This guide contains Photo Scanning FAQ for our iOS app Pic Scanner Gold. Click the downward arrow next to any question to reveal its answer. And if you question isn’t answered in this knowledge base, please email us through the app.
How is scanning photos with this app different from taking a photo of a photo with Camera app?
Pic Scanner Gold automatically crops your scans. If you scan multiple photos at a time, it separates and saves them all. If you takephotos of photos with Camera app, you'll need to crop them manually - slow and laborious.
I need high resolution scans to make a photo book. What size prints can I make with Pic Scanner Gold scans?
If your iPhone or iPad has a 12 MP camera, you can get 8-10 MP scans (sufficient for making high quality 13.5inch x 9inch prints) by following these tips. With very older devices (5-8 MP cameras), scans are good enough to make 9inch x 6 inch prints.
Photo books from scanned photos: great for home or gifting
My iPhone takes 12 MP photos, while this app only saves 5-10 MB scans. Why?
Don't confuse MB (Megabyte, which measures file size) with MP (Megapixels, which defines image resolution)! Our app can give 8-10 MP (8-10m pixel) scans. On the other hand, iPhone X only has 2.75m and iPad Pro 12.9" 5.6m pixel screens! Furthermore, we optimize the scans such that you get the highest resolution images with the least filesize (MB). This makes photos compact to store, upload or cloud services, and easy to share via email etc.
Some of my scans are out of focus and some aren't bright. What to do?
iPhone and iPad cameras auto-focus within a second of your pointing them at the photos. You can also manually focus by tapping the screen once. In addition, for consistently sharp, bright scans, please follow these easy, illustrated tips. If you are using old devices (e.g. iPhone 6 or iPad Air), scan one photo at a time.
Why does Pic Scanner Gold want permission to use Camera and Photos?
The app will scan photos with iPhone or iPad camera. Also, it needs to access Photos app when you save scans to it or import photos into Pic Scanner Gold.
How to avoid glare and reflections while scanning photos?
Scan photos in indirect sunlight. Electric light causes glare, shadows and reflections, and also makes it impossible to capture true colors. Lighting doesn't have to be very bright; iPhone and iPad cameras automatically adjust for lighting conditions. If you get glare while scanning by daylight, moving a few inches or scanning from the other side can solve the problem.
What's that blinking circle on the scanner screen?
It's a leveling tool. When you scan photos with iPhone or iPad, you should hold the device parallel to the photos. Once the device is roughly level, 'OK' flashes in the circle. This is just a helper tool; if you don't need it or find it distracting, you can tun it off via Menu, Settings.
After scanning 400-500 photos, why am I being asked to delete Originals?
It's just a friendly reminder that you can free up a lot of space on your device by deleting unneeded photos from Originals screen. If space is not a constraint for you, tap Menu > Settings & Info > Space Control, and turn the alerts off. In any case, it's a good idea to periodically look at Originals screen and delete what you don't need.
I have trouble holding my iPad or iPhone steady. How to avoid camera shake in scanning?
Placethe device on a stand or locker shelf (See photo. Sold in office supplies stores). Attach iPhone or iPad's headphone cable to the device, and use the Volume (-) button on the cable to operate the camera shutter. You can also use Bluetooth remote controls for hands-free scanning with Pic Scanner Gold (Not with Pic Scanner).
In which format are the scans saved?
Scan are saved as JPG images. The app automatically minimizes the file size for maximum resolution images. If you need TIFF or PNG scans, see SnipTag - our app for Mac.
My old photos are curled. How to keep them flat for scanning?
Get a transparent acrylic sheet from a stationery store, and scan with photos placed under it. Or try placing the photos overnight under a pile of heavy book.
How to scan photos with a DSLR camera or Android phone, and import them into Pic Scanner Gold for cropping?
For this, see our app for Mac called SnipTag. It lets you import photos scanned with any device, in any resolution, and in any image format (JPG, PNG, TIFF, PNG).
I scanned photos from my old school yearbook. Why do they look pixelated?
Small, thumbnail sized halftone images are made up of discrete dots. At small size, the dots blur together to create the illusion of a "proper" photo. But if you scan and view them in enlarged size, they'll look pixelated. See below.
Can I scan film negatives with Pic Scanner?
No, and no app does it well. For scanning negatives, you need contact scanning with back lighting. Buy a negative scanner or try your neighborhood photo printing and scanning shop. For more guidance, read this post.
Cropping & Importing
Where are my scans saved?
