If you're looking to learn how to scan photos for use in a photo book or digital photo album can really be as easy or as hard as you want it to be.

In general, paper photo scanning to digital files can be done in one of two ways: You can do it yourself with a flatbed scanner, or you can send your photos out to a scanning service to do for you.

Do-It-Yourself Photo Scanning

If you've decided to learn how to scan photos yourself, you will need to buy or borrow a flatbed scanner. The scanner can handle any picture that fits onto its bed and comes with the scanning software that you will need to process the photos and turn any photo scanning to a digital file. With a flatbed scanner, fragile pictures can be gently placed on the scanner bed and will not be harmed during the scanning process. And while a little time-consuming, it's not at all hard to do.

Multi-Function Printer/Scanners: If you're in the market for a new printer, it's always a good idea to opt for a multi-function that prints, scans, and copies. These days, these sorts of printers are hardly any more costly than a standard printer. They're how to scan photos without needing a whole new piece of machinery.

How to Use a Photo Scanner

For scanning photos to digital files, a flatbed operates very much like a color copy machine. What makes a scanner different from a copier is that the image is translated into digital form automatically, with the use of a type of software that comes with the scanner. Some image editing software will operate a scanner, but if you're just learning how to scan photos, I'd generally opt to use the software it comes with.

Batch Scanning Your Photos

Our discussion will geared more towards someone who is going to be scanning a high number of photographs. This is something called batch scanning. After a lot of research into how to scan photos easily, I found these batch scanning instructions to be the best. So instead of re-creating the wheel by writing my own version, I took the lazy route and provided the link instead.

My Experience Scanning Photos to Digital:

I recently scanned over 3,000 pictures over the course of several months. Reading the instructions above made me realize how much time I could have saved. Luckily, I enjoyed thinking about the pictures while they were scanning or else I would be really upset with myself for not researching it earlier! OK. I am a little upset after all. Lesson learned!

For my scanning my pictures, I used an HP Officejet 65000 All-in-One scanner, copier, and printer. The flatbed scanner did more than an adequate job. I do think the 3000 photos it almost wore the scanner out, though, because it now sounds like it is on its last legs. The point is that it doesn't require "the best" scanner on the market to get your project started.

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Using Scanning Services to Scan Your Photos

Don't know how to scan photos, or don't want to take the time to do it yourself? There are a lot of photo scanning services out there that you can use.

Note: I have not used any of the services listed below for scanning pictures. I did a Google search and reviewed the services offered and chose these because they were cheaper, but still offered professional-level service. And if the website was hard to navigate, they were not included on the list. I'm not advertising these guys... just providing them as a potential resource.

ScanCafe

Price for 600 dpi is $0.29 for each paper picture, and that includes manual color correction DVD of pix is included for free. No pre-sorting or organization of pictures is required. You can view your images online and choose the ones that you want to keep. You only pay for the ones you keep (50% of the pictures need to be kept at minimum). This allows you to see what you are getting before you pay.

Website and pricing information

Dig My Pics

300 dpi scans are for $0.39 ea. and this includes 3 professional reviews. Other Services include printed Thumbnail Album, DVD Slideshow Vide, Restoration Services. Price includes Digital ICE, cropping, rotating, and Manual Image Color and Exposure Correction by their photographers.

Website and pricing information

Digital Pickle

Price for 300 dpi is $0.39 each plus $5 for output media. They recommend you use Clean Scan to remove dust and age issues with pictures.

Website and pricing information

My Special Photos

Price for 300 dpi for each photo is $0.35 w/o correction by skilled photo shop editor or $0.59 w/correction by skilled photo shop editor. No extra charge if you send pictures in the albums. The storage medium is free and this also includes free FedEx return shipping. They request that you have a minimum order of $100.

Website and pricing information

While photo scanning services can get pretty prices for large batches of photos, they can be a good option if you don't want to learn how to scan photos yourself, or don't want to use up the 6000 minutes it takes to scan about 3000 photos!

Go from How to Scan Photos to the How to Print Photo Albums Primer Page.