Picture this: Sarah, a bustling mother of two, stumbled upon an old shoebox in her attic, brimming with decades of family photographs. Faded colors, creased edges, and the unmistakable scent of nostalgia wafted up. As she flipped through them, a wave of warmth washed over her – memories of grandparents long passed, childhood vacations, and milestone celebrations. But then, a thought struck her: these precious relics were vulnerable. Fires, floods, accidental spills, or simply the relentless march of time could erase them forever. She wanted to share these moments with her kids, create digital albums, and preserve them for generations to come. Her burning question: How to scan a photo to bring these tangible treasures into the digital age? It’s a journey many of us embark on, and thankfully, it’s far more accessible and rewarding than you might imagine.
To scan a photo, you’ll generally need a scanner (flatbed recommended), its accompanying software, and your physical photographs. The process involves cleaning your photos and the scanner glass, placing the photo face-down, opening the scanning software, selecting appropriate settings like DPI (resolution) and color mode, initiating the scan, and then saving the digital image in a suitable format like JPEG or TIFF. This methodical approach ensures high-quality digital preservation of your cherished memories.
Digitizing your old photos is more than just a technical task; it’s an act of preserving history, a labor of love that ensures your family’s visual narrative lives on. In my experience, there’s immense satisfaction in seeing a faded, forgotten snapshot brought back to vibrant life on a screen. Let’s delve deep into the nuances of making that happen, transforming those fragile paper prints into robust digital files.
Why Bother Scanning Your Photos? The Unquestionable Benefits
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the “how,” let’s quickly touch on the “why.” Understanding the profound benefits can be a powerful motivator for embarking on this project. From a practical standpoint, it just makes sense.
- Preservation Against Decay: Physical photos are susceptible to fading, discoloration, tearing, and damage from moisture or pests. Once digitized, your images are immune to these physical threats.
- Easy Sharing: Want to share that hilarious photo of Uncle Bob at the beach with cousins across the country? Digital files make it a breeze via email, social media, or cloud storage.
- Accessibility: Imagine having your entire family photo album accessible on your phone or computer, ready to view anytime, anywhere. No more digging through dusty boxes!
- Restoration Potential: Digital copies can be enhanced, color-corrected, or even repaired using photo editing software, giving new life to damaged originals.
- Space Saving: A lifetime of memories can be stored on a tiny hard drive, freeing up valuable physical space previously occupied by countless photo albums and shoeboxes.
- Creating New Projects: Digital photos are perfect for creating custom photo books, slideshows, calendars, or even personalized gifts.
- Heirloom Security: In the event of a disaster (fire, flood), your digital archive can be safely stored off-site or in the cloud, offering peace of mind.
For me, the biggest “why” has always been about sharing. There’s something truly special about being able to instantly show my kids what their grandparents looked like when they were young, or how much the old neighborhood has changed. It sparks conversations and connects generations in a way that just describing a photo never could.
Choosing Your Weapon: Selecting the Right Photo Scanner
The first crucial step in learning how to scan a photo is picking the right hardware. Not all scanners are created equal, and the best choice for you really depends on your budget, the volume of photos you have, and your desired quality. Here are the main types you’ll encounter:
Flatbed Scanners: The Workhorse for Photos
This is arguably the most common and versatile option for photo scanning. A flatbed scanner has a glass surface where you place your photo face down. Its strength lies in its ability to handle various photo sizes, delicate or damaged prints, and even small objects or documents. Most flatbeds can scan at high resolutions, making them ideal for preserving detail.
- Pros: Excellent image quality; handles various sizes and delicate items; often comes with good software.
- Cons: Slower for large batches as you place one or a few photos at a time; can be bulkier.
- Best For: Anyone with a varied collection of photos, including old, fragile, or oddly sized prints.
All-in-One (Multifunction) Printers with Scanning Capabilities
Many home printers now come with integrated scanners. These are convenient if you already own one, as they pull double duty. The scanning quality can vary significantly, though, so it’s worth checking reviews if photo scanning is a primary concern.
- Pros: Cost-effective if you already own one; space-saving; convenient for occasional scanning.
- Cons: Often lower scanning resolution and slower speeds compared to dedicated flatbeds; software might be basic.
- Best For: Casual users with a small number of photos who don’t need top-tier quality.