In Pic Scanner Gold, Cropped photos are saved on Gallery screen; their un-cropped versions on Originals screen. Tap Menu button (top left), then select Gallery. Tap thumbnail to open photo. Tap Original button on bottom left of Cropped screen to see un-cropped versions of your scans. If your photo isn't in Gallery, you may crop it manually from Originals.
I just scanned a photo, but it said 'Nothing saved'. Why?
This happens if the photo isn't scanned in accordance with our auto-cropping tips. If this happens, either crop it manually from Originals screen, or read the cropping tips and scan again.
Scans are cropped wrong. Photos are split in random places!
Pic Scanner Gold crops photos accurately if you follow the tips in this illustrated post. If you still get wrong results, please send us the uncropped scan from Originals screen and we'll tell you what to do differently.
Some of my cropped photos are skewed and distorted. Why?
Hold the camera centered over the photos and level with them (i.e. parallel), not titled. Pic Scanner Gold automatically applies perspective correction, but if the slant is excessive, you may get distorted results.
If I scan multiple photos, the app doesn't separately them properly. Why?
Two possible reasons: Not enough gap (separation) between photos, or photos not lying fully within the scanner frame. Please also see this (Tip #4, in particular).
Can I disable automatic cropping, or use originals for sharing?
Auto-cropping is a big effort-saver, and it's VERY easy if you follow these tips. If you absolutely must use the originals, do this: Go to Originals screen > tap Select > tap the photos you want to use > Move > Move to Gallery. Photos will be transferred to Gallery, and you can use them.
How to import pictures from Photos app for editing or putting in albums?
Tap Import on Gallery screen > Your Photos library will open > tap All Photos or an album > tap the desired photos' thumbnails to select > tap Done.
How to import photos from Google Photos, Dropbox etc. into Pic Scanner Gold?
First, save them from their current location into iOS Photos app. Then tap Import on Gallery screen > select the photos to be fetched, and tap Done.
This app doesn't scan documents correctly. Why?
Pic Scanner Gold is meant for photos. Its editing tools and features (slideshows, albums, jpg output etc.) are optimized for photos. Please use a photo scanner app for photos and a document scanner apps for documents. Their features (multi-page documents, black/white balance, pdf output, OCR etc.) are optimized for documents.
Viewing and Editing
I have Pic Scanner Gold on iPhone as well as iPad. Can I see photos from one device on the other?
Bydefault, photos scanned with a device are only stored on that device. However, it's easy to get photos over from iPhone to iPad. Please see Exporting & Sharing Photos section.
What does the Like button on View & Edit screen do?
If you 'Like' a photo, it is automatically added to an album named Favorites.
How to select multiple (or all) photos from Gallery or albums for export or deletion?
Either tap Select button, or long-press a photo's thumbnail, then select more photos. With at least one photo selected, Select All button also appears.
The app has so many editing tools. Exactly what does each of them do?
For a complete guide to Pic Scanner Gold's editing tools, please click here. You can also get in-app help and demos by tapping the 'i' button next to tool name in top navigation bar.
Some of my scans are sideways or upside down. How to make them upright?
On Gallery or Album screen, tap thumbnail of photo to open it. In toolbar at the bottom, tap the rotate button to correct the photo’s orientation. Press Done to save.
Rotate button turns the photo by 90 degrees. What about smaller rotations?
Tap Edit > Rotate > place a fingertip on the little black circle under the photo and slowly drag it left or right > When done, tap Apply > Done.
How to add descriptions or other text to photos?
The best way to do it with Captions feature. Tap a thumbnail on Gallery or album screen to open a photo > Caption > input who, what, where information > Done. Now when you view the photo, your caption will float over the photo. Tap once to hide it; tap again to re-display. You can also imprint these details when exporting the photo. To directly write on the photo, use Edit > Text function.
Are captions also saved as metadata? Can I use Pic Scanner Gold to edit image metadata
Yes. Dates, Captions and locations added with Pic Scanner Gold are also added to the scans' metadata. If you don't want this, turn it off by tapping Menu > Settings & Info > Date Picker > OFF.
We also have app for Mac called SnipTag for bulk-editing of captions and metadata, by typing as well as voice dictation. It supports 25 IPTC metadata tags. It's powerful but very easy to use, and offers a free limited trial.
Exporting & Sharing Photos
How to transfer scanned photos to my computer?
There are many ways to do this:
Files: Go to Gallery or album > Select > select one or more photos > Export > Choose between Exclude / Include captions > Popular export options are shown. Tap Showall > choose Files: Desktop to save scans to Mac desktop.
Airdrop: This is another fast, efficient way to transfer photos. You can transfer up to 1,000 photos at a time. For guidance, read this.
iCloud: Save the scans to Photos app on your device. If you have iCloud enabled, they will also sync to Photos app on your computer. You will find them in Albums > Pic Scanner folder.
