Input on family photo project

[mrtaber]

Because I'm "artistic" and "a geek," I got nominated to scan in and organize the family photos.  As I went through the boxes, I knew terror--many of the pictures are deteriorating or are seriously damaged already (some are/were Polaroids).

Job one is to get everything digital, so scanning is my first priority.  I have a Canon 8400F scanner, and I plan to scan the images at 600dpi, into TIFF files.

The rest of my workflow will involve Adobe Lightroom (organization and touch-up), and CS3 if necessary.

I'd like to be able to send out some photobooks, and perhaps a DVD, for the holidays, 2008.

I'm asking for input, because, well...it's a big project, and I don't want to get into the middle of it and realize I should have used a different scanner, or a higher resolution, or different software.

Do I sound sane?  On the right track?

Thanks,
New to the forum, and I'm enjoying lurking

Mark Taber

[StephenEdgar]

Hello Mark,
I am a few weeks into a similar project: scanning in many negatives, transparencies and a lesser number of prints. I have come across the following (obvious?) issues:
1. Storage space: do you have sufficient 'storage space' for this project?
2. Backup: with all this important family history, again have you allowed for the storage  requirements for a backup copy of your work?
3. Scanning Resolution: I am not familiar with the scanner you are using, but the scanning resolution seems quite low for (35mm?) negatives and transparencies, particularly if you want reasonable sized prints. I really think it would be better to scan at the highest resolution device you can lay your hands on! (>2900 dpi?)
3. Output format: I understand your decision for the TIFF format, but, if you can, get the scanner to output an additional , smaller, JPEG version of each image
4. Scan time: I've found that it takes around 5-7 minutes per scan irrespective of scanner, software, computer etc. It takes time to load the image, scan, have a quick look, tweak a bit, get the next slide/negative ready. If you want a life as well, just realise its a long process.
5. Scanner Software: Use Digital ICE or similar software that will try and minimise the amount of 'damage repair' work you will need to do. You really want to go into CS3 as little as possible on a big project like this!
6. Image Management Software: despite also having LightRoom, I found it easier to use Bridge for initial file management and adding keywords. I was forever forgetting to 'invite' finished scans into Lightroom!
7. Folder sizes: break up the project into manageable 'chunks': One page of negatives per folder(?) etc. This will make it easier to remember where you are!

Perhaps some of these suggestions might be useful.

Stephen

[Gordon Buck]

Sounds like a long term project!

Scan the negatives whenever possible.  Your intention to scan photos at 600 dpi and into TIF files sounds good to me.  There is probably less than 600 dpi of information in the print (some say 300) but I prefer to scan at 600 myself.  I recommend scanning at 16bit but others may disagree.  After your editing, there is probably little need to distribute TIF files.  JPG should be fine.

Put all the final images on one of the photo sharing sites such as Smugmug, Flickr, etc.  Password protect.  Let your family members order what they want from the service.  They can order "albums" as well.  You can add to the online albums as you go along -- no need to wait for the project to be finished.

Use Proshow Gold (not Producer) to make a slideshow on a DVD.  You probably won't use *all* the photos in the show.  You'll get the chance to be the artist/producer and tell the family story.

Use one of the print-on-demand publishers such as Lulu or Blurb to make a book -- probably using even fewer photos than the slideshow.  

You'll be the family historian, writer, producer, photographer, artist -- and geek!

[mrtaber]

Stephen,
Thanks for the excellent advice, from someone who has been there.  Especially salutary was point number 3, the scan resolution.  I suggested 600dpi, because, in my case, I'll be scanning far more prints than slides, and an 8x10 at 1200dpi, for example, runs afoul of Lightroom's 10,000 pixel limit (i.e., if any dimension of an image is greater than or equal to 10,000 pixels, Lightroom will not load the image).  A classic case of letting the tool dictate.  I have since found that Aperture (yes, I have both--more money than sense, some would say), has no such limitations.  My scanner is a 3200dpi scanner, with the FARE software (much like Digital ICE).  