Dedicated Photo Scanners (or Photo Feed Scanners)
These scanners are specifically designed for photos, often featuring an automatic document feeder (ADF) for rapid scanning of multiple prints. Some even come with built-in dust and scratch removal technologies. They’re real game-changers if you have thousands of photos to digitize.
- Pros: Extremely fast for large batches; often includes image enhancement features; designed for photo quality.
- Cons: Can be expensive; some models might struggle with very old, curled, or delicate photos; typically best for standard photo sizes.
- Best For: Serious hobbyists or those with massive photo collections (e.g., thousands of prints) who prioritize speed and efficiency.
Film and Slide Scanners
If your collection includes negatives or slides, a dedicated film scanner is the way to go. While some high-end flatbed scanners offer film scanning capabilities with an included adapter (often called a Transparency Unit or TPU), dedicated film scanners generally provide superior resolution and dynamic range for these formats.
- Pros: Highest quality for slides and negatives; can resolve fine detail.
- Cons: Single-purpose; often more expensive; slower process.
- Best For: Anyone with a significant collection of 35mm slides, negatives, or medium format film.
Smartphone Scanning Apps: The Quick & Dirty Option
In a pinch, your smartphone camera coupled with a scanning app (like Google PhotoScan or Adobe Scan) can digitize photos. While convenient and free, the quality is often nowhere near what a dedicated scanner can provide. They’re great for quick shares but not ideal for archival preservation.
- Pros: Extremely convenient; free; instantly shareable.
- Cons: Lower quality, prone to glare and distortion; not suitable for archival purposes.
- Best For: Quickly digitizing a few photos for casual sharing when no scanner is available.
For the purpose of this guide on how to scan a photo for archival quality, we’ll primarily focus on using a flatbed scanner, as it offers the best balance of quality, versatility, and affordability for most folks.
Pre-Scan Prep: Setting the Stage for Success
Believe me, rushing into scanning without proper preparation is a recipe for frustration and mediocre results. A little elbow grease upfront goes a long way. This is where you lay the groundwork for pristine digital copies.
1. Clean Your Photos
Dust, smudges, and fingerprints on your original photos will show up on your scan. It’s unavoidable. Take a moment to gently clean each photo before placing it on the scanner bed.
- Tools: A soft, lint-free microfiber cloth (the kind used for camera lenses or eyeglasses) and a can of compressed air.
- Process:
- Hold the photo by its edges to avoid adding new fingerprints.
- Use compressed air to blow off any loose dust particles. Be sure to hold the can upright to prevent propellant from spraying onto your photo.
- Gently wipe the surface of the photo with the microfiber cloth to remove smudges or minor dirt. Do not use water or chemical cleaners, as these can damage old prints.
2. Clean Your Scanner Glass
Just like your photos, a dusty or smudged scanner bed will capture those imperfections. This is crucial for obtaining clean scans.
- Tools: The same lint-free microfiber cloth and a mild glass cleaner (or just water).
- Process:
- Power off your scanner and unplug it for safety.
- Lightly spray your cloth (not the glass directly) with glass cleaner or water.
- Wipe the scanner glass thoroughly, ensuring no streaks or dust remain.
- Use a dry part of the cloth to buff it dry and lint-free.
3. Organize Your Photos
If you have a large collection, it’s smart to organize your photos beforehand. Group them by date, event, or subject. This makes the scanning process more efficient and, more importantly, makes organizing your digital files much easier later on.
- Consider creating stacks for different categories.
- Note any dates or important details on the back of photos to use later for file naming or metadata.
4. Set Up Your Workspace
Ensure your scanning area is clean, well-lit (but avoid direct sunlight that might cause glare), and comfortable. You might be here for a while, so make sure your scanner is connected to your computer and plugged into a power source.
I can’t stress the cleaning step enough. I once spent hours scanning photos, only to realize later that a tiny speck of dust on the scanner bed had been faithfully reproduced on hundreds of digital images. Learn from my mistake!
The Scanning Process: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Digitization
Now for the main event! This is where you actively learn how to scan a photo. While specific software interfaces might differ slightly, the core steps remain consistent across most flatbed scanners.
