Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I digitize my photos?

Your analog photos are irreplaceable. Digital photos can be copied multiple times without any quality degradation, and having multiple copies of your irreplaceable photos helps preserve them for future generations. Also, analog photos degrade over time, which means with each passing day they are slowly fading. Digitizing them now preserves them to stop the slow process of decay, and allows you to enjoy them all over again!

Return to Top

Cost

How much do your services cost?

We provide a capsule (a box) that you can put your photos into and return to Reminis for digitizing. Capsules vary in size and capacity, with a number of photos included in the price of the capsule. To see current pricing and capacity options, you may click here. You may add more photos than are included in the capsule, and they will be billed at 99¢ per extra photo.

Return to Top

How and when will you bill me?

You will pay for the capsule upfront when you buy it in our online store. We will ship you the empty capsule, and you can fill it with photos and return them to us. Round trip shipping is included in the price if you live in the continental US. If you want to add additional photos to your capsule, you can pay for the extras when you inventory your capsule prior to shipment. You can order physical products, including photo prints, books, framed prints and more at any time once you have access to your gallery. These are paid for when they are purchased in our online store. If you need additional retouching or other irregular services, they are quoted on an individual basis.

Return to Top

Gifts

Can I gift a Reminis Capsule? How does it work?

Yes. You may purchase a Capsule, ship it to anyone, and include a gift message.

Return to Top

Will I be able to log in to my recipient's order?

Each Capsule is unregistered when it is shipped. When it's received, it can be registered to anyone, and the person who registers the Capsule will have administrative access to the order. Password-protected online photo galleries may be accessed by anyone who has the link and password.

Return to Top

Can I send a Capsule to my mom, have her fill it, and then have the completed scans sent to me?

Yes. Once the photos are digitized, the password-protected gallery may be shared with anyone who has the link and the password. You may download the photos from the gallery, or purchase a USB drive of the entire gallery.

Return to Top

What if the recipient of a gifted Capsule sends in damaged materials?

We will digitize the photo first regardless of its condition. If the recipient would like more extensive restoration after viewing their photo we can quote restoration services on an individual basis.

Return to Top

What if the recipient loses their Capsule?

Contact us and we can replace the Capsule for a $20 replacement fee.

Return to Top

Formats

What formats do you accept?

If it's flat, we can digitize it. Prints larger than 8x10 inches are billed on a per-image basis. Plate glass negatives require special shipping and handling. Contact us for a quote. We accept film (slides or negatives) or prints. All the classic formats are welcome — 35mm, 126mm, 110, 2¼, 6x6, 6x4.5, 6x7, 6x12, Kodak Disk, APS, 4x5, 8x10, plate glass negatives, single cut slides and negatives. If it went through a camera, we can digitize it. We've even digitized dental x-rays before.

Return to Top

Will you digitize motion picture film?

We specialize in photographic images. We do not convert movies. However, if you would like to create stills from your home movie film we can digitize individual frames. Note that this does not apply to VHS or other video tape formats.

Return to Top

Can I send in SD cards, CF cards, or Hard Drives?

Got photos from your digital camera? Send them to us and we'll add them to your online gallery for 10¢ per image, complete with color and exposure correction. But you know what the best part is? We will give you a gift certificate worth 10¢ per photo you send us to use toward printed physical products. So if you send us 200 photos, it will cost $20.00, but you'll also get a $20 gift certificate to use toward prints, books, frames and more! Got analog photos you scanned yourself or were digitized by someone else? We can perform our standard digital post-production on them and add them to your online gallery for just 25¢ per photo, with a gift certificate worth 25¢ per photo to use in the online store.

Return to Top

Can I mark just the images I want scanned on a strip of negatives?

If you want to digitize single images from a strip of negatives, you may either use a pair of scissors to carefully cut between the frames to send us the single negative you want digitized, or you can sleeve the film in an archival PrintFile negative page and use a sharpie to mark the negatives you want digitized. Please contact us if you need PrintFile pages.

