92 Corporate Park, Irvine, CA 92606 | 949-474-7654 | info@scanmyphotos.com

Photo Scanning FAQs

Can't find your answer below, try our live support (banner to the left under the menu) to instant message with an online photo technician:

Scanning Specific Questions:

• Can you scan slides or negatives?
• What resolution are my photos scanned at?
• Can I see sample scans?
• Can you scan my photos at a higher resolution?
• Are my photos returned to me?
• Are my bundled photos returned to me in the same bundles?
• What size are the boxes for the Prepaid Fill the Box option?
• How long will it take to complete my scanning order?
• Where are my photos scanned?
• How much compression do you use when saving the pictures in JPEG format?
• Will the order of the scanning be the same as the photos in the box?
• Can you combine multiple boxes into one order?
• Can you ship boxes from the same order to different addresses?
• What is the difference between your prepaid box and the $49.95 fee to scan 1,000 photos?
• I think I have more than 1,000 photos. Can you stop scanning once you have scanned 1,000 photos?
• I have very old photo albums of B&W photos that are glued on the pages. Can they be scanned and if so, what would be the charge?
• Are pictures taken at places like Olen Mills and Sears Portrait Studios copyrighted? Also, our wedding photographer is no longer in business and I would like to get those photos scanned.
• What about scanning professional copyrighted materials that I do not own the rights to?
• Are these scans designed for personal archiving and sharing or can I also make giant museum-quality poster enlargements from the files?
• Can you scan tiny pictures, too?
• Can you scan cropped and cut-out photos?
• How large are the images in the Photo Memory book?
• What happens if my pictures are curled or bent?
• If I choose the Pay-per-1,000 option, do I have to send all of my photos at once or can I send small batches until I reach 1,000?
• I have a bunch of old VHS and 8mm movies, can you transfer those to DVD?
• Do your prepaid boxes ever expire?
• Why do you only feature flat-rate bulk scanning of photos? Why not offer it for 35mm, APS or slide film?

I Have My Disc, Now What?

• Will I be able to download the returned disc to color correct the scanned photos?
• I've downloaded my files onto my hard drive but it says they are locked. How do I unlock them?
• Can I use the newly scanned digital DVD to view my photos on the TV with my DVD player?
• I've ordered multiple boxes and each disk starts at file #1. When I copy them to my hard drive it tells me there is a file name conflict. What should I do?

Shipping Specific Questions

• What happens if my order is delayed during mailing and how about guarantees?
• How do I track my photo shipment?

---

Can you scan slides or negatives?

Yes we can but the high speed scanning is only available for print scanning. We scan slides and negatives as a separate service. The cost ranges from $1.50 per slide for orders under 50 slides, $1.00 per slide for orders consisting of 51-200 slides and $0.75 per slide for orders greater than 200. For more info, please visit our slide or negative scanning sections.

What resolution are my photos scanned at?

All photos are scanned at 300 dpi. The final file size will vary depending upon the size of the original photograph. A standard 4x6 usually is about 1 to 1.5 MB in size. Many websites refer to resolution as a pixel by pixel notation. To determine what your own picture's pixel by pixel resolution will be, multiply the inches by 300 dpi. For example, a 4"x6" print will have a resolution of 1200x1800 (4" x 300dpi = 1200 pixels, 6"x 300dpi = 1800 pixels).

Can I see sample scans?

For samples, click here.

Can you scan my photos at a higher resolution?

No, we only scan photos at 300 dpi for bulk scanning. 300 dpi is ideal for making reprints and slightly larger enlargements from your images. These JPEG scans are also ideal for sharing with others and using as Power Point and other video presentations. Higher resolution or files saved as TIFFs typically are larger files that the average person doesn't need and it can slow down your computer due to these larger files sizes. We have been leaders in the photo industry since 1990 and are experts on helping to protect your photo memories and we recommend 300 dpi files for nearly every application.

Are my photos returned to me?

Yes, your photos are returned to you along with the digital CD-Rom/DVD of your scanned photos. We do not offer a service dispose of or keep your photos. All photographs will be returned with your order.

Are my bundled photos returned to me in the same bundles?

While we try to keep your bundles of photos together, there are times when this is not feasible. We need to fit the photos back in the box for return shipping along with the DVD and any other additional options you may order. This means we may need to break apart bundles. We will not shuffle your photos like a deck of cards but your photos may not be in the same order you sent them to us in.

What size are the boxes for the Prepaid Fill the Box option?

Regular Photo Box (fits more than 1,600 4x6 photos) Inside dimensions - 11" X 8.5" X 5.5"

Enlargement Photo Box Inside dimensions - 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" x 13-5/8"

IMPORTANT: All photos must fit within the dimensions of the closed box. When sealing a flat-rate box or flat-rate envelope, the
container flaps must be able to close within the normal folds. Tape may be applied to the flaps and seams to reinforce the container; provided the design of the container is not enlarged by opening the sides and the container is not reconstructed in any way.