1. Connect and Power On Your Scanner
If you haven’t already, connect your scanner to your computer using the USB cable (or FireWire/Thunderbolt for older/professional models). Plug it into a power outlet and turn it on. Wait for it to initialize – you might hear some whirring noises, which is normal.
2. Install Scanner Software (If You Haven’t)
Your scanner typically comes with dedicated software on a CD/DVD or is available for download from the manufacturer’s website. Install this software. It usually includes drivers and an application to control the scanning process. Avoid generic scanning apps if your scanner has proprietary software, as the manufacturer’s version often offers more control and features.
3. Launch the Scanning Software
Open the scanner application on your computer. It might be called “Epson Scan,” “HP Scan,” “Canon IJ Scan Utility,” or something similar, depending on your brand.
4. Choose Your Scanning Mode
Most scanner software offers different modes:
- Automatic Mode: Great for beginners, as the software tries to detect the photo, crop it, and apply basic corrections.
- Home Mode: Offers a bit more control over settings like resolution and color.
- Professional Mode: Provides granular control over almost every aspect, including curves, histograms, and advanced color correction. This is where you’ll get the best results if you know what you’re doing.
For quality photo scanning, I generally recommend starting with “Home” or “Professional” mode. “Automatic” can sometimes make poor judgments, especially with older, faded photos.
5. Select Your Settings: The Core of Quality
This is arguably the most critical part of how to scan a photo, as these settings directly impact the quality and file size of your digital images. Don’t skimp here!
a. Resolution (DPI – Dots Per Inch)
This determines the level of detail captured. Higher DPI means more detail, larger file sizes, and more flexibility for printing or cropping later.
- Recommended for Photos:
- 300 DPI: Good for web use, basic sharing, or if you only intend to view them at their original size.
- 600 DPI: The sweet spot for most archival purposes. It provides enough detail to allow for moderate cropping or printing at a slightly larger size than the original without pixelation. This is my go-to.
- 1200 DPI or Higher: Useful if you plan to make large prints from small originals, or if you want to heavily crop a section of a photo. Be aware that file sizes will be massive, and scan times much longer.
Think of it this way: a 4×6 photo scanned at 300 DPI will be perfectly fine for sharing on Facebook. But if you want to print a 4×6 photo and turn it into an 8×10 poster without it looking blocky, you’ll need a higher resolution like 600 or 1200 DPI from the get-go. You can always downsample a high-resolution image, but you can never add detail to a low-resolution one.
b. Color Mode (Color Depth)
This setting defines how many colors the scanner captures.
- Color Photo: Always select “Color” or “24-bit Color” for color photographs. This captures millions of colors, preserving the original hues.
- Black & White Photo: For true black and white photos (not faded color ones), choose “Grayscale” or “8-bit Grayscale.” This will save space and can sometimes yield better contrast than scanning a B&W photo in color mode.
- Line Art: Use “Black & White” or “1-bit Black & White” only for documents with just text or pure line drawings, not for photos.
c. Output File Format
How your scanned image is saved.
- JPEG (JPG): The most common format. It uses “lossy” compression, meaning some data is discarded to make files smaller. Great for sharing and general use, but multiple saves can degrade quality. Most people use this.
- TIFF (TIF): A “lossless” format, meaning no data is discarded. Produces much larger files but preserves maximum detail and is ideal for archival purposes and professional editing. This is my preferred format for master copies.
- PNG: Another lossless format, good for web graphics but also suitable for archiving. Often smaller than TIFF for similar quality.
My advice? Scan to TIFF for your absolute master archive copies, and then create JPEG copies from those TIFFs for everyday sharing and smaller file sizes. This gives you the best of both worlds.
d. Image Adjustments (Optional but Recommended)
Many scanner software packages offer basic adjustments:
- Dust Removal: Some high-end scanners have hardware-based dust removal (like Digital ICE), but software solutions can help minimize visible specks.
- Color Restoration/Fading Correction: Can help breathe life back into faded old photos. Use with caution, as it can sometimes over-saturate.
- Backlight Correction: Useful for photos that appear too dark.
- Unsharp Mask: A mild sharpening filter. Use sparingly, as too much can introduce artifacts.
I usually recommend scanning raw first (with minimal in-scanner adjustments) and then doing more precise adjustments in a photo editing program like Photoshop Elements or GIMP. However, if your software’s features are good, a light touch can save post-processing time.