Return to Top

Will you accept a single negative that has been cut from a strip of negatives?

Single negatives are welcome.

Return to Top

Will you accept photos that are severely damaged?

Photos that are severely damaged and require extensive restoration will be quoted on a per-photo basis. You may contact us for a quote before sending your photos or after we have digitized your photos and you've viewed them in your online gallery.

Return to Top

Will you accept tiny pictures?

We can reproduce photos that are as small as 1 x 1 inches.

Return to Top

Will you accept huge pictures?

You may include photos up to 8x10 in a capsule. Larger photos are quoted on a per-image basis and require special shipment and handling.

Return to Top

Will you accept cropped and cutout photos?

Yes! If it's flat we can digitize it. Cutout photos may require additional digital post production which can be quoted on a per-job basis.

Return to Top

How do you handle photos that are curled or bent?

We digitize with cameras, not with scanners. To digitize photos that are not flat, we use a vacuum easel that uses air pressure to hold photos flat while we make a copy photo with a camera.

Return to Top

Will you accept albums or album pages?

Yes. You can send us full albums at a custom quote. Please note that albums may not be shipped in standard Reminis Capsules.

Return to Top

Can you digitize my artwork?

If it's flat, we can digitize it! If you are an artist and have paintings, drawings or anything else that is flat, contact us for pricing.

Return to Top

What is the largest photo the Capsule will hold?

Our capsules will accommodate photos up to 8x10 inches. Larger photos are quoted on a per-image basis. Please contact us for a quote.

Return to Top

Should I digitize the print or the negative of a photo?

Digitizing the original film is always best, when possible, so negatives are preferred. We are able to make better exposure and color adjustments from the original film (negatives).

Return to Top

Quantities

Is there a maximum quantity limit of photos per Capsule?

You may send as many photos as the Capsule will physically hold, noting that each Capsule comes with a set amount of digitizations and any additional photos are 99¢ each. For example: if your Capsule includes 100 photos, and you want to send 127, we will bill you for the extra 27.

Return to Top

What if I have a large quantity of photos to digitize?

If you have a batch of photos that vastly exceeds the capacity of our largest Capsule, please contact us for a custom quote.

Return to Top

Is there a maximum quantity limit of Capsules per order?

No. You can buy as many capsules as you want to.

Return to Top

Do I need to count my slides, negatives & photos?

Yes. Prior to shipping your photos we will ask you to fill out an online inventory form indicating how many photos you are sending. When we receive your photos, we will count the photos included in your capsule and verify our count against the one you provided.

Return to Top

How do I estimate the number of items I have to be scanned?

We require an accurate and precise count of everything you include in your capsule. This allows us to carefully account for all of your originals.

Return to Top

What happens if my count is off?

If the number of photos you send in your capsule does not match the inventory, we will contact you to resolve the problem and correct the inventory.

Return to Top

Timeframes

How long will it take to receive my completed scans?

Normal turnaround time is 10 business days from the date we receive your capsule. That may be extended during peak season (October, November and December). We will provide a delivery estimate when we receive your capsule.

Return to Top

How long will Reminis keep copies of my scans?

Storage of your photos is permanent.

Return to Top

Does Reminis offer rush services?

We can rush jobs based on production volume and availability. Please contact us for rush pricing.

Return to Top

Originals

Are my originals returned to me?

You have the option of having your originals returned or you, to store them with us, or we can dispose of them. Shipping fees for returned originals will be custom quoted. Storage is billed at $1.95 per capsule per month. If you want us to dispose of your capsule after you accept the digitized files, we will provide you with a $10 gift certificate for buying prints, books, framed photos and more.

Return to Top

Should I attempt to clean my slides and negatives before I send them in? If so, what is the best way?

We do not recommend attempting to clean film, because you can damage irreplaceable originals. We will use compressed nitrogen to clean your original film prior to digitization, and will use digital post-production to remove dust and mold spots from digitized photos.

