To scan photos, you have two scanning options: WIA and TWAIN.  Scanning photos is easiest using  WIA.  With this simple scan method, your HP scanner works seemlessly with ScanSpeeder's photo scanning software.  

WIA provides you with ScanSpeeder's: best in the industry auto-detection, auto-splitting, batch scanning, auto-straightening, digitally tagging, and automatically saving photos as both JPEG and TIFF.  

If you would like to enhance your photos while scanning, then use the TWAIN scanning method.  TWAIN allows ScanSpeeder to work with HP's photo enhancement software to give you a few tools to touch up those old photos while you are digitizing them.  Unlike WIA, the TWAIN scanning method takes a little setting up, but is still quite simple to use.  Let me show you...

Scan Photos with TWAIN - on your HP Scanner

Step 1

Open ScanSpeeder:

1. Click the Scanner button in Step 1.
2. Select a scanner driver with (TWAIN) in the name.
3. Check Advanced Mode.

Step 2

Click Scan.

Use a USB connection to your HP scanner if possible.  If is significantly faster than using the network connection.

Then HP TWAIN will open.  

Very important - In Scan Shortcuts (left side of the screen) change the task to Photo.  

Step 3

VERY  IMPORTANT!  In the HP TWAIN screen on the right-hand side select 'Entire Scan Area'  to activate ScanSpeeder's auto-detection.  

• If you do not select entire scan area, your HP software will not activate ScanSpeeder's superior auto-detection.  You MUST use ENTIRE SCAN AREA to activate ScanSpeeder's leading edge artificial intelligence view of photos.  

1. ENTIRE SCAN AREA 

2. Then click More to open up more options.

Step 4

1. On the right-half of the screen under Detailed Scan Shortcut Settings, click Image.

2. 600 dpi, Color (24 bit RGB)

   • Use color even for old black and white photos --> 24-bit color gives superior results for both black and white and color photos

   • 600 dpi is optimal --> archival quality at a speed quick enough for batch scanning; higher dpi makes scanning multiple photos tediously slow

3. Click SCAN

Step 5

1. Double click the small preview of your photos on the left.  This will open them in the larger screen to the right.
2. Use the slider between the magnifying glasses to zoom in on your photos.
3. You get the opportunity now to enhance your photos!  I recommend you play around a bit with the settings as shown below.  After exploring each exposure setting, you will get a feel for what each batch of photos needs.   Do not bother to rotate the photos under adjustments because it's easier to do that later.  

• When you are happy with the look of your photos, click DONE.

Step 6

ScanSpeeder now takes over.  Your photos will be auto-detected, separated, and batch scanned.  You will continue using ScanSpeeder as you normally would.  For the basics of scanning, please refer to this article.  Continue with ScanSpeeder by click the 'Extract Photos' button in Step 2.

In Summary - If you do not need to enhance photos, save yourself effort and time by using the WIA (simple) scan method.  If you want to enhance photos, then use TWAIN following the instructions above.  If you take anything away from this article, please note that the Entire Scan Area needs to be selected to allow ScanSpeeder to auto-detect your photos for you.

Interested in learning more about photo scanning?  See Top 10 Photo Scanning Tips.