6. Place Your Photo(s) on the Scanner Bed
Gently place your cleaned photo face-down on the scanner glass. Align it with the corner or guides provided by your scanner. For multiple photos, leave a small gap between each one if your software can detect and crop them individually.
Close the scanner lid carefully, ensuring it’s fully seated to block out ambient light and gently press the photo flat.
7. Preview the Scan
Before committing to a full scan, always click the “Preview” button in your software. This will perform a quick, low-resolution scan and display it on your screen. This is your chance to:
- Check for proper alignment.
- Adjust the cropping box if the software didn’t automatically detect the photo correctly.
- Assess if your chosen settings (color, brightness) look about right.
Adjust the selection area around your photo. You typically want to exclude the white edges of the scanner bed. Some software will automatically detect multiple photos on the bed and create separate selection boxes for each; check these carefully.
8. Initiate the Full Scan
Once you’re happy with the preview and settings, click the “Scan” or “Digitize” button. The scanner will begin its work, and you’ll typically see a progress bar. Be patient; high-resolution scans take time.
9. Save Your Scanned Image(s)
After the scan is complete, the software will usually prompt you to save the file. If not, look for a “Save” or “Export” option. Crucially:
- Choose a Destination Folder: Create a dedicated folder on your computer for your scanned photos. Organize it logically (e.g., “Scanned Photos/Family Name/Year” or “Scanned Photos/Events/Vacations”).
- Name Your Files Appropriately: Don’t just save as “Image001.jpg.” Use a descriptive naming convention, such as “Family_Vacation_1985_001.tif” or “Grandma_Birthday_1972_001.jpg.” Consistency is key for future organization.
10. Repeat for All Photos
Remove the scanned photo, clean the scanner glass again if necessary, and place the next photo. Repeat the preview, scan, and save steps until your entire collection is digitized.
Post-Scan Enhancement: Bringing Your Photos to Life
Scanning is just the first step. Once your photos are digital, you have the power to enhance them. While some scanner software offers basic tools, a dedicated photo editor will provide far more control. Programs like Adobe Photoshop Elements, GIMP (free), or even the built-in Photos app on Windows or Mac can do wonders.
Common Enhancements:
- Cropping and Straightening: Even with careful placement, scans might be slightly crooked or have unwanted edges. Crop out distractions and straighten the horizon.
- Color Correction: Faded colors are a common issue with old photos. Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance to restore vibrant hues. Tools like “auto color” can be a good starting point.
- Dust and Scratch Removal: Despite your best efforts, some imperfections might remain. Use cloning or healing tools to carefully remove dust specks, minor scratches, and small blemishes.
- Sharpening: Apply a subtle amount of sharpening to bring out detail, but be careful not to overdo it, as it can introduce noise.
- Red-Eye Correction: A classic problem with flash photography. Most editors have a specific tool for this.
My advice is to work on a copy of your scanned TIFF files. That way, your original scan remains untouched, and you can always go back to it if you don’t like your edits. I find that even a few minutes of minor adjustments can make a huge difference in the final appearance of an old, faded photo.
Organizing Your Digital Archive: Keeping Your Memories Accessible
You’ve put in all that hard work scanning; now don’t let your digital memories become a jumbled mess! Proper organization is paramount for long-term enjoyment and accessibility.
1. Consistent Naming Convention
This is your golden rule. A well-thought-out file naming system will save you countless headaches. Some ideas:
- Date-Event-Description: `YYYY-MM-DD_Event_Location_Subject_001.jpg` (e.g., `1987-07-15_GrandmasBirthday_LakeHouse_FamilyPhoto_003.tif`)
- Year-Family-Event: `1992_SmithFamily_Christmas_005.jpg`
- Original Album Name/Page: If you’re digitizing an entire album, sometimes using the album title and page number can be helpful.
2. Folder Structure
Create a logical hierarchy of folders. A common approach is to start with a main “Scanned Photos” folder and then create subfolders by year, event, or person.
