How to Scan in Old Photos

You can stay organized by scanning photographs into your computer.

Scanning old photographs into a computer has become extremely easy over the years, with the numerous kinds of software available to purchase. The simple task only requires a scanner and scanning software for the computer. Once your photographs are scanned into the computer, they can be further enhanced with the software.

Things You'll Need

• Imaging program, such as Adobe Photoshop or Elements
• Scanner

Instructions

Install Scanner

1. Hook up the scanner to the computer and make sure that your imaging software is ready to receive a scanned photograph. Remember to read the directions because every scanner works differently.

2. Before installing a USB scanner, which is the easiest to install, all programs must be exited besides Windows, which needs to remain open when plugging the USB cable into the scanner. After a few seconds, the hardware wizard will appear, which means the scanner is ready to download the driver.

3. When installing a parallel port scanner, the first step will be to shut down the computer. You can then hook the parallel connector into the computer's printer port. The scanner head then needs to be unlocked, which can be done underneath the scanner. Lastly, Windows will recognize that the new software was found once the scanner's power is turned on.

Scanning a Photo

1. Open your Photoshop software so the photo can be scanned into your computer. You can begin scanning by clicking the "Scanner" option on the "Get Photos" tab of the Quick Guide. This will open a scanner dialog box, where you can choose a location for the scanned file or select the default location.

2. In Elements, click the "Photo Browser" button in the "Editor's Options" bar to launch the organizer, so you can view the photographs scanned into the program. Once that is completed, click on the organizer's "File" menu and choose "Get Photos," then "Scanner."

3. In the "Get Photos" dialog box, choose "Scanner" from the "Scanner" popup menu. Next, choose a high-quality setting for the photograph, which can be saved as a JPEG, TIFF or PNG, and then click "OK" to begin scanning the photograph.

4. Choose "Watched Folders" under the "File" menu and make sure the watch folders and their subfolders are turned on for new files. Click the "Add Photos" button in the "Folders to Watch" section, select which folder you want the program to watch and click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• Permanently fix the settings for scanned photos by clicking on "Edit" and then "Preferences." While in the Preferences window, click on "Scanner" and then make the correct selections.

• Type "Control+U" to import photos from a scanner in Elements software.

References

• "How to Do Everything with Photoshop Album"; Curt Simmons; 2003
• "The Photoshop Elements 3 Book for Digital Photographers"; Scott Kelby; 2005
• 5 Star Support: Supporting Computer Learning