How to Check Original Photos Returned by a Scanning Service
By ImgHeal · Updated
Check returned originals against the intake list before distributing them back to relatives. Compare identifiers, order, mounts, and visible condition using the references made before shipping. Keep packaging and correspondence until questions are resolved. A complete scan download does not confirm that every original object, envelope, or album component has been returned in the agreed state.
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Verify outer packages and group counts
Record the return package and any visible transport concern before unpacking on a clean supported table. Match box and group references first, then check individual items where required. Do not reorganize immediately into a new family scheme, because doing so can obscure a missing group or changed sequence. Keep a separate discrepancy list with identifiers rather than relying on an informal recollection of how many photographs were sent.
Compare the object's condition
Use intake images to inspect corners, mounts, bindings, and attached notes without introducing extra handling. Record observable differences neutrally and include a reference photograph when safe. Do not attempt to flatten a new curl, erase a mark, or repair a fastener before discussing it with the provider. Physical condition questions deserve their own record, even if the supplied scan has digitally hidden the feature that now concerns you.
Close custody separately from digital acceptance
Confirm who receives each returned group and keep the handoff date. Review scan completeness, filenames, and image quality in a separate stage so one successful check does not stand in for the other. Retain provider responses and unresolved issues with the intake record. Only after verification should originals return to their regular housing, with the digital source package preserved and restoration attempts clearly identified as later derivatives.
Before you finish
- All objects and associated materials are accounted for.
- Condition differences reference intake evidence.
- Physical and digital acceptance are recorded separately.
Sources and further reading
- National Archives: Digitizing Family Papers and PhotographsSupporting originals during copying and retaining the physical materials after digitization.
- National Archives: Tips for Handling Family Papers and PhotographsPlanning careful handling of family originals rather than changing or repairing their physical surfaces.
Questions about this restoration task
Do perfect-looking scans prove the originals were unharmed?
No. Scan appearance and physical condition are different checks. Compare returned objects with the intake record, including mounts, backs, and associated labels.
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