I've heard that photocopying DOES harm really old photos. But what about scanning? I've used those Kodak kiosks (like in the drugstores) to copy some old photos. Is THAT bad?
2006-09-11 09:03:35 · 11 answers · asked by myrmidon 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
First off, paper begins to degrade pretty much as soon as it is made. In order to preserve an image from the 1890's sometimes the only way is to digitize it through scanning.
The exposure to the light from the scanning probably will continue the paper and emulsion degradation, but it also allows you to save the image making it sort of a toss up as to scanning it. (Personally I would rather scan it before it degrades any further.)
I have scanned many old photos and have not noticed any extreme effects upon the originals..
2006-09-11 11:04:20 · answer #1 · answered by Silvatungfox 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In college, my main area of interest was in electronic imaging. I scanned some VERY old family images and they survived the scanning. I did this so I could duplicate and also take out any spots or little tears from the picture. I haven't used the kodak kiosks but I imagine it would be like any other scanner. Contact Kodak if you want to be sure.
2006-09-11 09:10:19 · answer #2 · answered by kewte_kewpie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We, too, are planning to scan old photographs. I work for The Daily
Oklahoman (newspaper) in Oklahoma City, and we have extensive files of old
black and white photos.
While the folks we checked with agree that the light may do "some" damage, they also agree that preserving the photos electronically is practically the ONLY way we can keep them indefinitely and still have use of them when we want.
We regularly do "look back" type sections and do use our old photos.
Though plans are not completed, we are thinking of donating the actual hard copies of photos to the state historical society after we have them stored digitally; with the understanding we could borrow them if necessary.
Hope that helps!
2006-09-11 09:15:32 · answer #3 · answered by ModernMerlin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey myrmidon,
Scanning is the best way to preserve the image. You may damage the original - but the scan, if properly backed up, will supply your ancestors with multiple copies, image that lasts forever, easy storage, easy categorization... on and on.
The damage risk is out-weighted by the benefits!
PS - I looked at a bunch of sites with the search OLD PHOTO DAMAGE SCAN, and not one in 10 pages has a study showing the affect of light on old photos.
2006-09-11 10:27:24 · answer #4 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i'm engaged on an album for my mom. i'd desire to end it right now for her. she would have the ability to no longer use her palms and palms to look at her albums so I scanned her pictures and made slide exhibits she would have the ability to observe on television. i'm attempting to end what i think of she would extremely choose to make certain back however the countless pictures are very small and that i'm constructive she would desire to no longer see them yet they have been scanned and digitalized for exhibit viewing. Any suggestion? i've got no longer extremely had time to clutter around with them different than to scrub them up for her viewing and that i've got tried to pass away the cropping to whoever needs them, I even have approximately 5000, some over one hundred years previous yet frequently 30 to 60 yrs previous. a minimum of it relatively is the place i'm at the instant. when I get this completed for her i'd choose to do extra with them.
2016-09-30 14:21:35 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you place the photos in a plastic UV protected sleeve, then scanning them will cause no appreciable deterioration. It's best to store them this way as well. Why take chances with an irreplaceable heirloom?
2006-09-11 09:10:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have scanned all of my pictures from the 1800's and they all came out fine. I dont know if you scanned them numerous times of the light will harm them. But doing it once I don't believe so.
2006-09-12 01:36:52 · answer #7 · answered by Lynn M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I scan old photos all the time. I have not seen it harm them. But I have use a flatbed scanner. delicate photos might jam in scanners that feed.
2006-09-11 14:43:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It probably does, since the light is just as bright. I try to use a digital camera to take photos of the old pics, less light involved.
2006-09-11 09:07:43 · answer #9 · answered by fishing66833 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't be so daft you twit. Of course it doesn't.
Whoever told you that copying could harm them is pulling your plonker.
2006-09-11 12:19:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