The short answer: You don't peel. A glued album is scanned page by page on an Epson V850 Pro flatbed with every photo left where it is, at 5.5 ₪ per page. From the full-page scan we crop each photo into its own file, and we keep the album page too, captions included. Prising a photo off old glue often tears the emulsion.
A heavy album from the top of the wardrobe, photos glued in fifty years ago, and under each one a line in grandma's handwriting — who, where, which year. Lift a corner and you hear paper tearing. So how do you digitise it without wrecking the original or losing the captions?
Why is peeling a photo out of an old album so risky?
A print is a paper base with a thin gelatin image layer on top. Over decades the glue bonds to the paper more strongly than the paper holds together, so a dry pull tears whichever layer is weakest — the back stays on the page, or the emulsion flakes off. The Library of Congress lists sticky "magnetic" albums and PVC sleeves as damaging to photographs; separating a stuck print is conservators' work, done by controlled humidification.
What if the photos are already lifting off the page?
A photo that lifts by itself, with no resistance, can come out and be scanned as a loose print. One that resists is left alone: no water, no heat, no blade. With a mixed album we scan the whole page as it is, loose photos lying in place included.
What does a full-page scan give you?
The page lies face down on the flatbed glass and the whole spread is captured in one scan at 600 dpi or more, our minimum for printed photos. From that file we crop each photo, straighten it and save it separately. The page itself is saved as an extra file, captions and layout included.
| Album type | Risk of removing | How we scan it | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glued, or "magnetic" sticky pages | High — emulsion tears or the back stays on the page | Full page on the V850, nothing removed | One file per photo + the page with captions |
| Photo corners | Low — the print sits freely | Scanned loose, or the whole page if captions matter | One file per photo; page on request |
| Pockets / clear sleeves | Low; old PVC can bond to the print | Slid out if free; otherwise scanned through the sleeve | One file per photo |
| Glued photos already lifting | Medium — some come free, some hold | Free ones loose; the rest scanned with the page | One file per photo + pages as needed |
What happens to grandma's captions?
Captions are often the only thing linking faces to names, and scanning photos one by one leaves them behind. In a full-page scan the caption stays beside its photo, in the original handwriting. Our guide to scanning photos in the AI era explains why names, dates and places alongside the file matter more than ever.
How much does it cost, and how does the album reach us?
A glued album page is 5.5 ₪, cropping and the saved page included. Loose photos are 0.89 ₪ each, or 0.79 ₪ from 1,000 photos, with a 150 ₪ minimum order. From 1,000 photos, collection from your home is free; returning the originals by courier is charged. See our post on what photo and album scanning costs, and the photo, slide and negative scanning page.
How do we scan albums in the studio?
Every album is checked by hand first: sticky pages, loose photos, brittle pages. Loose prints in good condition go through the FastFoto FF-640; every album page and every print on old card is scanned manually on the Epson V850 Pro, the industry standard; automatic feeders jam on old card. Since 2006 more than 5,000,000 frames and photos have passed through the studio. Store the album afterwards as the Library of Congress advises: 30–50% relative humidity, no warmer than 21°C, away from lofts, basements and outside walls.
Got a glued album full of captions? Don't peel — bring it as it is.
We send couriers to your door anywhere in Israel, in both directions. Small jobs are usually ready within about seven working days, large ones within about 21, and the first minute is on us — you see how your photos come out before you decide. You can also drop off in person: the studio at 9 HaMa'ayan St., Rishon LeZion, 5 Lisin St. in Tel Aviv, or Mitzpe Hararit in the Galilee. Call 03-5610368 or leave your details on the contact page. What each service includes is listed on the price list (Hebrew).
Frequently asked questions
Do you take the album apart to scan it?
No. Each page is scanned whole on a flatbed and the photos stay glued where they are.
Do I also get every photo as a separate file?
Yes. From the page scan we crop every photo into its own file, plus the full page with its captions, all within the 5.5 ₪ per page.
What about photos that have already come out of the album?
One that came free on its own is scanned as a loose print at the normal price; one still holding is scanned with the page.
What resolution is an album page scanned at?
At least 600 dpi, so even a small photo cropped from the page prints and enlarges well.
