What DPI should I use?

300 DPI balances quality and size for most photos; 600 DPI for small prints or detailed documents.

Should I scan to TIFF, JPEG, or PDF?

Scan to a high‑quality format (TIFF or high‑quality JPEG) and then compile into a PDF for sharing and print. Keep originals for archiving.

Flatbed scanners offer even lighting and consistent results. Phones are fine with good lighting, a flat surface, and careful alignment.

300–600 DPI is typical for photos. Use color for photos and grayscale for text documents. Avoid over‑sharpening during capture.

Adopt a consistent naming scheme (YYYY‑MM‑DD_subject). Keep a simple folder structure and add brief descriptions where helpful.

Create at least two backups: one local and one cloud. Consider PDF/A for archives and keep original scans if storage permits.

Combine scans into clean, ordered PDFs for easy family sharing and printing.