Scanned Photos/ ├── 1970s/ │ ├── 1975_SummerVacation_Beach/ │ └── 1978_Grandparents50th/ ├── 1980s/ │ ├── 1982_Christmas/ │ └── 1989_MyHighSchoolGraduation/ ├── Early Years (Pre-1970)/ │ ├── FamilyHeirlooms/ │ └── ChildhoodPics_Mom/ └── Unsorted (Process Later)/
3. Utilize Metadata (Tags)
Most operating systems and photo management software (like Adobe Bridge, Lightroom, or even Google Photos/Apple Photos) allow you to add metadata to your images. This includes keywords, dates, locations, and names of people in the photo. This is incredibly powerful for searching and finding specific photos later.
- Add names of family members.
- Include location details (e.g., “Disneyland,” “Grand Canyon”).
- Tag important events (e.g., “Wedding,” “Birthday,” “Graduation”).
4. Backup, Backup, Backup!
Digitizing your photos protects them from physical decay, but digital files are still vulnerable to hard drive failure, accidental deletion, or cyber threats. Implementing a robust backup strategy is non-negotiable.
- Local Backup: Save copies to at least two different physical locations, like your computer’s hard drive and an external hard drive.
- Cloud Backup: Use a cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or specialized photo services like SmugMug or Flickr. This provides off-site storage, protecting against local disasters.
- NAS (Network Attached Storage): For the tech-savvy, a home NAS can provide redundant storage (RAID) and easy network access.
The “3-2-1 rule” is a good guideline: maintain at least 3 copies of your data, store them on 2 different types of media, and keep 1 copy off-site. Your future self will thank you for being diligent about this.
Advanced Tips & Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best preparation, you might encounter a few snags. Here are some advanced tips and solutions to common problems when you scan a photo.
Dealing with Curved or Warped Photos
Old photos, especially those that were glued into albums, can become curved. This can lead to blurry or uneven scans on a flatbed.
- Gentle Pressure: Place a clean, soft cloth over the photo on the scanner bed, then gently place a book or a sheet of non-reflective glass on top of the lid to apply even pressure. Be extremely careful not to scratch the photo or the scanner glass.
- Scanning in Sections: For severely warped photos, you might have to scan them in smaller, flatter sections and then stitch them together using photo editing software.
Color Shifts and Fading
Many old photos suffer from color shifts (e.g., turning yellow or magenta) or general fading.
- Scan Neutral: Often, it’s best to scan with minimal in-scanner color correction enabled. Get the most neutral, “raw” scan possible.
- Post-Processing is Key: Use photo editing software for precise color correction. Look for tools like “Color Balance,” “Levels,” “Curves,” or “Auto Color” features. Sometimes converting to black and white can salvage an image where color is too far gone.
Handling Glare
When scanning glossy photos, especially in brightly lit rooms, you might get glare.
- Close the Lid Fully: Ensure the scanner lid is completely closed to block out ambient light.
- Darken the Room: Scan in a dimly lit room if possible.
- Anti-Glare Spray: Some archival-safe, matte sprays are available for very problematic photos, but use with extreme caution and test on a scrap photo first.
Batch Scanning for Efficiency
If your scanner supports it, place multiple small photos on the bed, leaving a small gap between them. The software can often detect each individual photo and save them as separate files, greatly speeding up the process.
- Check your software’s settings for “batch scan,” “multiple photo detection,” or “thumbnail scan” features.
- Always preview to ensure the software correctly identified and cropped each image.
When to Consider Professional Services
If you have thousands of photos, a large collection of fragile or rare prints, or negatives and slides you’re not comfortable handling, a professional photo scanning service might be a worthwhile investment. They have specialized equipment (like dedicated film scanners, high-speed photo scanners, and professional-grade dust/scratch removal hardware) and expertise to ensure the best possible quality and efficiency.
The cost can add up, but for truly priceless collections, it offers peace of mind and often superior results. Weigh the time commitment and potential frustration of DIY against the cost of professional services. For me, a mix of both has worked best: I scan the bulk, and send out the really tricky or irreplaceable stuff.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scanning Photos
People often have a lot of questions when they’re figuring out how to scan a photo. Here are some of the most common ones I hear, along with detailed answers.
What DPI should I use when scanning old photos for archival purposes?
For most old photos intended for archival and general use, a resolution of 600 DPI (dots per inch) is widely recommended. This provides a good balance between capturing fine detail and managing file size. At 600 DPI, you’ll have enough resolution to crop images, perform minor enlargements, and still have a high-quality digital file that retains much of the original print’s information.