Return to Top

Organization

Does Reminis offer organizational services?

We do not offer in-house photo organization services, but partner with a network of accredited professionals who specialize in helping you organize your collection of historical analog and current digital photos.

Return to Top

Alterations, Enhancement and Restoration

What do you do to my photos once you've digitized them?

We will color and exposure correct all photos, perform basic dust removal, crop and rotate, and then place them in your permanent online gallery. That's way more than most of the competitors do! All photos are quality-controlled by two sets of eyes before they are delivered to you.

Return to Top

What improvements, enhancements, or restorations are included in your service?

All photos digitized at Reminis are color and exposure adjusted, cropped and rotated and we perform basic physical and digital dust removal. All images are quality-controlled by two sets of eyes.

Return to Top

What improvements, enhancements, or restorations do you offer that are not included in the standard service?

Physical scratches on film or prints, tears, and extensive dust or mold damage will require more extensive manual retouching that is quoted on a per-image basis. You may contact us in advance to discuss your restoration needs, or try our standard service and contact us after-the-fact to discuss more extensive restoration options.

Return to Top

My slides or prints are pink. What can you do?

Depending on how severe the color shift is, we can attempt to restore or partially restore the original colors of the original image. If the color shift is too severe, we can attempt to digitally re-colorize the image or make a black-and-white version of the photo. Custom restoration fees may apply.

Return to Top

How do you restore faded slides?

By using digital cameras instead of scanners, we can extract more detail from a slide or negative that was improperly exposed, or has experienced color shift over time. Depending on the severity of the original image, we can improve the color or exposure, and offer other options for artificial colorization, or black-and-white conversion.

Return to Top

Are you able to remove mold from slides?

Mold typically manifests as small particles on the surface of film, which can often be digitally repaired. If you want more extensive retouching than our standard post-production service provides, contact us for a quote.

Return to Top

Can you restore torn images?

Torn photos require extensive retouching. Contact us for a custom quote.

Return to Top

Can you restore curled black and white negatives?

We can digitize any film that is flexible enough to lay flat. If the film is too brittle to flatten, it may not be possible to digitize it. Depending on the severity of the curl, an extra handling fee may apply. Please contact us to assess your situation.

Return to Top

Will the digitizing process distort my original films?

All film is handled with professional standards and the process of digitization will not damage the film. If your film is brittle and flattening it will cause damage, we will make an assessment and contact you. An additional fee may apply.

Return to Top

Is it worth attempting to digitize really old film?

Absolutely! The best way to stop your old photos from further deteriorating is to make a stable digital copy as soon as possible. Digital photos do not fade and may be reproduced an infinite number of times with no loss in quality.

Return to Top

Why should I print through the Reminis print store?

You may download and print your digitized photos however and wherever you want. However, all photos printed via the Reminis print store are further enhanced and optimized to best print at the size that you're printing. Enhancement and optimization: Old photos are often grainy and out-of-focus. We use patented AI technology to sharpen faces prior to printing that will make them look better than the original. All photos are reviewed by the team at Reminis prior to printing. You're never going to get that attention to detail at the drugstore! Convenience: It's really easy to buy printed products through the Reminis print store! Ship anywhere: Our products make great gifts, and just like any online retailer, you can have your products shipped anywhere, including your family and friends!

Return to Top

DPI and Resolution

What is resolution?

Image resolution is the detail an image holds. Originals that are small (like 35mm slides) should be digitized at a higher resolution than an 8x10 print. We strive to deliver digitized images that are a minimum of 4,000 pixels on the longest dimension of the photo. This provides an image that will allow for high-quality output for printed applications, and equates to an image that is about 10 megapixels. Photo labs make high-quality archival prints at a resolution of 200 PPI (pixels per inch). Therefore, a digital image with a dimension of 4000 pixels on the longest side can be printed at about 20 inches at a resolution of 200 PPI. Larger images can be printed at slightly lower resolutions because the viewing distance is greater. Therefore, one of our standard image files can be easily printed on a photographic print at 30" or even larger.

