Greetings Fellow Photographers!
Do you have shoeboxes and albums full of photos you took before the invention of the digital camera? These photos keep our fondest memories alive. But did you know that you can turn these photos into digital images to store and protect in your online account, share with friends and family, and use on creative photo gifts, just as you do with your digital photos today? Well, I'm here to help and show you how!
There are two ways to digitize your film prints:
Scan it.
Many of your local photo stores can scan your photos for you and give you digital versions that you can upload to your account. Some will even upload the digital versions to your account for you. But if you are scanning the photos yourself, be sure to get all dust, dirt, and fingerprints off the photo and scanner glass. Scan the photo at 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch). It is also helpful to scan it once and make any adjustments you need, than scan it again. Save the scanned image as a .jpg for uploading convenience.
Photograph it.
Yes, I am suggesting that you take a picture of a picture! Put the digital camera on a tripod aiming straight down. Place the original photo on a black board or surface underneath the camera. The photo has to be flat. You can use clean, clear glass on top of the photo to flatten it, but watch for reflections; try also placing your camera behind a black surface with a hole for the lens to avoid reflections. The best type of light to do this is outside in bright, open shade. If you end up with a blue shift, you can always correct it later in any photo management software (or you can adjust using the White Balance tips from last time). Zoom in as much as possible, but do not use a wide angle as it may cause distortion. Take as many shots as you need, adjusting as you go, until you get the perfect one!
Whichever method you choose, digitizing your old photos allows you to back them up in case they get lost or damaged. Once you have them saved as digital images to your online photo account, you can then use them on photo gifts, share them with your friends and family, print as many copies as you want, and even digitally enhance the photo to improve its appearance. You can keep the shoeboxes and albums tucked away in your closet, but now you have the security of knowing that if anything happens, your photos and memories are safe in your online account.
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Photo Project Ideas
This time around, I thought it would be fun to ask you to submit stories about any photo projects you have worked on using your online photo account that turned out even better than you originally imagined. For example, maybe you digitized some old family photos and gave your parents a photo book of their past for their anniversary. Or, maybe you created a unique and special photo gift for a friend or relative using any of my previous photo tips or your own creative idea. Whatever the case is, email me your story (with photos if possible) to digipixels@lifepics.com and I will share some of your great ideas with the rest of the class.
Until next time, enjoy the rest of your summer, and don’t forget your camera! |