USB cable: To save a huge number of photos to computer, use this method.
I have scanned photos with iPhone. Can I also view them on my iPad?
Yes, there are two methods. Choose one:
In Pic Scanner Gold, go to Menu > Backup. From here, you can sync photos and albums between your iPhone and iPad. Read procedure here.
On iPhone, go to Gallery or album screen, and tap Select. Tap to select photos. Tap Export, and choose whether to Exclude or Include captions. From the list of options, select Photos. The photos will be saved in Photos app (Albums > Pic Scanner folder) on your iPhone. If iCloud Photo Library is enabled, they will also be visible on your other devices.
Please refer to this article if you need further help.
How to transfer photos to Dropbox or other cloud services?
On Gallery or album screen, tap Select > tap to select one or more photos > tap Export > Choose whether to Exclude or Include captions > Popular export options are displayed. Tap Dropbox, or Show all to see more options e.g. Google Drive, Files (iCloud), OneDrive etc. In Dropbox, the photos will be saved in Apps/PicScanner folder.
How to save photos in a thumb drive or external hard drive?
First export them to your computer or a cloud service as explained earlier in these FAQs, then transfer them to thumb drive or external hard drive.
I got an error on trying to export, or only a few photos were sent. Why?
Try exporting smaller batches, especially if using an older iPhone/iPad or a slow internet connection. Suggested batch sizes: 50-60 to Photos, 30-40 to Dropbox and other cloud services, 5-6 to email, 30 to Facebook. If the difficulty persists, contact us.
Is there a fee for exporting photos or saving them outside the app?
No. Pic Scanner Gold requires no subscriptions or in-app purchases.
How to share or export photos from Originals screen?
On Originals screen, tap Select > choose photos > Move > Move to Gallery. Photos are saved in Gallery, and you can export them just like other photos.
How can I export an entire album?
Albums can only be viewed in Pic Scanner Gold, because other apps (Photos, Dropbox etc.) don't support albums in the same way as our app. However, there are some easy ways to send your albums to other apps or devices:
1) Use the Backup feature to save the album to your computer or iCloud.
2) Transfer photos to computer or Dropbox as explained earlier in this section. After photos are saved, drag & drop them into your desired app, into a folder or album in that app.
3) As a Shareable album: Export an album of up to 50 photos, along with captions. Go to Goodies > Shareable albums, and follow on-screen steps. These albums or slideshows can be exported to other apps, computers or devices for viewing and sharing.
I can't find Facebook among the Export options. Where did it go?
Facebook lets other apps (such as ours) post max. 30 photos at a time. Deselect some photos, and Facebook icon will reappear. If you really need to attach more than 30 photos in one post, first export them to your computer, then upload to Facebook.
Trying to export photos; why are Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc. greyed out?
Twitter allows only one photos per post. If you select more, Twitter icons will be greyed out (disabled). If other apps' icons are disabled on the grey Popular Options screen, tap Show all, and post via the expanded options.
Trying to export a bunch of photos to DropBox or OneDrive, but only one photo is sent. Why?
Try this: Select photos > Export > Show all > In the upper row of icons, tapping OneDrive,Copy to OneDrive, Dropbox or Copy to Dropbox may save only one photo. Instead, choose Files from the lower row, and then Dropbox or OneDrive. All photos will be uploaded. If you don't find Dropbox or OneDrive within Files, or it's greyed out, open Files app on your device > Browse > Edit > Turn Dropbox or OneDrive ON. After this, try as above.
My iPhone/iPad has enough free space. Why must I back up photos on computer or in iCloud/Dropbox?
Pic Scanner Gold automatically backs-up all app data to iCloud or iTunes (depending on your backup settings), but this backup is only usable for restoring as a new device or transfer to a new device. It is good practice to periodically export all scans to your computer or a cloud service, so that they always stay safe and accessible.
I arranged photos in an album in a specific order. Why was it lost on saving to iCloud?
Mac Photos app and iCloud saves photos chronologically, i.e. in the order in which they were scanned. If you rearranged photos in Pic Scanner Gold album in a different order, it won't be maintained after export. But here is an easy solution: Export the photos to iCloud > Create an album in iCloud Photos > Move the photos into it > To rearrange: Press the thumbnail of the photo to be moved, and drag it to the place you want.
How to upload photos to Google Photos, Ancestry, Shutterfly or Photobucket?
