Why phone scans work for vintage photos
A phone can make a useful digital copy when the print is evenly lit, the camera is steady, and the important details are in focus. Check one capture before working through a whole collection.
- Inspect faces and small details at full size. Camera resolution alone does not tell you how much detail a capture preserved.
- Glare-removal tools can help with reflections, but check that processing has not changed important details or colours.
- Work in small batches so you can check focus, label files, and back up the untouched captures before editing.
What you will need
- A smartphone camera that can focus clearly on the print.
- The normal camera app or a photo-scanning app.
- A clean, flat surface such as a desk, kitchen counter, or poster board.
- Soft, even lighting. Natural daylight from a nearby window is ideal.
1. Prepare the photo
A few minutes of prep prevents glare and blur later.
- Handle the print by its edges on a clean supporting surface.
- Place it on a flat, neutral surface near indirect daylight. Avoid direct sun or harsh lamps.
- Do not press a curled print under a book, rub its image surface, or force it flat. For brittle, flaking, stuck, or damaged prints, seek conservation advice before handling or cleaning.
The National Archives digitization guidance stresses careful handling and keeping the physical originals. Do not let a scanner lid crush a print that does not fit.
Tip: Turn off overhead lights that create hot spots, then position two softer light sources (like desk lamps) at 45-degree angles to reduce glare.
2. Choose a capture method
Keep the phone parallel to the print and check the saved file, not just the camera preview. My Restored Photo accepts JPEG, PNG, and WebP up to 10MB; PDF, HEIC, and TIFF are not accepted upload formats.
PhotoScan by Google Photos
PhotoScan uses a guided capture to reduce glare. Follow Google's PhotoScan instructions for your installed version.
- Open PhotoScan and hold the phone directly above the print.
- Open the app, align the photo within the frame, then tap the capture button.
- Move the circle over each of the four dots without tilting the phone. Keep glare removal enabled if you need it.
- Review the saved image on your device, rotate or adjust its corners if needed, and keep an untouched copy.
iPhone Notes document scanner
Notes scans documents, which is a different workflow from saving a camera photo. Follow Apple's current Notes instructions and check the exported file type before uploading.
- Open the Notes app and start a new note.
- Tap the Attachment button, select Scan Documents, and point your phone at the photo.
- Notes will auto-capture once it detects the edges. Adjust the corners if it needs help, then tap Keep Scan.
- Finish the scan and check the export. If it is a PDF, export an image copy or use the camera app instead. Renaming a PDF to .jpg does not convert it.
Android camera or Google Drive scanner
The normal camera app is a practical starting point for a photo. Document-scanner export options vary, so check that you can save an accepted image format.
- Open the camera in photo mode. Avoid document filters that turn the print into high-contrast black and white.
- Align the frame so the photo fills most of the screen.
- Capture, adjust the crop, and boost brightness if the scan looks dark.
- Export to your gallery as a JPEG or PNG so it is ready for upload.
Stabilize your phone: Rest your elbows on the table or use a small tripod to avoid motion blur.
3. Check the digital file
Before you upload, confirm the scan looks sharp and balanced.
- Zoom in to make sure faces and fine details look crisp.
- Rotate if the photo is sideways and trim any leftover background.
- Save the final version as JPEG, PNG, or WebP - the formats My Restored Photo accepts.
4. Upload to My Restored Photo
- Sign in or create your free account.
- Use your complimentary account credit to test one restoration. The first AI retry is included; the editor shows any cost for additional retries.
- Images remain in private storage, and service providers process them to deliver the restoration. Jobs are scheduled for deletion after 30 days. Read the privacy policy for provider and retention details.
AI may reconstruct plausible detail rather than recover what was actually there. Compare the result with your untouched capture, especially around faces, and read about what AI restoration can and cannot recover.
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