blw30

Q: Digitizing Old Photographs

I am a genealogist and part of the "job" is digitizing old photographs and documents while also archiving the originals. I just received a box of old family photographs and am seeking a good method for digitizing them using my iPhone 6C.

 

Has anyone done this?

 

I envision a sturdy tripod or other device to hold the iPhone perfectly level. It would thus have to be adjustable. Does anyone know of such a device?

 

The other end is the use of a high quality piece of glass to flatten the photograph or document, and probably light filters to eliminate reflections.

 

Thank you!

iPhone 6

Posted on Sep 20, 2016 11:25 AM

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Q: Digitizing Old Photographs

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  • Helpful answers

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Sep 20, 2016 8:34 PM in response to blw30
    Level 9 (54,686 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 20, 2016 8:34 PM in response to blw30

    If you have a computer you would be better off using a scanner. What is an iPhone 6C?

  • by blw30,

    blw30 blw30 Sep 20, 2016 10:20 PM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 20, 2016 10:20 PM in response to deggie

    NO, a scanner is not better than using an iPhone camera.

  • by ideaprison,

    ideaprison ideaprison Sep 21, 2016 2:44 AM in response to blw30
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Accessibility
    Sep 21, 2016 2:44 AM in response to blw30

    I work at a museum and we use scanners, I can't imagine how using a phone or a digital camera would prove better to scan documents and photos.

  • by mzler,Helpful

    mzler mzler Sep 21, 2016 6:47 AM in response to blw30
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2016 6:47 AM in response to blw30

    Hey blw30,

    there is a great app in the appstore which is called "unfaded". The app does all the things you want to do with your photos.

     

    greets

  • by blw30,

    blw30 blw30 Sep 21, 2016 7:14 AM in response to mzler
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 21, 2016 7:14 AM in response to mzler

    In response to replies:

     

    1- I cannot afford to buy a high quality scanner, and it's of no use if I'm flying somewhere (e,g, Israel or Brazil or Poland) to visit family members. Most digitized documents (well over 100 years old and having gone through multiple wars) I've seen were scanned using a poor quality scanner. Apple iPhone produce much better images.

    2 - "Unfade" looks like a very good app, and it may help. I'm not sure if it will do everything I need or want, but it's worth a try. Thank you for the recommendation.

     

    Even using a good photo app requires a means of holding the iPhone level and stable, pointed down at a table, for batch copying. I'm still looking for such a device, preferably lightweight and with a built-in level. All of the tripods and holders I've seen so far are intended to hold the iPhone/iPad upright for new photographs.

     

    I welcome recommendations for such a device. Thanks!

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Sep 21, 2016 7:26 AM in response to blw30
    Level 9 (54,686 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 21, 2016 7:26 AM in response to blw30

    Which iPhone do you actually have? There is no iPhone 6C.