For Google Photos: From Pic Scanner Gold export options, select Google Drive > Google Photos folder. Ancestry, Shutterfly and Photobucket do not allow direct exports from other apps. Export photos from Pic Scanner Gold to your computer as explained earlier in this section, then upload to these apps or websites as you normally would.
Creating & Managing Albums
How to create albums and save photos in them?
There are two ways:
Method 1. To create new album: Gallery screen: Tap Albums,Create new album. Type name of album, and press Save. This will create an empty album. To add photos, tap this album and Add photos. Select Cropped and choose photos. Tap Done. Photos will be added.
Method 2: On Gallery screen, tap photos to be put in the album. They’ll get tick marked. Add > Add to New Album. In pop-up box, type name of album. Save. Album will be created.
How to add more photos to an existing album?
On Gallery screen, tap Select. Select photos. Tap Add,Add to existing album. Tap on the desired album.
I have scanned hundreds of photos. How to see which photos I have already added to an album?
In Gallery, select all the photos you want added to the album. Tap Albums,Add to existing. Select album. This will add only photos that aren’t already in the album, without duplicating those you had added earlier.
How to rename an album?
On Albums screen (The one that shows covers and names of all albums), tap Edit > tap cover of the album > type in the new name > Save.
I have put all scanned photos in Albums. Can I now delete them from Gallery?
NO!! Gallery is the central library of the app, and any photos deleted from there will be permanently removed from the app as well as all albums. Delete photos from Gallery ONLY if you have already exported and archived them elsewhere. As iCloud, Dropbox, computer, etc.
How to delete an album?
Go to album covers screen > tap Edit (bottom right) > tap on the Delete button below the album you wish to delete > Delete. Note that deleting an album (or photos from an album) won't remove those photos from Gallery. But deleting photos from Gallery will delete them from all albums.
How to export an album to iCloud, Dropbox etc.?
You can only view these albums in Pic Scanner Gold. This is because other apps don't support albums in the same way as our app. However, there are a couple of workarounds:
1) Transfer photos to computer or Dropbox as explained above in these FAQs (Using Export or Backup functions). After saving is complete, drag & drop the photos into your desired app, into a folder or album in that app.
2) As a Shareable album: Share an album of up to 50 photos, along with captions. Go to Goodies. Tap Shareable albums, and follow on-screen steps. You can export ehese albums or slideshows to other apps, computers or devices for viewing and sharing.
I arranged photos in an album in a specific order. Why was it lost on saving to iCloud?
Mac Photos app and iCloud save photos chronologically, i.e. in the order in which you scanned them. If you rearrange photos in Pic Scanner Gold album in a different order, it won't be maintained after export. But here is an easy solution: Export the photos to iCloud. Create an album in iCloud Photos. Move the photos into it. To rearrange: Press the thumbnail of the photo to be moved, and drag it to the place you want.
How to make photos from Gallery or an album into a photo book?
Save photos to your computer or any cloud service, then upload them to your preferred photo book maker’s website. If you have the photo book printer's app on your iPhone or iPad, you may export photos from Pic Scanner Gold to Photos app, then upload into the photo book app.
ShowTime (Slideshow)
Note: There are two slideshows in Pic Scanner Gold: ShowTime and ViewCaster.
How to play/mute music during the slideshow?
Tap the screen while slideshow is playing. A bar appears. Tap the loudspeaker button to toggle sound on/off.
Can I use my own music for the slideshow?
This is not currently possible.
How to create a slideshow with some scanned and some photos on iPhone or computer?
Import photos from Photos app into Pic Scanner Gold. Create an album containing scanned as well as imported photos. Tap 'ShowTime'.
Buying and updating
How much does the app cost?
Pic Scanner Gold costs US$7.99, or your currency equivalent, as determined by the App Store. This one-time price covers UNLIMITED use of all features.
How many scans am I allowed, and for how long can I use the app?
Pic Scanner Gold allows UNLIMITED scans and unlimited use of almost all its features. There is no time limit.
Will I be charged a monthly subscription fee?
No, our price is upfront and transparent. No sign-ups, no subscriptions, no in-app purchases or hidden fees
I see you also have a cheaper app 'Pic Scanner'. What is the difference?
Pic Scanner is our basic app; Pic Scanner Gold is more advanced with higher resolution scans and many more features. Pic Scanner is meant for users with older phones e.g. iPhone 4s or 5, or iPad 3, Mini 2 etc.
I already bought Pic Scanner. Can I upgrade to Pic Scanner Gold at a discount?
Yes. Sign in to the App Store on your iPhone or iPad with the same Apple ID with which you bought Pic Scanner, then tap this link." If the App Store recognizes your old purchase, it will show you a discounted price for the app bundle.
