Scanning photos at Walmart

Has anyone else tried to use walmarts scanner to save photos to

digital. I have tried it twice and both times the photos come out

looking like I took them with a old digital camera. The machine saves

them in 2 sizes, a smaller size for email and a larger size. I don't

see much difference. I use a mac and drag the photos out of the

folder into iphoto. I am unsure how the photo below will show the

white specs and the fuzzyness were not on the original photo. This

was taken with a lubitel 166U. I have had good luck using the kodak

picture maker to copy photos, they come out nice. Does anyone know of

another source like a drug store that offers scanning service to cd?

I don't live near a camera shop. Thanks<div></div>

WalMart?

I guess I uploaded a too small picture, sorry. I will try a bigger one.<div></div>

The Nader photo was taken with a Minolta STsi 35mm. Needless to say the original photograph was much nicer. I talked to the people at the counter in the photo lab, they act as if I am the only one that complains about this.

You may want to try Walgreens if available. I don't use Walmart despite it being the

only choice remaining in our immediate geographic area. I have used the

Walgreens (80 miles RT) Kodak kiosks in emergencies and had good results. Since I

am stuck with little or no other choices, I deal with some pro level services via mail

order and internet. It's generally worth the extra effort and expense at least for me.

Would Ralph shop at WalMart?

Keith - You are unlucky enough to have a WalMart with staff that don't know how / are not trained / couldn't care (delete whichever is not applicable). While not the best, the scans from my local ASDA (WalMart here) Fuji Frontier (the larger file) are useable up to 5x7 and even to A4 if carefully done in PS. You won't see much difference on screen, but only the large file can be used for prints.

 

The white specks seem to be oversharpening artefacts caused a badly set up scanner or scan settings.

 

It's usually a waste of money to try and get a lab like this to change their ways - vote with your feet and go elsewhere.

Do not use Wal*Mart. Their scan file size is so small it is not worth it. There scanning resolution for internet use is typical but their resolution for 4x6 prints is not much higher. I suspect any convenient outlet will not be much better.

Keith, it's unclear to me whether you're trying to scan a photo print

or negatives. Negatives scan much better. I'm not anti-Walmart.

Most have well-run Frontier labs that might offer negative scanning

at time of processing. Although Agfa and Noritsu digital minilabs

produce better scans, the Frontier ones are acceptable. If you want

to scan a photo print, I think you'll have more luck at FedEx Kinko's,

where they often have Epson flatbeds to rent by the hour.

I am scanning print film, also when you gent film developed and get a cd of the prints, the resolution stinks also.

In fact, the cd that you get with your prints is worse than the cd you get from scanning the prints yourself.

An Agfa d-Lab.2 can give you 3000x2000 pixel scans. <A HREF="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009G89">

Samples here.</A> I can probably do better with my 2400 dpi

home scanner, but each scan takes almost half an hour to dust-spot,

so having 37 scans for $8 on CDR feels like a bargain for me.

I recommend you find a d-Lab and try it out.

Wal-marts are generally producing better prints from the stores using Frontier machines. They still drag the uncut negative strips on the floor, which pisses me off.

 

I've used them once for scanning, last summer when I needed the digital files immediately. (The local pro lab has a two day turnaround.) Their "hi-rez" file, 768x1024, was good enough for the usual mediocre newspaper reproduction, which is what it was intended for. The lo-rez file was good only for quick viewing of your pix on your PC.

 

I wouldn't use them again if I had enough time to scan and tweak my own negatives or slides. In fact, I wouldn't use my local pro lab if I had time to scan my own. Unless the lab offers drum scans (very expensive) you might as well buy your own scanner and do it yourself. Some really good film scanners have dropped in price. The only drawback is the work.