percent and away from direct sunlight.

Organize, back up, and restore as you go

Use a consistent, descriptive file-naming system from the start so photos stay findable years later, and keep at least one backup copy of the digital files in a separate location. While digitizing an album is also a natural point to fold in restoration, an AI restoration tool can correct fading, scratches, and damage on any scan as you go rather than as a separate project later.