Ancestry Photo Scanning

Digitizing ancestry and pre-WWII photographs requires a careful balance of technical expertise and specialized equipment to preserve the delicate details of these historical images. Many older photographs, including cabinet cards, tintypes, glass plate negatives, and early black-and-white prints, were developed using techniques that differ significantly from modern photography. These materials can be fragile, prone to fading, or highly sensitive to light and handling, which is why they require advanced scanning technology and a trained technician to ensure proper digitization.

We utilize museum-quality scanners designed to handle aging and fragile photographs with the utmost care. Before scanning, our technicians carefully inspect each photograph for signs of deterioration, brittleness, or damage. We implement non-invasive handling techniques and, if necessary, use archival-safe methods to stabilize delicate prints before digitization.

We use flatbed scanners capable of scanning at resolutions from 600 to 9600 DPI, ensuring that every fine detail—from the subtle textures of albumen prints to the intricate designs of early photographic borders—is captured with exceptional clarity.

Many pre-WWII photographs suffer from fading, yellowing, or silvering (a reflective, metallic sheen caused by chemical degradation). Our technicians can apply gentle digital enhancements to recover faded details without altering the original integrity of the image.