Photo Digitisation Service
Use our Photo Digitisation Service to scan old photos, slides or negatives and turn them into modern formats you can access from your favourite devices
CALL US ON 01926 463 107
What can I digitise?
Slides (Mount slides)
24x36mm slides in 50mm frames
Mounted photographic slides from analogue cameras, usually kept in boxes, trays, or carousels. They’re usually mounted in paperboard or plastic frames.
Negative Strips, 35 mm
At least 3 images per strip
Photographic negative strips from analogue cameras such as disposable ones. Typically stored in sleeves or envelopes.
Photos from albums
From 2x3” photos to A4
You’ll need to remove the photos from your album before sending them to us. Remove any adhesives such as blu-tack and tape, and any staples.
Loose photos
From 2x3” photos to A4
Paper photos you’ve kept over the years such as those in an old shoebox, retro prints and aged photos, with a serrated or straight edge.
Newspaper cuttings
From 2x3” to A4
Clippings taken from newspapers or printed publications, including articles, photographs, or announcements.
Paper mementos
From 2x3” to A4
Objects that are meaningful to your life stories, like bus passes, membership cards or old tickets.
How does it work?
Place your order & wait for the Secure Shipping Box to arrive
We’ll send you a damage-proof box. Fill it with all the prints, slides or negatives you want us to process. You can put all formats in the same box. The Secure Shipping Box is prepaid, so all you need to do is send it back to us. We’ll include instructions on how to package up your memories so they’re safe during transport.
We process your memories
Once we receive your Secure Shipping Box, we’ll count up all your items. If you’ve sent us more than your original order, we will be in touch with an invoice for the extras. This will can be paid easily online or by phone. Our tracker will keep you updated with the progress of your order, so you always know where things stand. And if you have any questions, our friendly customer service team are always happy to help.
Enjoy your memories revived
We’ll return your originals in the post via 1st class track & signed Royal Mail. In the box, you’ll also find your unique download link that will allow you to access your digitised files and the USB, if you’ve added one to your order.
What happens after I order?
Formats we can digitise
Protecting your memories during transport
To start digitising your precious memories, we’ll send you a special box which you can fill with all the old photos, slides and negatives you’ve got. The Secure Shipping Box is designed to keep all your memories safe during transport, so they reach us in perfect condition. We’ll include instructions on packing and sorting in your Secure Shipping Box. Once your items reach us, we will unbox it, count the contents and email you confirming the quantity of items you’ve sent us. If you’ve sent us more than your original order, we will be in touch with an invoice for the extras.
Backed-up memories, easy-to-access
We’ll export your photos as jpegs.
Download link included
Add a USB Stick to your order for extra peace of mind
(optional add on)
Prices
We’ll count your items sent to us in your Secure Shipping Box and contact you if you’ve got more items than you’ve ordered. If you do, we will send you an invoice you can pay either online via a payment link, or by calling our customer service team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which products can be scanned and digitised by post?
When ordering by post, you have the option of digitising either 35mm slides (24x36mm, framed), negative strips (35mm, 110 or 126 - at least 3 images per strip) or printed photos (from 2” x 3” to A4).
Do I need to count all my items?
You do not need to count all your items, as our team will be doing that when we receive them at out lab. A rough estimate is sufficient to place an order. If you’ve sent us more than your original order, we will be in touch with an invoice for the extras.
How can I be sure my photos are secure and won't get lost?
We know how priceless your unique memories are, and we treat them with utmost respect. You will receive a fully trackable shipping label to use when sending your images to our laboratory. After we receive your shipment, you'll get a confirmation e-mail from us including a photo of your package, so you know we've received it safely. If any questions arise during the processing of your order, our customer service team will contact you by email or telephone. After successful digitisation, you will receive another confirmation from us, letting you know your order is on its way - this also includes full tracking.
Which payment methods do you accept?
The scan service requires payment via our website at the point of ordering. We accept payment by Card, PayPal, Klarna, Apple or Google Pay.
How does collection from home work?
At the end of the ordering process, you can choose whether you want to take your package to a local drop-off point, or have it collected directly from your home by courier.
If you choose for your media to be collected, your package will be picked up from your home the following working day. If you are not home, the courier will leave a shipping label for you to use later at a local drop-off point.
Please print out your order confirmation e-mail and include it in your package. If you are unable to print out the order confirmation e-mail, we would ask you to write your order number by hand and enclose this instead.
What happens if I miss my chosen collection date?
If you aren’t in on your chosen date you can rebook - the label is an open label, this means it will last a long time and therefore unlikely to expire before your rebook date.
Which storage medium can I choose?
We'll upload your digitised photos to our online storage service - CEWE myPhotos. You can download your photos to your PC from there. Additionally, you can select a USB stick as an extra storage medium - do this in the basket when you place your order. The USB stick is not copy-protected and can be used like a standard USB stick. You own the copyright to your digital images.
What is CEWE myPhotos?
CEWE myPhotos is our online storage service, where you can store your photos and photo projects safely.
You can find more detailed information about this at: https://www.cewe-myphotos.com/en-gb/
Do I need to count all my items?
You do not need to count all your items, as our team will be doing that when we receive them at out lab. A rough estimate is sufficient to place an order. If you’ve sent us more than your original order, we will be in touch with an invoice for the extras.
How do I send you my photos, slides or negatives?
- After placing an order, you will receive an email confirmation.
- Suitable packaging for your order will arrive within 3-4 working days.
- The order confirmation email contains a link to the Royal Mail portal to generate a shipping label.
- You need to print both the order confirmation email and the shipping label.
- Insert the printed email into the package, seal it, attach the label, and either drop it off at a local point or arrange for home collection.
What about my originals?
After digitisation, your originals will be carefully packed up by us and sent back to you with tracking.
How do I see and download my photos?
You will receive a delivery note with the return of your original media.
On this note, you will find a link and a secure ID which you can use to see and download your photos. You will find detailed, step-by-step instructions on the delivery note.
How quickly does the download link expire?
The link will expire after 6 weeks after being initially created on our end. Once you've used your secure ID, you will see a message with details of when this final date is. If you choose to upload to CEWE myPhotos at this stage, your photos will be securely stored in your account.
How long will my order take to be processed?
Processing usually takes place within approximately 10 working days from the date we receive your shipment in our laboratory.
How good is the scan quality?
We offer two quality levels for our photo scanning services: Classic and Pro. Both options provide high-resolution scans, ensuring you can continue enjoying your photos in excellent quality. The key difference is that the Pro level offers an enhanced resolution of 1200 dpi for even greater detail.
Please note that slide and negative scans are exclusively processed at Pro-level quality to ensure the best possible results.
What format will my photos be saved in?
Digitised photos are saved as JPEG files.
Why choose CEWE to digitise your old photos?
We love photos. As Europe’s leading photo service, you can rest assured we'll handle your photos with the utmost care.
Creative inspiration for projects using old photos
Design a CEWE PHOTOBOOK that tells your own life story, or document your family history with photos from previous generations.
Enjoy 10% off Europe’s most loved photo book
- Plus, receive a 10% welcome discount on your first CEWE PHOTOBOOK.
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