Our Work
This is where we'll share examples of our work - what we do, how we do it and, where appropriate, why we do it. It's here that you'll also find the technical specifications and resolutions that we work with to ensure the best results for your photos.
1973
This slide from 1973 had started to show some colour 'drift', The dyes fading towards magenta. It had also suffered from a few scratches and some dust from not being stored particularly well. After colour balancing and cleaning, it's almost like you're there. And I was. I Loved that coat!
Scanner Quality
There are a number of domestic slide scanners which are quick and easy to use, but the results lack depth and detail. We use high quality scanners to ensure we capture every detail of both image and colour. You can compare a 'home' scanner and a professional scanner by moving the slider on this image.
Back In the U.S.S.R.
I acquired a large collection of soviet-era slides, and almost all of them had suffered from fading of some sort. The worst were left with little but ghostly images, but with patience and the right tools, it's possible to extract enough information to reconstruct the image.
The Importance of Manual oversight
I think this is an interesting example of why every image needs to be checked by eye, not just blindly put through a 'process'. In this image, there were some markings on the face and neck that needed to be cleaned off digitally. However, there is also a mole which we want to keep. Automatically removing blemishes on the photo wouldn't be able to distinguish between them, whereas a human eye can. Knowing what to keep is as important as knowing what to remove.
So, The Numbers...
For those who want to know how we do 'it', and what processes we use...
3
The minimum number of times a slide, negative or photo is cleaned before it even reaches the scanner - every image is given a blast with the air duster, then brushed with an anti-static brush to get any stubborn particles. then the air duster again to finish the job. If a print has any stains or matter that can be removed, then we we will do so manually and carefully!
10
The number of days that we will aim to turnaround your order. This does of course depend on the complexity and volume of images that you provide, but if it's going to take longer, we will always communicate with you as soon as possible to talk through the options.
600
Is the dpi (dots per inch) resolution at which we scan photos. This is sufficient for most images, and will allow you to have good quality prints made. However, if you would like higher resolutions (dpi), that is entirely possible, but be aware that will create bigger file sizes, and depending on volume, we may have to charge a small premium per scan.
4800
Is the dpi (dots per inch) resolution at which we scan Slides and negatives. Because we are starting with a much smaller surface area, we have to have much higher resolutions to extract all the details. Again, This is sufficient for most images, and will allow you to have good quality prints made. Like the photo options, if you would like higher resolutions (dpi), that is entirely possible, but be aware that will create bigger file sizes, and depending on volume, we may have to charge a small premium per scan.
3
The number of months that you will be able to download your completed scans. If, after 3 months you find that you need to download again, you can request another link for a fixed fee of £5 which will run for another 3 months.
6
After 6 months we will remove your scans from our servers and securely delete them. This will not affect your downloads or usb sticks, and is just our way of reassuring you that we do not hold on to your pictures forever!