Return to Top

What is a pixel?

Think of digital photos as if they were drawn on graph paper. Each square in the graph paper can have a different color, and there are millions of possible colors for each square. We call these squares "pixels." Pixels don't have a defined size, but rather are defined by resolution, which is measured in "pixels per inch" or PPI. (What's DPI? We've got a FAQ for that too). A piece of graph paper might have squares that are ¼" in size. The resolution of this graph paper would be 4 pixels per inch (4 PPI). Most photos from photo labs are printed at a resolution 200 pixels per inch. Large prints can be printed at slightly lower resolution because they are usually viewed at a farther distance and the slightly lower resolution can't be perceived by the human eye.

Return to Top

Do you offer a higher resolution?

Reminis is not in the business of just digitizing photos. We make new heirlooms from old family photos. Therefore, we digitize all photos so they are ready to print in the form of photographic prints, framed photos, books, canvases and more. Our standard digital files are likely to be higher resolution than the original you provide, and can be used at large sizes. If you need ultra-high resolution images of up to 50 megapixels for extremely large display applications, contact us for a custom quote.

Return to Top

Why are square photos' file sizes smaller than rectangular photos?

Because we use digital cameras to digitize photos, square photos are "letterboxed", leaving a border on the sides of the digitized image that must be cropped. This means that some pixels must be removed from the digitized photo. However, square photos are still digitized at the same resolution as their rectangular counterparts, and square photos will be at least 2,700 pixels in size.

Return to Top

What is DPI? How is it different from PPI?

"DPI" stands for "Dots per Inch." It is a holdover from the printing industry. "PPI," which stands for "Pixels per inch," is the more appropriate term for digital photography, though the two are used interchangeably.

Return to Top

At what resolution are my photos digitized?

We select the best resolution for you to get a high-quality digital file for the purposes of printing and viewing on large screens. The resolution depends on the size of the original photo. 35mm scans are digitized at a minimum of 2,800 pixels per inch; a 4x6 print is digitized at a minimum of 650 pixels per inch. We provide final image files that are at least 4,000 pixels on the longest dimension. The resolution is determined by dividing 4,000 pixels by the size of the original on the longest dimension.

Return to Top

Cloud Storage

How much does it cost to store my photos in the cloud?

Permanent cloud storage is included in the price of digitization.

Return to Top

How much can I store in the cloud?

There is no technical limit to the number of photos that can be stored. We can store as many photos as you can send to us!

Return to Top

How long can I store my photos in the cloud?

Your photos are safely stored in our cloud storage systems in multiple worldwide data centers forever. They never expire.

Return to Top

How do you ensure my photos are safe in the cloud?

We make backups that are located in multiple places around the world with multiple services, and use the same enterprise-grade security practices and encryption that banks and other financial institutions use to protect your data.

Return to Top

Why should I store my photos in the cloud?

You may download your photos to store them on your computer. However, cloud storage is managed by professional data managers that use enterprise grade servers and software to keep your data safe and backed up. We use the same data storage services that are trusted by Netfllix, LinkedIn, Turner Broadcasting, ESPN, Major League Baseball, BBC, Adobe, Delta Air Lines and others.

Return to Top

Enlargement

How large of a print will I be able to make from my digitized photos?

Photographic prints may be printed at 30" on the longest side, or even bigger. Canvases can be printed up to 60" on the longest side. If you would like to make prints larger than these sizes, contact us to discuss your specific needs.

Gallery

Can I share my photos to friends and family via email?

Your Reminis online gallery is password protected. You may share it with anyone by providing them with the gallery link and password.

Return to Top

Downloading

How do I download my order?

You may download all your photos from your gallery for free! Simply follow the tutorial in the gallery.

