After reading these photo scan tips, you're going to learn...

• How to properly load your photos on a flat-bed scanner so the digital images are scanned in order
• If you place your photos incorrectly on your scanner you might cut parts out
• How to setup your scanners settings correctly

If you're not sure how to properly load your photo scanner, you're going to waste time fiddling around with settings and get frustrated before you even begin.

Here's a simple way to start...

1. Make Sure Your Photos Are Scanned In Order

When you place your photos onto your flat-bed scanner make sure they are facing the window. That's obvious, but here's the tricky part: if you put the photo on the top right, you're going to scan them out of order.

It's hard to get use to, but you need to put the photo on the top right. Like so...

So, start from the top right, bottom right, top left, bottom right. And your scanner is going to scan them in order.

2. Be Careful Your Photo Scans Are Not Cut Off

Every scanner has what is called a "gutter". If you place your photos right to the edge of the scanner, then it's going to be in the gutter. This means a part of your photo is going to be cut off when scanned.

So, don't put your photos right flush to the edge of your scanner. Your scanner should have a defined area marking for you where NOT to put your photos.

3. Make Sure Your Scanner Knows Your Scanning Photos

Once you've loaded your scanner, fire up your scanner software. You need to tell your scanner WHAT your scanning. If you don't your scanner might be setup for slides, negatives, newspaper, paper, etc.

I'm using an Espon in my example. But you can follow along no matter what scanner you have. Here's what my scanner's settings look like...

Look for something called, "Original Type", "Document Type", "Original Format". This is where you specify what you're scanning. In my case, I'm scanning "Reflective".

I don't know why, but all scanners call "photos" a different name. Here's a quick cheat sheet if you're stuck...

Make sure you pick you pick the right type. In my case, I'm scanning a "Reflective Photo".

3 Action Steps To Get You Started

So here's 3 quick things to remember...

1. Load your photos facing down. Start from top right, bottom right, top left, bottom left -- and you'll scan them in order.
2. Watch out for gutter! Don't put your photos right to the edge of your scanner. Follow your scanner's guide lines.
3. Make sure to tell your scanner you're scanning "photos". Your scanner is going to call a photo a different name. So check the cheat sheet above for a reference.