Can a sheet-fed scanner work for bulk scanning photo prints and postcards?
Asked 5/12/2012
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2 answers
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I have thousands of inherited photo prints, negatives, and postcards to digitize. My plan is to first scan the prints/postcards I want to keep, rather than identify and scan matching negatives. I’d like a fast sheet-fed scanner if possible, and I’m okay with JPEG output and in-scanner color/contrast adjustments instead of RAW.
Has anyone used a sheet-fed document scanner successfully for old photo prints or postcards? Are there drawbacks I should expect compared with a flatbed or a professional scanning service?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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It might be possible to get more detailed files (TIFF or RAW) from a send-in service. I'm in the same dilemma as you, but can't find a good ADF scanner that takes a variety of photo thicknesses. For what it's worth, many auto scanners will require the photo to bend slightly, and if your photos have a bit of dogear they may get jammed.
I'm considering sending them in, mainly due to the laborious nature of the task. Consumer-grade scanners won't get the same results as professional scanners or people who do it as a job.
Originally by user10645. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10645
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, a sheet-fed scanner can work for bulk scanning prints and postcards, but with trade-offs.
From the shared experience here, a Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 was very fast and convenient for bulk print/postcard scanning, and the results could be quite good on some images. However, it’s still a document scanner rather than a true photo scanner, so color can sometimes look overly strong or inaccurate.
The main drawback is handling: many ADF/sheet-fed scanners bend the item slightly, and older prints with curled corners, dog-ears, or varying thickness can jam or feed poorly. That makes them less ideal for fragile or inconsistent originals.
So if your priority is speed and easy organization, a sheet-fed scanner can be a practical first pass for ordinary prints and postcards. If your priority is maximum image quality, consistent color, or safe handling of delicate items, a flatbed or a professional scanning service will usually do better.
A sensible workflow is: bulk-scan the better prints for convenience, then selectively rescan important images from the original print or negative later.
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