If you are not comfortable mailing your original photos, we can work from your scanned files. We can usually get better results from our own scans of faded and damaged photos, but will work from your scans if you prefer. Please follow these Do-It-Yourself Scanning Guidelines to prepare your files for restoration:

• Choose a good original photo.
  Damage can usually be repaired, but a fuzzy, out-of-focus original is not a good candidate for restoration. Faded photos should contain some detail, even in the lightest areas. If an area is completely blank, it cannot be restored.
  
  
• Scan in RGB mode.
  Even if your original is black-and-white, scanning in RGB mode provides more detail than greyscale mode. Bitmap mode is not useful for creating editable files.
  
  
• Select the proper resolution.
  A resolution of 300 DPI is fine for an 8x10 original. For smaller originals, increase the resolution proportionally (e.g., use 600 DPI for a 4x5 original). Even if the print you want is small, the size of your file should be at least 1mB in size. A higher resolution and a larger file size capture more image details for restoration. A scan from an 8x10 can be up to 5mB in size.
  
  
• Save the file in JPG format.
  Use the highest quality setting your software allows to capture image details. Smaller, lower quality, or "faster" files sacrifice image detail for file size.

Send the files to us with our Email Order Form. It takes a while to transmit large files, so send files individually. If you're sending multiple files, you might prefer to write the files to a CD or flash drive and mail it to us with our Print Order Form. All materials will be returned with your completed project.

Note: Most home scanners can't capture enough detail from slides, negatives and glass plate negatives, so we prefer to scan those originals ourselves.