photo scanner question

[Lynlw]

I have boxes and boxes of Photos especially from when Justin was little. and I've wanted to get them on my computer,so I can do things with them, but it is a pain with my scaner/printer. Has anyone tried one of those PanDigital Portable Photo scanners? and if so do you like them? I've been looking at them for a while, since they are so small and portable, I thought it would get good to scan all my parent's pictures and make disks for myself and my brothers. QVC has a sale on one today. http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...OTIONS-_-1B-_-TSV,TSV&cm_sp=TSV-_-HPB-_-IMAGE

 

[catwoman]

Lyn:

That looks pretty cool! Would love to have one at home.

We use a Microtek scanner several times a day at work, but it's a large scanner because we frequently get 8X10 and larger size photos or documents. It's about 4 years old and starting to give us problems -- cropping too no longer very sensitive, for one. So we end up cropping a larger area, then go into MS Photo Editor or Adobe Photoshop to finish it.

 

[Dennis S]

I would be tempted to check out something like a kinko's, where I believe you can rent a scanner. It would probably give higher quality in a MUCH shorter time period.

The difference in time required from a top-notch commercial scanner and consumer type scanners can be incredible.

One other thing to consider is whether you would have much need for a photo scanner after this project is over. Almost everyone (including a lot of professional photographers) are using digital media these days, and the need to scan photos is rapidly diminishing.

 

[olefin]

Looks great!

I use a scanner for several different projects. I use our scanner quite often.

I use a Canon 8400F, Color Film/Negative/Photo Scanner for I also scan my old 35 MM slides.

 

[Lynlw]

I would be tempted to check out something like a kinko's, where I believe you can rent a scanner. It would probably give higher quality in a MUCH shorter time period.

The difference in time required from a top-notch commercial scanner and consumer type scanners can be incredible.

One other thing to consider is whether you would have much need for a photo scanner after this project is over. Almost everyone (including a lot of professional photographers) are using digital media these days, and the need to scan photos is rapidly diminishing.

Thanks, I have a regular scanner/copy/ fax printer but it is a pain to scan photos and store them in my computer. and as much as I wish it was different, my pictures are not that good to start with, so the quality isn't as important.
I Have boxes and boxes of pictures so I would have to go thru each picture and decide if it is worth even scanning. We went to the zoo every week when Justin was a toddler and how many bad zoo pictures do I really need?
You do raise a point about will I need it after I scann my 20 years worth of pictures, but I'd probably just pass it on for friends and family to use.

 

[Bina]

We use an older full size Microtek scanner, but for 80 or 90$ that little portable one will do what you want, Lyn.
I've also gone through some old photos, and ended up with the same situation....pics of my dtr at the zoo where half the pics she wasn't even in, or they were blurry. It's a good reason to tidy up the old photo collection.

 

[Nancy]

Add Picassa (from Google) editor to your computer too. It's free. That has wonderful editing. I use it every day several times per day for editing photos for the online sites that I sell on. I take a LOT of photos. It can crisp up the photo, crop it any size you want, has a nice retouch feature that smooths out the retouches, good color editing, etc.

Of course you have to start out with a good photo, and sometimes, old snapshots weren't the best quality, no matter what you do to them.

 

[Cris N]

Add Picassa (from Google) editor to your computer too. It's free. That has wonderful editing. I use it every day several times per day for editing photos for the online sites that I sell on. I take a LOT of photos. It can crisp up the photo, crop it any size you want, has a nice retouch feature that smooths out the retouches, good color editing, etc.

Of course you have to start out with a good photo, and sometimes, old snapshots weren't the best quality, no matter what you do to them.

Not really wanting to hijack this thread but I've seen you mention online sales several times. What do you sell?

 

[Lynlw]

Not really wanting to hijack this thread but I've seen you mention online sales several times. What do you sell?

Thanks for asking I was wonderring too.

I did buy the scanner, I'll let you know if it is so idiot proof even I can use it
hmmm I need to get a new computer soon, maybe I should wait to scan all my pictures on to my headrdrive

 

[Nancy]

I sell giftware, collectibles, vintage, antiques, many different things. It's interesting and fun.

 

[hensylee]

wanna buy some? (antiques)

I scan a lot of pictures, have ArcSoft program, have Picasa. when I have pix in the camera, I just take them to WalMart and have prints plus a disc. WalMart also allows you to put them online with them and you can invite others to view and they can download and print their own (save picture as section on computer).

 

[Nancy]

Annie, if you lived closer and were having a garage sale, I'd be right there.

 

[njean]

Add Picassa (from Google) editor to your computer too. It's free. That has wonderful editing. I use it every day several times per day for editing photos for the online sites that I sell on. I take a LOT of photos. It can crisp up the photo, crop it any size you want, has a nice retouch feature that smooths out the retouches, good color editing, etc.

Of course you have to start out with a good photo, and sometimes, old snapshots weren't the best quality, no matter what you do to them.

I downloaded Picasa to my laptop last night & I already like it & find that it's going to be a very useful tool for organizing & photo editing.

Thank you Nancy for sharing this information with us!!!