How long will it take to complete my scanning order?

Photo scanning is typically completed and mailed back the same business day it is received. Based on your quantity of slides or negative scanning, it typically is completed within several days and mailed back the same business day it is completed. Please note that we do not have any control over the United State Postal Service or any other courier or transport companies and therefore cannot be held responsible for delivery times to or from our location.

Most services, including photo picture scanning, reprints, enlargements, photo memory books and photo cards are rushed with our super-fast same day service. Photo restorations and slide and negative scanning orders take just a little bit longer depending upon the individual order. We do feature a Rush – Next Up Scanning Service, which moves you to the top of the line; see the “Option #2” order form to choose this feature.

Where are my photos scanned?

All orders photo scan orders are processed the same day at our Irvine, CA headquarters, founded in 1990. Due to the extra work associated with slides and negatives, the turnaround time might be longer than one-day and all that work is also processed and fulfilled in Orange County, CA. The only orders sent overseas are to our customers abroad who send us their orders for processing, and those orders are also scanned and mailed back internationally the same day too.

How much compression do you use when saving the pictures in JPEG format?

Due to the high number of photos that are scanned in an average order, we use what would be considered a medium compression rate to ensure that we can fit the most images on a disk without loosing quality.

Will the order of the scanning be the same as the photos in the box?

Scanning your pictures in a specific order is only available for Pay-per-1,000 option of our high speed scanning and there is an additional charge of $19.95 per 1000 photos.

Can you combine multiple boxes into one order?

No, every box that arrives at our scanning facility is assigned to one scanning technician. This is to ensure that no photos are mistakenly mixed up with any other order. If you order multiple prepaid boxes, each box is considered one order and is scanned independently from any other box from the same address. If you order the Pay-per-1,000 option, each box sent to us must contain it's own order form and will be treated as separate orders.

Can you ship boxes from the same order to different addresses?

When the order is placed, you can only give one shipping address so all returning boxes (and the initial empty boxes) will be shipped to that address. To ensure that there are no mixups and/or mistakes, we cannot offer to have boxes shipped to different addresses than what is listed on the initial order.

What is the difference between your prepaid box and the $49.95 fee to scan 1,000 photos?

While the final product is the same, we offer two different pricing structures to ensure it is affordable for any quantity of photos to be scanned. Below you can see the main differences:

	Pay-Per-1,000	Prepaid Box
Cost for scanning	$49.95 per 1,000 photos, no prorating	$124.95 per box. Unlimited number of scans that you can fit into the box we ship you. 1600-1800 4x6 prints, individual results will vary
Shipping	Not included, USPS Priority and FedEx 2-day available	USPS Priority included no charge
Additional Services available?	All available	All but front and back scanning available

 

I think I have more than 1,000 photos. Can you stop scanning once you have scanned 1,000 photos?

No, unfortunately we do not know the total number of scans until after the job is done and we cannot tell the scanner to stop at a specified number.

I have very old photo albums of B&W photos that are glued on the pages. Can they be scanned and if so, what would be the charge?

They can be included in with your scanning order but they must be removed from the pages and any and all sticky substance must be removed from the back of the photos.

Are pictures taken at places like Olen Mills and Sears Portrait Studios copyrighted? Also, our wedding photographer is no longer in business and I would like to get those photos scanned.

No, we cannot scan any copyrighted material. For complete details about copyright law, visit the US Copyright website.

What about scanning professional copyrighted materials that I do not own the rights to?

Due to copyright laws, we are unable to scan any professionally taken image that is copyrighted. These images will not be scanned.

Are these scans designed for personal archiving and sharing or can I also make giant museum-quality poster enlargements from the files?

These high-speed photo scans are designed to digitally preserve your regular photos. This is not designed to archive professional images with museum-quality clarity. There is no refund for high-speed photo scans and you understand and agree that we cannot guarantee the image quality of the reproductions or individual quality control your files due to the extremely high volume scanning operation guarantee the image quality of the reproductions or individual quality control your files due to the extremely high volume scanning operation.

Can you scan tiny pictures, too?

The smallest photo that can be included is 3x3 inches. Photos must measure at least 3 inches on all sides to qualify for scanning. Anything smaller will be returned to you unscanned.

Can you scan cropped and cut-out photos?

No, all photos must be either square or rectangular photos. We cannot accept any photos that are odd shaped or does not have four 90 degree corners. These pictures, although adorable, are not acceptable:

How large are the images in the Photo Memory book?

Approximate measurements are: horizontal pictures are 1.25" x 2" while vertical pictures are 1" x 1.25".

What happens if my pictures are curled or bent?

Any photo that is excessively bent or curled will not be scanned. All photos must be able to lay reasonably flat when stacked with other photos. If they are only slightly curled or curved, there may be some distortion in the areas where the images does not lay flat upon the glass as it is scanned.

