Questions To Ask Your Photo-Scanning Service

Sometimes a photograph or a negative is the only physical reminder you have left of an important memory. When this is the case, you may want to create a backup of the picture or digitize it to save it to your phone or computer. At the same time, photos like all media degrade over time and converting your photos into digital images will preserve your memories so that they can be shared with loved ones and friends in person or on Zoom calls to help you stay connected and will be available for future generations as well. While scanning your photos yourself is always an option, enlisting the help of a professional photo-scanning service ensures the best quality image for your various projects and saves you precious time. It can be difficult to hand your most valuable photos to anyone else, but by getting answers to these important questions from your photo-scanning service, you will know when you are picking the right company.

What Can Be Scanned?

Before you can use the services of a photo digitizing or scanning company, you need to make sure that they can process the medium that you will be sending them. Many scanning services will list on their website the different types of photo formats they can scan. Typically, more common photo formats will not pose a problem to a photo-scanning service. However, some photo formats are trickier than others and may cost more to scan and digitize.

It is important to know exactly which kind of photo format you want to scan, but if you are not sure about a specific kind of photo format, then it is always best to ask the scanning service for advice. At DiJiFi, we will not only digitize your printed photos, but we can also digitize photo negativesand several other more difficult photo formats. If you have questions about your photo format, we are upfront with our pricing and are always willing to clear up uncertainties.

Will My Photos Be Protected?

The most disquieting part of sending your one-of-a-kind photos to a scanning service is not knowing how they will be handled once in the hands of strangers. Asking a photo-scanning service how your photos will be protected once in their establishment will provide you with peace of mind. Damaging a beloved photograph not only hurts you as the customer, but it can also destroy a business’s entire reputation. During your conversation with the scanning company, make sure they understand how to protect your original photo.

Another important question to ask about your photo’s protection involves how long the digital files will be held by the scanning service. Ask the scanning service how long, if at all, they will keep your photo archived as a backup. DiJiFi archives all files for 14 days after service is completed and arrangements can be made for files to be retained for longer periods of time. This is done to protect confidential materials so they are not at risk for extended time periods and to free up server storage space for the new incoming projects.

How Quickly Will I Get My Photo Back?

A project for which you need a photo digitized may have a strict deadline that you must meet. Ask the photo-scanning service how long an order of your size typically takes to finish and make its way back to you. For immediate scans, ask if the company has rush orders and their cost. The time that it takes for a scanned product to return to you can vary depending on the time of year—holidays can be busier than other months.

At DiJiFi, we aim for one to two weeks for small orders and seven to nine weeks for large orders. These timeframes are not guaranteed but will give you an idea of the time we like to spend ensuring the job is done correctly. Keep in mind that no photo scanning or digitizing company can account for issues with shipping or travel time.

How Good Is the Quality?

There are several factors that will impact the ultimate results of your digitized photo including your choice of resolution and service level. The higher the resolution and the more work performed on the digital file will of course result in a higher price. Some photo-scanning services offer touch-ups for your photos in addition to scanning or will offer the photos in different file formats. For example, digital files can be delivered in jpeg or tiff formats. JPEG files are slightly compressed while Tiff files are uncompressed, which means the files contain the most possible information. If you plan on printing your photos at a larger size than the original, you may need a higher resolution of the image which is another option to consider.

At DiJiFi, the “Raw Service Level” provides scans of your photos, but they will not be cropped, rotated or color enhanced. This is a quick, economical digitization offering that provides excellent results. The “Direct Service Level” delivers all digital images both cropped and rotated. Finally, DiJiFi’s “Complete Service Level” includes all of the features of Direct, plus basic color and exposure correction, and removal of significant dust or scratches from the digital versions. Some photo-scanning services, like DiJiFi, will even offer damaged photo restoration that will make scans look like the original when it was taken, particularly if it has faded over time.

How Will My Scans Be Sent To Me?

How your scans are delivered to you depends on the quality and size of the project. Some smaller projects can be simply emailed to you or sent via a file transfer protocol (or FTP), while others may need to be delivered on thumb drive or hard drive, or a CD at the client’s request. Your original photo should be shipped back to you in the same way that you shipped it and in the same condition. Asking how they will be delivered to you ahead of time ensures that there is no confusion with file formats or delivery methods.

How Do I Prepare My Photos for Shipping?

. The scanning service you choose to go with may also have advice for you regarding how to package your photo materials so that it does not get damaged during transit. We advise that you use a delivery service that provides you with a tracking number, so you know exactly where your photos are or were last seen. You should also use plenty of bubble wrap to prevent damage and store smaller photos in ziplock bags so they do not get lost.

If you live close enough to the photo-scanning service provider, consider delivering and picking up the photos yourself. Ask the company about the process for self-delivery and pickup to make the procedure go smoothly.

What Is the Price?

Prices for different projects will vary. What may seem to you like a simple job may have unforeseen difficulties that only a professional would understand. Each scanning project is personal, and its price will vary based on what needs to be done.. If the quote seems like a high price, remember that you are paying for high-quality, safe scans of your important photos. The higher price is typically worth it. If you are unsure of a company, check if they are transparent with their online reviews. A good company is given plenty of outstanding reviews by its customers and will reply to any poor reviews with follow-up.

You may have other questions to ask your photo-scanning service that are not listed here. It is always best to ask any question on your mind to protect your photos. A photo-scanning service should understand this and respond with superb customer service. If you have questions about DiJiFi’s photo-scanning service or any of our other digitizing services, contact us!