Your point about the JPEGs is well-taken.  In Aperture, it's very easy to generate a JPEG from a master image, and my machine makes short work of such tasks.  

The most exciting discovery?  A sepia tone 8x10 of my deceased uncle, who was Air Force in WWII.  Well, I *thought* it was sepia tone until the FARE software revealed that the photo had been tinted--there was the pink skin, gold buttons, green coat--none visible to the naked eye, unless you knew to look for it, and had a loupe!.  An amazing (to us) family photo became remarkable.  The joys of digital imaging!

Thanks,
I'll no doubt be back with questions and complaints

Mark

Hello Mark,
I am a few weeks into a similar project: scanning in many negatives, transparencies and a lesser number of prints. I have come across the following (obvious?) issues:
1. Storage space: do you have sufficient 'storage space' for this project?
2. Backup: with all this important family history, again have you allowed for the storage  requirements for a backup copy of your work?
3. Scanning Resolution: I am not familiar with the scanner you are using, but the scanning resolution seems quite low for (35mm?) negatives and transparencies, particularly if you want reasonable sized prints. I really think it would be better to scan at the highest resolution device you can lay your hands on! (>2900 dpi?)
3. Output format: I understand your decision for the TIFF format, but, if you can, get the scanner to output an additional , smaller, JPEG version of each image
4. Scan time: I've found that it takes around 5-7 minutes per scan irrespective of scanner, software, computer etc. It takes time to load the image, scan, have a quick look, tweak a bit, get the next slide/negative ready. If you want a life as well, just realise its a long process.
5. Scanner Software: Use Digital ICE or similar software that will try and minimise the amount of 'damage repair' work you will need to do. You really want to go into CS3 as little as possible on a big project like this!
6. Image Management Software: despite also having LightRoom, I found it easier to use Bridge for initial file management and adding keywords. I was forever forgetting to 'invite' finished scans into Lightroom!
7. Folder sizes: break up the project into manageable 'chunks': One page of negatives per folder(?) etc. This will make it easier to remember where you are!

Perhaps some of these suggestions might be useful.

Stephen
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[mrtaber]

Wow, thanks!  I'm taking notes here

Mark

Sounds like a long term project!

Scan the negatives whenever possible.  Your intention to scan photos at 600 dpi and into TIF files sounds good to me.  There is probably less than 600 dpi of information in the print (some say 300) but I prefer to scan at 600 myself.  I recommend scanning at 16bit but others may disagree.  After your editing, there is probably little need to distribute TIF files.  JPG should be fine.

Put all the final images on one of the photo sharing sites such as Smugmug, Flickr, etc.  Password protect.  Let your family members order what they want from the service.  They can order "albums" as well.  You can add to the online albums as you go along -- no need to wait for the project to be finished.

Use Proshow Gold (not Producer) to make a slideshow on a DVD.  You probably won't use *all* the photos in the show.  You'll get the chance to be the artist/producer and tell the family story.

Use one of the print-on-demand publishers such as Lulu or Blurb to make a book -- probably using even fewer photos than the slideshow. 

You'll be the family historian, writer, producer, photographer, artist -- and geek!
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[tived]

Hi Mark,

sounds like a great project - I have offered my service to our broken families, one danish and one greek, living in Australia.

I am currently in the collecting stage and have yet not gotten to the digital side yet.

it would be really interesting if you and others doing a similar project would be so kind to share their experience here, not so much the images, but the process. What worked and what didn't. what you would have done differently had you known what you do now.

expected outcome - re-print, book, web etc..
collecting, storing hard copies
digitizing, hardware, software...dpi, size etc...
outputting...

we are unfortunately in a time where there are very few left on either side of the family who know the stories before them/us currently living. and I would really like for my daughter to know a bit more about her history.

thanks for sharing and good luck

Henrik

PS I am expecting it to at least a 2 year plus project for myself