Photo Digitizing Service

What’s the first thing that people grab when there’s a fire?  Besides the cat?  We all know… it’s the photos.  The old prints that have been around for a generation or two or three, that tell the story of your family.

Do you need a professional service that will scan your old pictures, scan film negatives, and convert slides to digital photos? Horn Photo preserves these precious possessions with our scanning and archiving service.

We scan your prints, slides and film negatives, then save them to a CD, DVD or thumb drive.  You get your originals back, but they are reproduced and protected in a digital format. You then have many options to protect your images forever.  You can upload them to the cloud,  share them with your family, make prints from them, and much more.

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We have provided archiving services for many years, along with film developing and printing. Horn Photo has scanned and archived countless photographs for valley residents. This really is our forte. We LOVE working with old photos and family heirlooms. We also provide the Central Valley with photo retouching and restoration services. In addition to all of our photo digitizing, archiving and restoration, we offer VHS video to digital transfers.

Digitizing and archiving old photographs - why it's so important

Digitizing and archiving old photographs holds immense significance in preserving personal and historical legacies. Physical prints are susceptible to deterioration over time due to environmental factors, aging, and wear. By converting them into digital formats, we ensure longevity, protecting these memories from loss or damage. Moreover, digital archiving facilitates easy sharing, replication, and organization, making it accessible for future generations to reconnect with their heritage. It's a transformative process that safeguards the irreplaceable, bridging the past with the convenience of the digital age for lasting cultural and familial continuity.

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Scanning photographs

The sentimental value of physical photographs remains unparalleled. Whether you have a stack of vintage family photos or a collection of personal milestones captured on film, our expert scanning services meticulously convert these tangible memories into high-resolution digital images. By opting to scan your photographs, you not only safeguard them from the passage of time but also create a convenient and easily accessible digital archive. Preserve your past with a simple scan, and allow your most treasured moments to transcend generations and remain eternally vivid in the digital realm.

Horn Photo scans prints that are not framed or encased in protective plastic pocket sheets within a photo album; loose prints are preferred. Prints should be removed from frames, glass, or protective album sleeves. However, if the print is stuck to glass, do not try to peel the print away from the glass, because it will damage the print. We will work with you to digitize the image through the glass for an additional fee, and each case is individually evaluated.

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Film photography to digital

Our skilled professionals carefully digitize 35 mm film negatives, ensuring that every detail and nuance is captured with precision.

Commonly asked questions about image archiving

What does it cost to scan photos to digital?

It depends on the type of scan and the amount you bring in.  The larger the quantity, the lower the cost.  However, if there are issues that require special attention and extra labor, there could be additional costs.  

Please call us at (559) 225-5080, email us at info@hornphoto.com, or come into the store for information on pricing for your particular project.

How long it takes to scan old pictures, negatives and slides and convert them to digital?

It takes one to three weeks, on average, depending upon the size of the project.   If the scanning job is for a funeral or memorial service, please let us know, and we will get the job out quickly and meet your needs.

What is the size/resolution of the image scans?

There is no one answer for that question.  Each type of original can be different.  Here’s the breakdown:

Prints

•     Our standard scan for prints is 600dpi.  For example, a 4”x6” at 600dpi =3600 x 2400 px, or 24 megabytes.  

•     Larger prints (8”x10” and up) are scanned at 300 dpi.  For example, an 11”x14”at 300dpi = 4200 x 3300 px, or 40 megabytes.

•     We do offer a higher resolution scan if you need something larger, for example a 24”x36” print.  

Slides

We use a Kodak Carousel scanner.  If your slides are already in a carousel, please don’t remove them.  Bring in your carousel with the slides.

•     The average scan for 35mm positive slide is 4480 x 3006 dpi.  

•     We do offer a higher resolution for making large prints from your slide, and the resolution is 6774 x 4492 dpi.  It is a single, one-at-a-time scanner, that does an excellent job.

35mm and 120 film negatives

35mm and 120 film negatives are scanned on the same high quality Noritsu scanner that we use to do film that has just been developed.   You have two options.

•     35mm standard resolution is 3089 x 2048 dpi

•     35mm high resolution is 6774 x 4492 dpi

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Where do you put my digital images?

It depends on how many images we digitize, and the ultimate size of the archive. For smaller orders, we will put your images on to a compact disk (CD) for permanency. The larger orders will be placed on DVD or a USB thumb drive.

Do you scan large original prints?

We can scan large prints, within reason.  8”x12” to 12”x18”. Additional pricing is done on a case-by-case evaluation.

Can you scan odd sized negatives and slides?

Yes.  We offer Film Scanning for Odd Sized Film and Slides. Examples are 126, 4x5, etc. The size of these scans varies by the size of the original film.  We attempt to get the highest quality that we can from these odd sizes.  

One thing we cannot do...

Scan copy-written professional work without permission from the photographer.  Example: Olan Mills portraits. We can if we have permission in writing from Olan Mills.

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If you have any questions please email us and ask away. info@hornphoto.com