Premium Photoshop Editing On Every Scan.
49¢ most slides. Expert Slide and Photo
Scanning Since 2002.
4,000 ppi Extra High Res Scanning.
We can make PRINTS from your Slides.
Personally Processed with care in Wisconsin.
Home
Order FormsHow to Choose the Right Slide Scanning Service
With hundreds of slide scanning companies competing for your business, choosing the right service for your precious memories can feel overwhelming. Your slides represent irreplaceable family history, so making an informed decision is crucial. This guide will help you evaluate scanning services and understand what truly matters when digitizing your slide collection.
Critical Questions to Ask Any Scanning Service
Before trusting any company with your irreplaceable slides, ask these essential questions. The answers will reveal whether they're truly qualified to handle your precious memories:
1. What is Your Actual Scanning Resolution?
Why This Matters: Many companies advertise high resolution but deliver much less. True 4,000 ppi scanning captures far more detail than 2,000 ppi or lower.
What to Look For: Ask for sample scans at full resolution. Compare the file sizes and zoom in to check actual detail. A true 4,000 ppi scan of a 35mm slide should produce a file around 10-15 MB but content means a lot in file size of each scan.
Our Answer: We scan at true 4,000 ppi using professional-grade equipment, not consumer scanners. See our quality comparisons showing the difference.
2. Do You Edit Every Single Scan?
Why This Matters: Raw scans often have color shifts, dust spots, and exposure problems. Professional editing transforms acceptable scans into exceptional results.
What to Look For: Ask specifically what editing is included. Many "premium" services charge extra for basic color correction.
Our Answer: Every scan receives professional Photoshop editing at no extra charge. We do overall color balance and correction, adjust exposure, and optimize each image individually. We do not do "spot" corrections.
3. Where Is the Scanning Actually Done?
Why This Matters: Some companies ship your slides overseas or to third-party facilities. This increases risk of loss, damage, or theft of your irreplaceable memories.
What to Look For: Ask directly if scanning is done in-house or outsourced. Don't accept vague answers about "partner facilities."
Our Answer: All scanning is done right here in our two Wisconsin offices by our trained staff. Your slides never leave our possession until we ship them back to you. We're 100% USA-based.
4. What Happens If Slides Get Lost or Damaged?
Why This Matters: Accidents can happen. Understanding a company's insurance and replacement policies protects you from devastating loss.
What to Look For: Read the fine print in their terms and conditions. Many companies limit liability to the cost of blank slides, not your irreplaceable memories.
Our Answer: We handle every slide with extreme care. We've been in business since 2002 with an excellent safety record. See our complete terms and conditions.
5. Can You Handle Damaged or Warped Slides?
Why This Matters: Older slides often have problems like warping, fading, or stuck mounts. Not all services can handle these challenging situations.
What to Look For: Ask about their experience with problem slides and whether they charge extra fees for handling damaged slides.
Our Answer: We regularly handle warped slides and damaged mounts. Our 20+ years of experience means we've seen and solved virtually every slide problem. It does take us extra time to work with damaged slides and if the damage is extensive then there will need to be extra charges.
6. What File Formats and Organization Do You Provide?
Why This Matters: You need files that work with your devices and are organized logically. Poor file organization makes thousands of scans nearly useless.
What to Look For: Confirm file format, folder organization options, and whether files are named meaningfully or just numbered.
Our Answer: We provide high-quality JPEG files organized by your slide box or carousel or stack of slides. Files are properly named with the first two letters of your last name and the stack and then the image number and easy to navigate on any device. Example would be sm08-102.jpg. This would be last name Smith. Stack or folder #8. And image #102.
7. What Is Your Actual Turnaround Time?
Why This Matters: Some services quote 6-8 weeks but take 3-4 months. Others rush your job, sacrificing quality for speed.
What to Look For: Ask for realistic timelines and check recent customer reviews about actual delivery times.
Our Answer: We provide honest turnaround estimates based on our current workload and your project size. We don't overpromise, and we communicate proactively if any delays occur.
8. Are You Really a Professional Scanning Service?
Why This Matters: Many "scanning services" are actually marketing companies that broker your slides to the lowest bidder. Others are side businesses operating with the cheapest "scanner" they could find at Good Will.
What to Look For: Check for BBB accreditation, physical business addresses, real phone numbers answered during business hours, and verified customer reviews.
Our Answer: We're a BBB Accredited Business operating from two Wisconsin facilities since 2002. You can visit us with an appointment, call us, or read our verified Google reviews.
Red Flags: Warning Signs of Problematic Services
Avoid companies that:
- Won't disclose where scanning actually happens
- Have no physical address or only a PO Box
- Use only email communication with no phone support
- Offer prices that seem too good to be true (they usually are)
- Have limited or suspicious online reviews
- Can't provide sample scans at full resolution
- Have vague or confusing pricing structures
- Require payment before you see any results
Why Choose Our Service?
After 20+ years and thousands of satisfied customers, we understand what matters most when digitizing irreplaceable memories:
- True 4,000 ppi scanning using professional equipment
- Premium Photoshop editing on every single scan at no extra charge
- All work done in Wisconsin - never outsourced or sent overseas
- Family-owned business with staff who care about your memories
- BBB Accredited with excellent reviews since 2002
- Honest, transparent pricing starting at 49¢ per slide
- Experience handling problem slides - warped, faded, damaged mounts
- Try before you commit with our 10 free demo scans
Start With Free Demo Scans
Don't just take our word for it. Send us 10 slides and see the quality for yourself before committing to your entire collection. We'll scan them at full 4,000 ppi resolution with complete Photoshop editing, absolutely free.
This lets you evaluate our quality, see how we handle your specific slides, and make an informed decision with zero risk.