Just returned from a presentation about scanners at the local computer group. One suggestion was to place the items to be scanned near the *middle* of the glass. A particular scanner can be tested with lined graph paper to see if there are differences near the edges. Do you need to scan any film, negatives or slides? If yes, there are additional considerations. Big files require a powerful computer to edit and an advanced backup system. DVD writer or at least a CD writer recommended. For enlargements of photos, there may be some advantages to an expensive scanner. For family projects, the completed images are usually printed 6 inches wide or smaller as part of a family story. Images for web sites are usually quite small so that they can be viewed by home page visitors using a dial up connection. I get good results with Microtek scanners. The images on the computer screen are good and little editing is required unless the original is damaged. Some budget-priced scanners have less control over the scan area and settings. Elizabeth, scanning for family history projects since 1996 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Alvarez" > I am going to be buying a scanner in a few days for the purpose of scanning old family photos. > Can anyone give me advice on what type of scanner and what level of dpi would be best.

E. Rodier Thanks for responsing I feel my computer is powerful enough. It is a Pen 4 266 GHZ, with 512 memory and 120 gig harddrive. I expect in the future I would be scanning negatives. But my main purpose is to scan the old photos. Some as old as 120 years. And to attempt to restore some of them. I have Paintshop and Photoshop for the restoring but I will not be able to decide which one I will use until I purchase the scanner. I have seen scanners with 2400 by 4800 with 48 bit true color. (if I remember correctly). But I wonder if I need this much dpi. I am thinking of storing them in TIFF not JPEG work on them and then burn them to CD's to distribute to family members. I know TIFF creates very large files, but from my limited knowledge it also retains the photo without degrading it, each time it is worked on. Steve > Just returned from a presentation about scanners at the local computer > group. One suggestion was to place the items to be scanned near the *middle* > of the glass. A particular scanner can be tested with lined graph paper to > see if there are differences near the edges. Do you need to scan any film, > negatives or slides? If yes, there are additional considerations. > > Big files require a powerful computer to edit and an advanced backup system. > DVD writer or at least a CD writer recommended. > > For enlargements of photos, there may be some advantages to an expensive > scanner. For family projects, the completed images are usually printed 6 > inches wide or smaller as part of a family story. Images for web sites are > usually quite small so that they can be viewed by home page visitors using a > dial up connection. > > I get good results with Microtek scanners. The images on the computer screen > are good and little editing is required unless the original is damaged. Some > budget-priced scanners have less control over the scan area and settings. > Elizabeth, scanning for family history projects since 1996

Could you give me details of computer group and what sort of people attend Thanks Nick Ashby E.Rodier wrote: >Just returned from a presentation about scanners at the local computer >group. > > > > > > > >. >