Learn how easy it is to scan your photos to share online through e-mail, photo sharing services, and social networking sites. Discover tools and inspirational tips to start scanning and sharing today.
Discover the benefits of scanning and sharing online
Take those cherished memories off the wall, and scan and share them online!
Today, more photos are shared through the Internet than anyplace else. And the Web is a great place to share not just your digital pictures, but older snapshots and archived photos as well!
When you scan photos to share online, you can:
Easily share old family photos, yearbook photos, Polaroids, photo booth photos and other non-digital files.
Share old snapshot memories or studio prints—such as wedding photos, senior pictures, or family portraits—on social networking sites (like Facebook) or popular photo sites and blogs (like Snapfish or Flickr).
Choose the best resolution for sharing photos online
Choosing a lower resolution will make it easier to e-mailing photos. It will also be easier for the recipient to view them.
Resolution affects both the quality of your images and the size of your image file.
While it's important to scan at a resolution that maintains image quality, when scanning your photos to e-mail or share online, large files can take up too much space on your computer and make it difficult to e-mail or upload photos to the Web.
A standard computer monitor is only 72 to 96 ppi, so it's best to select a scanning resolution of 75 or 100ppi. This slightly lower resolution also means a smaller file size, which shortens uploading and downloading time, and makes photos easier to share online.
Select the ideal file format for e-mailing and posting online
Click Change Settings and then choose your File Type from the drop down menu.
When scanning your photos and selecting a file format, it's best to first determine how you plan on using your scanned photos.
If you plan on e-mailing or posting your photos online, it's best to save your scan as a JPEG file. Because jpegs can be easily compressed, they are quicker and easier to upload, view, and share, making them the optimal file format for sharing your photos online.
Keep in mind that one drawback of the format is that every time you save a JPEG image you compress it a little more—so the image quality degrades slightly over time.
It's easy to select your file type before scanning using HP Solution Center scanning software. Just click Change Settings then choose your desired format from the File Type drop-down menu.
Snapfish is a great tool for sharing photos online with family and friends.
HP scanners feature pre-set scanning shortcuts that choose the file format and resolution for you—you'll find on for e-mailing photos.
Some HP scanners, like the HP Scanjet G4050 Photo Scanner feature a function that allows you to scan your photos directly to e-mail in one quick step.
Before you e-mail or post your scanned photo online, utilize the preview scan function on your HP Scanjet scanner to ensure your photo scan is straight, complete, and free of dust and lint.
Most HP scanners and All-in-Ones have pre-set scanning shortcuts that choose appropriate resolution and file formats for a particular use (like e-mail).
One great way to share your photos with friends and family is through an online file sharing service such as Snapfish. Just upload your photos to an online gallery and then share the link with family, friends or other photographers. Check out this in-depth article to learn more about sharing photos with Snapfish.
Share scanned photos with family and friends at the touch of a button using the intuitive TouchSmart screen on the HP Photosmart Premium Web All-in-One—no PC required!
Scan photos directly to Snapfish
With an HP Photosmart Premium Web All-in-One, not only can you scan, fax, and print wirelessly, but you can also upload your scanned images to Snapfish—directly from the machine! Improve your scanned photos
Many scanners, such as the HP Scanjet G3110 Photo Scanner, allow you to make minor edits, such as removing red-eye, removing dust and scratches, and restoring vibrant color to faded images. So you can upload photos, improve them, and print them with one machine.
Compare HP All-in-Ones with the HP photo scanner buying guide or find the HP All-in-One that's right for you.
Printable version
