Monday, July 6, 2009

Creating Photo Books From Scanned Photographs

By Pete Fontaine

Most people realize that having their photos scanned will permanently protect them from loss and damage. Not only does scanning make it easy and inexpensive to share complete copies of your images with family members it also stops natural deterioration due to aging and moisture in its tracks. But the cost and effort of having your photos scanned also makes it possible for you to get creative in new and exciting ways.

Once your ordinary photos are digitized they can be added to and organized along with your collection of digital photos. And when the work is done you'll be able to use your newly scanned images to generate wonderful photobooks and photo specialties. Several online businesses offer free software that lets you use your digital images to create an assortment of items from mugs to puzzels to t-shirts and more.

When a South Florida girls high school soccer team recently used an online photo specialty company to put the picture of an injured team leader on t-shirts for the entire team there wasn't a dry eye on the field. This affordable gesture was truly a moment to remember.

An office manager had all of the people in the office submit unique photos of themselves. Using a photo specialty company she produced personalized photo mugs for each of the individuals and hung them on a rack in the lunch room. The mugs generated endless discussion about childhood, hobbies, and 1980's attire. Not only could everyone easily identify their own mug, they learned things about their coworkers they might not have otherwise.

One family was so touched by the photo presentation that the funeral parlor had put together for their Grandfather's funeral that they decided to use the digitized images to create small photo books with some of the really special, one of kind photos. They then sent copies out to loved ones. Everyone agreed it was a really special way to remember someone.

A group of Pre-K moms put together a photo book that included all of the kids, the teachers, and the staff. They took photos of the kids playing outside, sitting for stories, and nap time. Kids posed with their teachers, friends, and favorite books and toys. As time goes by and memories fade, these kids will be able to see where their education began. Some of the children may end up being friends for life.

Many high school teams and clubs have discovered that they can easily and inexpensively pool their special digital photographs and create photobooks that are exclusively dedicated to their particular organization. Some teams have used photobooks to raise money while others have put them together just for fun. Everyone likes the idea of their group having complete artistic control of their own project. These keepsakes will more treasured as the years go by.

Make sure to use a photo specialty provider that provides an automatic layout feature. This will allow you to preview unlimited layouts and easily rotate pictures in and out of your pages or items. Better providers allow you to use a photo as the background of a page, and you can preview quickly right from your computer without waiting to send and receive over the internet, a huge time saver.

Digitizing your photos is the right thing to do. It preserves them and makes them easy to copy. The fun begins when you choose a great photo specialty company and start creating personalized keepsakes to share with your family and friends. New software makes it easy to become a creative genius, and the low prices will make you look even smarter.

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