Before you can restore, colorize, or enhance an old family photo, you have to get it off the paper and onto a screen — and how you scan it makes a bigger difference than most people expect. A careful, high-resolution scan gives an AI restoration tool the real detail it needs to rebuild a crisp, clear image. A rushed, low-resolution phone snap throws that detail away before you even begin.
This guide covers the best way to scan old photos and digitize old prints: what DPI to use, how to light and align each photo, which file format to save, and how to avoid glare — then how to turn that clean scan into a fully restored photo in seconds.
The short answer
The best way to scan old photos is with a flatbed scanner set to 600 DPI for standard prints (or 1200 DPI for small or highly detailed ones), with the photo laid flat against clean glass and saved as a lossless PNG or TIFF. This captures the most real detail — which is exactly what an AI restoration tool like Pinin needs to repair damage and rebuild sharp, clear detail. Your first restoration is free.
Why good scanning matters for restoration
AI restoration works by rebuilding a photo from the detail that is actually present in your file. It cannot invent detail that was never captured. So the quality of your scan sets the ceiling for how good the restored result can be — a great scan means a great restoration, while a blurry, cropped, or over-compressed scan holds the AI back.
More resolution
A high-DPI scan preserves fine texture — faces, fabric, and backgrounds — that the AI can then sharpen and enlarge.
Even lighting
Flat, glare-free light keeps colors and tones true, so the AI is not fighting hot spots or dark shadows added during capture.
Lossless files
A PNG or TIFF keeps every pixel. JPEG re-compression bakes in artifacts that make damage harder to separate from real detail.
What DPI to scan old photos at
DPI (dots per inch) is how much detail your scanner captures. Higher DPI means more detail and larger files. Here is what to use for the most common photo sizes when your goal is restoration.
| Photo type | Recommended DPI | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard prints (4x6, 5x7) | 600 DPI | Plenty of detail for restoring and reprinting at the same size |
| Small or wallet-size photos | 1200 DPI | Captures enough detail to enlarge without going soft |
| Highly detailed or precious photos | 1200 DPI | Future-proofs the archive with maximum real detail |
| Negatives and slides | 2400 DPI+ | Film is tiny, so it needs a film scanner and very high DPI |
Rule of thumb: 600 DPI is the sweet spot for everyday prints. Only go higher for small photos you want to enlarge — beyond 1200 DPI on a normal print you get much bigger files with almost no extra real detail.
How to scan old photos step by step
Clean the photo and the glass
Gently wipe dust and fingerprints off the print and the scanner glass with a soft, lint-free cloth. Every speck you remove now is one the AI does not have to work around later. Never use water or cleaning spray directly on an old photo.
Set the DPI to at least 600
In your scanner software, choose 600 DPI for standard prints or 1200 DPI for small or detailed photos. Turn off any "auto enhance", sharpening, or dust-removal filters — you want a clean, unprocessed capture so the AI has the real, original detail to restore.
Align it flat and scan the whole photo
Place the photo straight against the edge of the scanner bed and close the lid to hold it flat — a curled print scans blurry. Scan the entire image, including the border, so nothing is cropped. You can always trim later, but you cannot add back what you left out.
Save as PNG or TIFF
Save each scan as a lossless PNG or TIFF, not JPEG. Give it a clear file name and keep the original scan untouched — you can make copies to edit, but the master scan is your archive.
Upload to Pinin and restore it
Upload the scan to Pinin. In seconds the AI repairs tears, scratches, creases, and fading, sharpens soft detail, upscales the resolution, and can colorize black-and-white photos automatically. Your first restoration is free and every file is processed securely and privately.
Scanning photos with your phone
No scanner? Your phone can do a surprisingly good job of digitizing old photos if you control the light and keep it steady. Here is how to get a clean, glare-free capture.
- Use soft, indirect daylight — near a window but out of direct sun. Turn off the flash to avoid a bright reflection.
- Lay the photo flat and hold the phone directly above it, parallel to the print, so the image is not skewed.
- Fill the frame with the photo, tap to focus, and keep your hands steady (or use a small tripod) for maximum sharpness.
- A free app like Google PhotoScan captures several angles and removes glare automatically — a good option for glossy prints.
A phone capture will not match a 600 DPI flatbed scan, but a sharp, well-lit photo of the print still gives the AI plenty to work with — and Pinin can upscale the resolution afterwards.
Best file format to save scans
TIFF
Lossless and uncompressed. The gold standard for archiving precious photos, at the cost of large file sizes.
PNG
Lossless but smaller than TIFF. An excellent, practical choice for scanning and restoring everyday prints.
JPEG
Convenient for sharing, but lossy. If you must use it, save at maximum quality and keep re-saves to a minimum.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scanning at 150–300 DPI — fine for email, too low to restore or enlarge well.
- Saving straight to JPEG and re-saving repeatedly, which compounds compression artifacts.
- Using flash or overhead lights on a phone capture, adding glare and hot spots.
- Cropping tightly and cutting off part of the photo you might want later.
- Leaving "auto-enhance" or dust-removal filters on, which alter the original detail.
- Photographing a curled print, which throws part of the image out of focus.
From scan to restored photo
A clean scan is only step one. Once your photo is digitized, Pinin does the hard part — automatically, with no editing skills required:
Repairs tears, scratches, creases, and water damage
Sharpens soft detail and upscales low resolution
Revives faded colors and fixes discoloration
Colorizes black-and-white and sepia photos naturally
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to scan old photos?
The best way to scan old photos is with a flatbed scanner set to 600 DPI for standard prints (1200 DPI for small or very detailed ones), with the photo aligned flat and the glass clean, saved as a lossless PNG or TIFF. This captures the most real detail, which gives the best results when you restore the photo with AI.
What DPI should I scan old photos at?
Scan standard 4x6 prints at 600 DPI. For small, wallet-size, or highly detailed photos, use 1200 DPI so you can enlarge them without losing sharpness. Going above 1200 DPI on a normal print rarely adds real detail and just creates much larger files.
How do I digitize old photos without a scanner?
Photograph the print with your phone in bright, even, indirect light. Lay the photo flat, hold the camera parallel and directly above it, avoid flash to prevent glare, and fill the frame with the photo. A free app like Google PhotoScan can also reduce reflections automatically.
How do I avoid glare and reflections when scanning photos?
On a flatbed scanner, glare is rare because the lid blocks outside light. When using a phone, avoid direct overhead lights and flash, use soft, diffused daylight from the side, and tilt the photo slightly if a reflection appears. Glossy prints reflect more than matte ones, so extra care helps.
What file format is best for scanning photos?
Save scans as PNG or TIFF. Both are lossless, meaning they keep every pixel of detail. JPEG is fine for sharing but throws away information each time it is saved, which can leave artifacts that make restoration harder.
Can I restore a photo after scanning it?
Yes. Once your photo is scanned, upload it to an AI restoration tool like Pinin to repair tears, scratches, and fading, sharpen soft detail, and even colorize black-and-white images automatically. Your first restoration is free and no editing skills are needed.
Restore your first scanned photo free
Put this guide into practice. Upload your freshly scanned photo and watch the AI repair, sharpen, and revive it in seconds — your first restoration is on us.