Scanning old pics...

[recycled sixtie]

Just wondering if there is a way to prevent glare on my scanner when scanning old photographs to put on the internet? Of course you need the bulb for illumination but the pics end up poor quality. Any suggestions?

[Scott Douglas]

Are you scanning slides or photographs?

I don't have a scanner but I do have a good macro lens and a hi res digital camera if that gives you any ideas.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Are you scanning slides or photographs?

I don't have a scanner but I do have a good macro lens and a hi res digital camera if that gives you any ideas.

Scott these are old pics that I am scanning. The cameras used were pre digital era - anywhere between 30-90 years old! I have also a modern digital camera. I have an HP photosmart 4530 scanner printers but I don't see settings to change the glare factor...

[GH85Carrera]

Are you using a regular scanner or a digital camera to take photos?

You can buy an actual scanner and make life easy. $200 or so will get a nice scanner.

To use your digital camera as a scanner is a bigger challenge. First you need a tripod or some way to mount the camera to point straight down.

Lights are the challenge. For prints that are glossy and have a high reflective surface you need a longer lens and get further away from the print. Put a sheet of white paper or cotton cloth in front of the lights to make the lights more even.

If you are seeing a the reflection of the camera and tripod turn the room light off and get it as dark as possible except for the lights on the print. You may have to wrap black cloth on the camera. It can be a lot of work. A scanner is usually easier.

I shot copy negatives and transparencies of every sort of "art" and photograph one can imagine for many years. Some were real challenges and required large format view cameras.

Tell us more about your setup.

[stomachmonkey]

Odd you are getting glare from an actual flat bed scanner.

This may sound like a stupid question but are you scanning pics that are framed / under glass?

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Odd you are getting glare from an actual flat bed scanner.

This may sound like a stupid question but are you scanning pics that are framed / under glass?

I have tried that and of course lots of glare. But pics but not in glass or framed still end up being virtually unreadable. Perhaps a better quality dedicated scanner might have settings to offset glare. Glossy pics are the worst.

[Scott Douglas]

We have HP All-in-One printers (C7280) and looking at the scan and copy menus, if yours is anything like ours, I think you might have better luck copying rather than scanning. It might be worth a try as on our copy menu you can at least make it lighter/darker.
I have only copied slides with my digital camera/macro lens, I haven't tried taking photos of actual photographs.

[Charles Freeborn]

I've had good luck with Vuescan software by Hamrick. Several controls and filters.
https://www.hamrick.com/

[wildthing]

Not sure where the glare comes from. I've scanned my kids' class pics (although they are recent) and haven't had that problem on a flatbed all-in-one.

I did send pictures and negatives once to scancafe.com and had good results.

Old prints were printed differently, but I am not an expert to say whether it would cause glare.

Could it also be a setting on the scanner or software?

Edit: quick Google search of scan old photos glare returns some suggestions:

1. Turn photo 45 degrees? Maybe 90.
2. Scan twice, once upright, the other upside down, use Photoshop to layer the two...

[recycled sixtie]

This is not too bad for this pic was taken in 1963! Austin A40, Morris 8 Tourer(1935) and a Morris Minor.

Near Reading, UK.

[1990C4S]

I don't think that qualifies as 'not too bad'.

Obviously I haven't seen the original, but I think you should be able to get a substantially better image from a scanner.

[Scott Douglas]

I would tend to agree with 1990C4S.
Are you scanning using the control panel on the printer or with software on the computer?
Have you looked here:
HP Printers - Scanning From the Control Panel (Email, JPEG, PDF) | HP® Customer Support

[Charles Freeborn]

Here is a photo taken by my grandfather in 1914 or thereabouts. Taken in France as part of the French American Ambulance Corps. B & W original:


Minimal retouching/enhancing in Photoshop. Original is small - maybe 2.5" x 4".
Scanner is very old, but good - Agfa if I recall. Software is VueScan set to 600 dpi or so.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

This is not too bad for this pic was taken in 1963! Austin A40, Morris 8 Tourer(1935) and a Morris Minor.

Near Reading, UK.

This looks like you've got your settings on "Black and White" or "Text".
For photos you want "Greyscale" or "Black and White Photo"

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

This looks like you've got your settings on "Black and White" or "Text".
For photos you want "Greyscale" or "Black and White Photo"

Yup, scanner settings are not correct.

[Rikao4]

to scan or copy B & W photos..
use the color setting..
it makes a big difference..

Rika

[Charles Freeborn]

I use "Color Photo" too, as many old B & W photos are sepia toned and have a fair amount of color in them. It does make for a larger file, though.

[Rikao4]

color setting..
pic is B & W..

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

Here is a photo taken by my grandfather in 1914 or thereabouts. Taken in France as part of the French American Ambulance Corps. B & W original:


Minimal retouching/enhancing in Photoshop. Original is small - maybe 2.5" x 4".
Scanner is very old, but good - Agfa if I recall. Software is VueScan set to 600 dpi or so.

(sidebar - what is that? I'm guessing Peugeot?)

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

(sidebar - what is that? I'm guessing Peugeot?)

Couldn't tell you. I've got some other shots of my Great Uncle and Grandfather from the same period in a variety of cars. They were motorheads...