If you envision making significant enlargements (e.g., turning a 4×6 print into a large poster) or plan extensive digital restoration, then scanning at 1200 DPI or even higher might be warranted. Be aware that this dramatically increases file size and scan time. Conversely, if your primary goal is just to share photos online or view them on a screen at their original size, 300 DPI might suffice, but it offers less flexibility for future uses. Sticking with 600 DPI for your master archive provides a future-proof foundation.
What’s the best file format for scanned photos? JPEG, TIFF, or PNG?
For archival quality and maximum flexibility, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is generally considered the superior choice. TIFF is a “lossless” format, meaning it preserves all the original image data without any compression artifacts. This results in very large files but ensures the highest possible quality for your master archive copies, allowing for extensive editing without degradation.
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is excellent for everyday use, sharing online, and smaller file sizes because it uses “lossy” compression. This means some image data is discarded, and repeated saves can further reduce quality. While convenient, it’s not ideal for your primary archival files. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is another lossless format that can be a good alternative to TIFF, often offering slightly smaller file sizes for similar quality. My personal workflow involves scanning to TIFF for the ultimate master files, and then converting copies of those TIFFs to JPEG for sharing and more common use cases.
How do I prevent dust and scratches from showing up on my scanned photos?
Preventing dust and scratches is a multi-pronged approach that starts before you even turn on the scanner. First, clean your original photos thoroughly using a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth and compressed air to remove loose dust and smudges. Avoid harsh chemicals or water. Second, and just as important, clean the scanner glass meticulously before each session, or at least every few scans, with a microfiber cloth and a gentle glass cleaner (or just water).
Beyond physical cleaning, some high-end scanners offer hardware-based dust and scratch removal technologies (like Digital ICE), which can work wonders, especially for film. If your scanner doesn’t have this, many scanning software packages and photo editing programs include software-based dust and scratch removal tools that can help minimize visible imperfections during post-processing. Patience and diligence in cleaning are your best allies here.
Can I scan multiple photos at once on a flatbed scanner?
Yes, many modern flatbed scanners and their accompanying software allow you to scan multiple small photos simultaneously. The trick is to place several photos on the scanner bed, leaving a small gap between each one. The scanning software often has a feature (sometimes called “batch scan,” “multiple crop,” or “thumbnail scan”) that can automatically detect each individual photo, create separate selection boxes, and then save them as individual files.
However, it’s crucial to always use the “Preview” function first to ensure the software has correctly identified and cropped each image. Sometimes, photos that are too close together or have similar backgrounds might be misinterpreted. This batch scanning capability can significantly speed up the digitization process when you have a large collection of standard-sized prints.
My old photos are faded and discolored. Can scanning fix this?
Scanning itself won’t magically restore faded or discolored photos, but it’s the essential first step that makes restoration possible. Once your photo is digitized, you can then use photo editing software to correct color shifts, adjust brightness and contrast, and even remove color casts. Many programs, like Adobe Photoshop Elements, GIMP, or even basic photo apps, have tools specifically designed for this.
Some scanner software offers “color restoration” or “fading correction” features, which can be a good starting point, but often a more nuanced approach in a dedicated photo editor yields better, more natural-looking results. My recommendation is to scan the photos as neutrally as possible (with minimal in-scanner adjustments) and then use post-processing tools to meticulously bring back their vibrancy. It’s a skill that improves with practice, but the results can be truly astonishing.
Conclusion: The Enduring Value of Your Digitized Memories
Embarking on the journey of how to scan a photo might seem like a daunting task at first, a never-ending mountain of prints to tackle. But I can tell you from personal experience, the reward is immeasurable. Each click of the scanner, each carefully named file, is a step towards safeguarding a piece of your family’s legacy. It’s about more than just preserving images; it’s about preserving stories, emotions, and the tangible connections to your past.
From choosing the right scanner to meticulously cleaning your prints, selecting optimal settings, and diligently organizing your digital archive, every step contributes to creating a robust, accessible, and enduring collection of your cherished memories. In a world increasingly dominated by the digital, giving your analog treasures a new, digital life ensures they can be shared, enjoyed, and passed down through generations, safe from the ravages of time and circumstance. So, gather those old shoeboxes, plug in your scanner, and start giving those precious moments the digital permanence they deserve. You’ll be so glad you did.