How to Photograph an Old Print with a Phone
By ImgHeal
Make a straighter, clearer phone capture for a restoration project.
Arrange even light
Place a stable print on a clean surface and use soft light from the sides. Avoid direct flash and bright reflections. If the original is fragile or cannot lie safely, do not force it into position; work from an existing copy or seek handling advice.
Keep the camera parallel
Hold or support the phone directly over the photograph. Use the camera grid to align the print edges and leave a little space around the full print. Tap to focus on the image, then inspect a capture for blur before moving anything.
Save a clean capture
Keep the original camera file before applying perspective correction or cropping. Check that automatic filters have not clipped bright areas or exaggerated colors. Make a second capture if reflections cover a face; editing glare later may require guessing the hidden detail.
Before you finish
- Avoid flash reflections.
- Keep opposite print edges parallel.
- Inspect focus before putting the print away.
Further reading
- Library of Congress: Care, Handling, and Storage of PhotographsGuidance on safe handling and seeking conservation treatment for original photographs.
Continue with a related guide
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