I have Pic Scanner. If I buy Pic Scanner Gold, can I transfer photos to the new app?
Yes. Download Pic Scanner Gold, then in Pic Scanner, tap Menu > Info & Settings > Migrate > all photos, albums and captions will be compressed > When sharing options are displayed, scroll to "Open in Pic Scanner Gold". Everything will be transferred over in less than a minute. Check that everything is there in the new app, then you may delete the old app to free up space on your device.
I bought a new iPhone/iPad. How to transfer Pic Scanner Gold and photos from the old device?
I deleted Pic Scanner Gold. Do I have to pay again to download it?
No. Log in to the App Store on your iPhone/iPad, then tap here. When Pic Scanner Gold page opens, tap the Download button (Cloud with downward arrow). The download will begin without any charge to your account. IF instead of the download button you see Get,Buy or price buttons, don't proceed - contact us instead. After installing Pic Scanner Gold, you can restore photos and albums if you have a backup. Read here how to make backups and restore from them.
Does Pic Scanner Gold support family sharing?
Yes. To learn how to set up family sharing, please refer to this post.
I have the app on iPhone. How to also get it on iPad without being charged again?
On iPad, launch App Store app. Ensure that you are logged in with the same Apple ID with which you bought the app on iPhone > on Today screen, tap your profile photo (near top right) > tap Purchased > Not on this iPad > look for Pic Scanner Gold, and tap the download button (cloud with downward arrow).
Alternatively, tap here on iPad (or search for Pic Scanner Gold in the App Store). If you are signed in with the same Apple ID with which you bought the app on iPhone, you will also find the download button (cloud with downward arrow) here.
By default, photos scanned with each device are saved only on that device. It's easy to get photos one device to another; please see the process here.
Goodies
Can I make a shareable album with more than 50 photos?
No, but you can make multiple slideshows. Creating a slideshow with more photos will result in a very large file.
How to customize and personalize greeting cards? Will you add more designs?
You can tweak the greeting cards' colors with the Recolor slider. Furthermore, you can add a personal message, as follows. Create card. Tap Share. Select an option, e.g. Message, Email or Facebook. Add personal greeting in the message box, email body or post.
General
Wrong language! All the buttons are in a foreign language.
From iPhone or iPad's Home screen, tap Settings > General > Language & Region > Preferred language order*. Select your primary andsecondary languages (If your preferred languages are already listed
but don't appear appear as #1 and #2, tap Edit and move them up. If they aren't among the preferred languages, tap Add Language and add them.) > Tap Done (*Pic Scanner Gold is currently available in English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Dutch languages. If your preferred language is one of these, you'll be OK. If not, iOS will go down your language preferences list and display app buttons in the first-occurring of the above languages.)
The app is frozen. Nothing happens when I click any button.
Double click Home button on your device. Exit Pic Scanner Gold by sliding its tile out of the multi-tasking tray. Also, you may reboot the device. But whatever you do, DON'T delete and reinstall the app, because this will delete all your scans and albums permanently.
I am out of space on my iPhone/iPad. What to do?
Free up space by deleting unneeded original files. Tap Gallery,Originals, and delete the original photos you no longer need. Finally, for more tips, click here.
I deleted Pic Scanner Gold by mistake. Can I recover the photos?
If you have a recent backup, you could import all photos, albums and captions back into Pic Scanner Gold. Procedure for making backups and restoring photos is given here.
We update this Help & Troubleshooting Guide (FAQ document) regularly to reflect changes in Pic Scanner Gold app and iOS. If you find any answer outdated or confusing, find any broken links, please do let us know.
Photo Scanning FAQ for our old app Pic Scanner can be found here. If you have Pic Scanner on iPhone 6S / iPad Air 2 or a newer device, please consider upgrading to our advanced app Pic Scanner Gold. It gives higher resolution scans, and has many great features for enhancing, enjoying and sharing photos. Buy this bundle to upgrade at a discount.
Users of Pic Scanner can find printable 5-Minute Guide in several languages here.
We are constantly looking at ways to improve our apps. All suggestions and features requests from our users are reviewed promptly and diligently. Most of the new features and enhancements that you see are based on user feedback. So, if you have any questions, problems or suggestions, please do email us at support @ picscannerapp .com
Photo Scanning FAQ for our old app Pic Scanner can be found here. If you have Pic Scanner on iPhone 6S / iPad Air 2 or a newer device, please consider upgrading to our advanced app Pic Scanner Gold. It gives higher resolution scans, and has many great features for enhancing, enjoying and sharing photos. Buy this bundle to upgrade at a discount.