Last updated · Written and tested by The PhotoRestorationFree team, who build and maintain this tool.
Scanning DPI chart for old photos
Pixels are inches times DPI. "Prints sharp up to" assumes 300 pixels per inch on paper.
| Original | Scan at | Pixels | Prints sharp up to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallet print | 1,200 DPI | 3,000 x 4,200 | 10 x 14 in | Small prints need high DPI to capture faces. |
| 3.5 x 5 in print | 600 DPI | 2,100 x 3,000 | 7 x 10 in | Common 1950s to 1970s snapshot size. |
| 4 x 6 in print | 600 DPI | 2,400 x 3,600 | 8 x 12 in | The standard drugstore print. |
| 5 x 7 in print | 600 DPI | 3,000 x 4,200 | 10 x 14 in | Typical portrait and school photo. |
| 8 x 10 in print | 400 DPI | 3,200 x 4,000 | 10 x 13 in | Studio portraits; 300 DPI is also fine. |
| 11 x 14 in print | 300 DPI | 3,300 x 4,200 | 11 x 14 in | May need a scan in two halves on an A4 scanner. |
| 35 mm slide or negative | 3,000 DPI | 2,835 x 4,251 | 9 x 14 in | Needs a film scanner or a scanner with a film holder. |
| Medium format 6 x 6 cm negative | 1,600 DPI | 3,779 x 3,779 | 12 x 12 in | Older family cameras (box cameras, Rolleiflex). |
Free to use and share under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "PhotoRestorationFree" with a link to this page.
Flatbed scanner settings
- Mode: color, 24-bit (48-bit if your scanner offers it), even for black-and-white prints.
- Resolution: from the chart above. Don't use "interpolated" DPI beyond the scanner's optical resolution.
- Turn off: auto-sharpening, dust removal on prints, "color restoration" and auto-crop. Do those steps later, where you can undo them.
- Format: TIFF or PNG for the archive master, JPEG quality 90+ for sharing.
- File names: year, place and names, e.g.
1952_ohio_grandma-ruth_wedding.tif. Future you will be grateful.
Scanning with a phone
- Lay the print on a dark, matte surface next to a window, out of direct sun.
- Turn the flash off and hold the phone parallel to the print, filling the frame.
- Tap to focus on a face, then take the photo. Take two in case one is soft.
- For glossy prints, use a scanning app that combines several shots to remove glare.
Before you restore: a quick checklist
- Keep the untouched scan as your master. Restore a copy.
- Crop away album pages and scanner lid, but keep the photo's own border.
- Write down what you know: names, date, place. Add it to the file's metadata or a text file next to it.
- Restore the copy with our free photo restoration tool. It works at up to 2,000 pixels, which is plenty for a 4x6 or 5x7 reprint; keep the bigger scan for your archive.
Scanning old photos: FAQ
What DPI should I scan old photos at?
600 DPI for most prints (4x6, 5x7), 1200 DPI for wallet-size prints, 300 to 400 DPI for 8x10 and larger, and 2400 to 4000 DPI for 35 mm slides and negatives.
Is 300 DPI enough for old photos?
Only for large prints (8x10 and up). A 4x6 at 300 DPI gives 1200x1800 pixels, which is too little to restore faces or reprint larger than the original.
JPEG or TIFF for scanning photos?
Save your archive master as TIFF or PNG (lossless) if you have the space, and a high-quality JPEG (90 or above) for sharing and restoration. Never re-save the same JPEG over and over.
Can I scan old photos with my phone?
Yes. Use Google PhotoScan or your camera app, lay the print flat in soft daylight, hold the phone parallel to it and turn the flash off. Phone scans are fine for restoration and sharing; use a flatbed scanner for archives.
Should I clean old photos before scanning?
Only with a soft, dry brush or a blower. Don't use water, alcohol or cloths: they can lift the emulsion. Clean the scanner glass instead, with a lint-free cloth.
Color or grayscale for black-and-white photos?
Scan black-and-white photos in color (24-bit or 48-bit). It captures the paper tone and subtle staining, which gives restoration tools more information. You can always convert to grayscale later.