Scan photos for printing

Scan old photos and make a family tree photo collage to display in your home.

There are many reasons to scan your photos, but one of the most common is to make prints from your photo scans. Need some motivation? Take a look at what you can do:

• Scan your favorite photo prints from the pre-digital age, then print copies to frame, fill an album, or turn into a photo gift.
• Restore old or damaged photos and print new copies.
• Scan photos to feature in a calendar or other creative printable crafts.
• Create a photo family tree featuring high-quality photo prints of your ancestors from their scanned originals.

Click Resolution from the Resize/Output menu, and then select a resolution from the
drop-down menu.

Resolution affects the quality of your images and photo prints. Follow these steps to achieve the ideal resolution when scanning and printing:

• For a high-quality duplicate that is the same size as your original scanned photo, it's best to scan the original at a resolution of at least 300ppi (pixels per inch).
• If you intend to print an enlargement of your original scan, say an 8" x 10" print from a 4" x 6" snapshot, it is important to scan at a higher resolution to maintain image quality. Learn more about how to enlarge photo prints through high-resolution scanning.
• To select your resolution using HP Solution Center scanning software, simply select the Resize/Output tab, click on Resolution, and then choose your desired resolution from the drop-down menu.

A JPEG is the ideal file type for scanning and printing photos of the same size as your originals.

When scanning your photos and selecting a file type, it’s best to first decide how you will use your scanned photos. If you plan on printing, consider the following:

• While both JPEGs and TIFFs are widely used image formats, JPEGs are widely used for both online sharing and printing photos at the same size as your original.
• Because TIFF files can be edited and resaved without compression loss, this is the ideal file format for archiving or printing photo enlargements.

Step 4: From the HP Solution Center, choose your scanner. Then select Scan Picture to scan your photo.

Step 7: Select your photo printer from your computer’s list of available printers.

If you don’t have an HP All-in-One that features both scanning and printing, you can always use a scanner, such as the HP Scanjet G4050 Photo Scanner, and a photo printer:

• Step 1: Place your photo face down on the scanner glass and close the scanner lid.
• Step 2: Open the HP Solution Center (found on your computer's desktop or in your programs folder):
• Step 3: Select your scanner from the list.
• Step 4: Select Scan Picture.
• Step 5: Choose a destination for your scanned file, and then select Scan.
• Step 6: Use your scanner’s software (or your favorite photo editing software) to edit, crop, and even fix flaws using your scanner software.
• Step 7: Finally, to print your scanned image, select your photo printer from your computer’s list of available printers.

The dust-and-scratch-removal feature is a great tool for improving photo scans.

A transparent materials adapter (TMA), which is included with the HP Scanjet G4010 Photo Scanner, makes it easy to scan 35mm
slides and negatives.

Follow these photo scanning tips to ensure the highest quality photo prints:

• The dust-and-scratch-removal feature found on a number of HP Scanjet scanners is a great tool for creating higher quality prints. Learn more about how to remove dust and scratches from your photos with an HP Scanjet scanner.
• Turn your photo slides and negatives into prints you can share and enjoy. Many HP Scanjet Scanners, such as the HP Scanjet G4050 Photo Scanner, come equipped with a built-in transparent materials adapter (TMA) for scanning up to 16 slides or 30 negatives at once. Learn how easy it is to scan 35mm photo slides and negatives.
• Check the scanner glass for lint, hair, fingerprints, or smudges—any of these can mar your scanned photo. You can use a lint-free pad or wipe and household glass cleaner. Be sure to spray the cleaner directly on the cloth rather than the scanner glass. You may want to wear gloves to avoid leaving behind fingerprints.

Check your PC’s desktop for a “My Scans” folder, which may have been added when you first installed your scanner or All-in-One’s software.

Most scanner software will have a default location set up for your saved scans unless you choose otherwise.

In Windows Live Photo Gallery, you can choose the “Arrange by” option at the top of the screen and sort your photos by numerous filters, including “Type” (which indicates file type).

Your scanning software will give you a choice of where to send the digital image on your computer, making it easy to keep track of your scans.

Use the following tips to find and print a photo that you’ve previously scanned to your PC:

• Look for a “My Scans” folder: You may have a “My Scans” folder on your PC’s desktop or listed under “My Documents”. You can also look for a “My Pictures” or “Pictures” folder.
• Check the default “Save to” location: Most scanner software will have a default location set up for your saved scans. With some software, you can verify this location in the scan settings. Other software may require a test scan before you see what default location appears in the “Save” field.
• Search by file name: If you remember the file name (for example, winter_trip_08), but can’t recall where you saved it, search for the file name via your computer’s search field.
• Search by file format: If you don’t remember where your scan was saved or what it was named, search for the file format it was saved as, for example, JPEG, TIFF, etc.

Keep your scans organized in folders and use the “Sort by” function to arrange the files by name, file format, date, and more.

HP Scanjet G4050 Photo Scanner
$219.99

• 6-color scanner with 96-bit scanning for photos, slides, and negatives¹
• Remove red-eye, scratches, and dust marks from photos, slides, and negatives at the touch of a button, without software.
• Scan up to 16 slides or 30 negatives at once with the built-in adapter

HP Photosmart 7520 e-All-in-One
$199.99

• Print, scan, copy, fax
• 4.3" color touchscreen
• ISO Print Speed: Up to 14 pages per minute (ppm) black, 10 ppm color²
• Automatic photo tray holds up to 20 pages
• Lab-quality photos from 5 individual inks
• 25-sheet automatic document feeder