If I choose the Pay-per-1,000 option, do I have to send all of my photos at once or can I send small batches until I reach 1,000?

No, whatever is sent to us is considered one order. If you split your order and ship them in separate shipments, they will be considered independent orders and you will be charged accordingly.

I have a bunch of old VHS and 8mm movies, can you transfer those to DVD?

We can only transfer standard VHS tapes. Please visit our Video Transfer section.

Do your prepaid boxes ever expire?

Due to swift technological changes, your returned prepaid box order for scanning must be received back to ScanMyPhotos.com within 364-days from the date the order was placed. Otherwise, the box expires and no consideration, obligation or monetary reimbursement of any kind will be provided; so, you have a year to gather your pictures and have us scan it.

Why do you only feature flat-rate bulk scanning of photos? Why not offer it for 35mm, APS or slide film?

For slides, negatives and Advantix APS film the ScanMyPhotos.com service is based on the individual strip of film or 35mm mounted slide because most consumers are unable to scan these products. But, for photographs, we found that the average order is about 2,000 photos, so we pioneered this new service to broaden the economies-of-scale and simply the scanning process. We found that if you have only a handful of photos, or even a few dozen pictures to digitize that it is best to do it yourself. When you have hundreds, or thousands of snapshots, there smartest solution is ScanMyPhotos and our bulk scanning service; pay just $49.95 to scan up to 1,000 pictures, or choose from our all-inclusive prepaid fill-the-box service to scan more than 1600 standard-sized prints for $124.95. Click here to view other larger quantity specials and our famous buy two get the third prepaid box free (we scan more than 5,500 prints for $249.90) Click here for more info.

Negatives and slides are significantly more work and more time and must be scanned one at a time, therefore we cannot offer huge bulk-rate discounts on these services.

---

Will I be able to download the returned disc to color correct the scanned photos?

Yes, the images are not copy protected in any way and are yours to do with as you please. You can create a slide show, edit the photos, reorganize or rename the photos.

I've downloaded my files onto my hard drive but it says they are locked. How do I unlock them?

Once on your hard drive, on a PC, simply select all, right-click on any highlighted file and select Properties. In the Attributes, simply make sure the Read-Only is unchecked. With a Mac, select all the files and press Command-Option-I. In the Ownership & Permission, change from Read Only, to Read & Write.

Can I use the newly scanned digital DVD to view my photos on the TV with my DVD player?

The DVD we provide you with is not a video DVD. It is only a DVD with your JPEG files on it. There are a number of slideshow creation software products available that would allow you to create a movie for your DVD player to watch on a TV. Some examples are: iMovie ® or Nero PhotoShow ®. However, some newer model DVD players do have a slideshow feature but most limit the number of photos that can be loaded, usually well below the 1,000 mark. In our experience, most DVD players will not load more than 200 images.

I've ordered multiple boxes and each disk starts at file #1. When I copy them to my hard drive it tells me there is a file name conflict. What should I do?

We recommend that you use any number of free file renaming software that is available that will automatically rename your files once copied to your hard drive. You can find quite a few at VersionTracker.com by searching for "file rename ". We do not fulfill custom numbering requests; every job starts at #1.

---

What happens if my order is delayed during mailing and how about guarantees?

Upon receipt at ScanMyPhotos.com, all orders are digitally preserved and archived at our facility for 30-days as an added backup. We recommend the U.S. Postal Service for delivery and recommend that you consider adding their various tracking and confirmation products and services – click here. If you choose the Pre-paid Fill-the-box option, you can bring it to the post office and pay for extra delivery and signature confirmation services at that time but currently only some post offices will allow added services.

However, please note, understand and recognize that by mailing us any items, we cannot and do not warrantee or guarantee delivery by third-party couriers. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT YOUR ORDER IS MISPLACED, DELAYED, LOST OR DAMAGED, YOU AGREE THAT SCANMYPHOTOS.COM AND 30 MINUTE PHOTOS ETC. IS NOT LIABLE AND THERE WILL BE NO COMPENSATION OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND. We assume no responsibility for any loss and/or damage to client's materials while it is transported by the mail, courier or transport companies, nor any liability, for damage, loss, delay or irregularity to person or property in connection with any service advertised herein or by services provided by third parties over which 30 Minute Photos, Etc. has no control.

How do I track my photo shipment?

The easiest way is to simply type your tracking number into a Google search as it recognizes USPS, UPS and FedEx tracking numbers.

My question is not answered here. Where can I obtain more information?

You may use our Live Support (banner under our service menu to the left) to instant message with an online support technician, call us at 949-474-7654 during normal business hours or email us at info@scanmyphotos.com.

Photo Scanning Blog | Photo Preservation Center | 949-474-7654 | info@scanmyphotos.com |