Return to Top

Digital Photos

Can I get my digital photos returned to me on a USB Drive?

You can purchase a USB drive of all the photos from your capsule for $20.

Return to Top

Equipment and Process

What type of scanning equipment do you use?

We don't scan photos. We use Canon DSLR cameras to create copy photos of everything we digitize, from slides, to negatives to prints and to album pages. Using cameras to digitize photos eliminates the risk of damage to the originals, provides higher resolution files, and allows us to extract a higher level of exposure range (dynamic range) from the original.

Return to Top

Do you outsource the work or process my photos yourself?

All photos are handled and digitized in-house at our facility in metro Atlanta.

Return to Top

Who will digitize my photos?

Your photos are digitized with care by our team of professionals in Atlanta. We do not outsource the digitization work and the work is all done in our facility. Your photos are in our caring and capable hands from the moment we receive them until we return them to you.

Return to Top

Order Details

Does a Capsule ever expire?

Your capsule must be used within 3 years of the date you received it.

Return to Top

Safety and Privacy

How does Reminis ensure the safety of my photos?

We use an enterprise-grade barcode-based asset management system to keep track of all photos at our facility. Combined with asset management best practices (like completing and shelving one batch of photos before starting another) we can look up and precisely locate any photo in our possession within 30 seconds. Our digital systems are all backed up with paper systems for additional safety and redundancy. All photos are stored in a climate controlled facility with multifactor physical locking systems ensuring safety and access control. Each original is handled no more than three times while in our facility. Our team wears gloves, masks and hair nets to ensure cleanliness.

Return to Top

How do you ensure my photos are safe in the cloud?

All photos are backed up multiple times in multiple physical locations in multiple countries.

Return to Top

Is it possible for me to track where my photos are in the process?

You may track the progress of your capsule at https://my.remin.is

Return to Top

Do you offer a privacy policy to protect my photos?

We do not share your photos with anyone without your consent, except with our partners who retouch them digitally and our photo labs and printers who make the physical products we offer in the store. All photos in your gallery are password-protected so you have full control over who can log in and view them. We may contact you to ask your permission to share your photos on our Instagram feed, @savefamilyphotos. You may view our full privacy policy here.

Return to Top

Liability

What are Reminis' limits of liability?

The specifics of our limits of liability may be found in our Terms of Service. Reminis is insured for professional liability ("errors & omissions" policy). Contact us for proof of insurance.

Return to Top

Shipping, Handling and Location

Do you take international orders?

Reminis will ship capsules outside the continental US, but additional shipping and handling fees may apply. The customer is responsible for paying for return shipping if located outside the continental United States.

Return to Top

What is the recommended method for organizing, packing, and shipping my photos?

We provide some basic materials for protecting your original photos during shipment. Your Capsule guide, included with your capsule, contains instructions and links to resources for preparing your shipment.

Return to Top

To what address do I ship my Capsule?

We will provide you with a shipping label when you're ready to return your capsule, with the correct address printed on it to minimize errors.

Return to Top

Is guaranteed shipping available?

We do not recommend shipping signature required because it makes it less likely for the driver to deliver the package on the first attempt. All inbound shipments are tracked in real-time. The delivery driver deposits all shipments in a locked closet within our facility, which are then scanned immediately into our asset control system, ensuring chain-of-custody. Our system will alert us immediately if a package is not delivered when expected so we can take immediate action. Also, don't tell anyone, but we have our driver's cell phone number!

Return to Top

Can I ship multiple Capsules from different addresses and combine them in a single order?

You may ship capsules from anywhere and register them to a single my.remin.is account so they are all stored in the same place.

Return to Top

Can I track my shipping?

All shipments are tracked, and we monitor all shipments containing original photos proactively and in real-time.

Return to Top

Is shipping included in my order?

We include return shipping in the cost of the Capsule. You may elect to get your originals back, have us store them for $2 per month, or have us dispose of them and receive a $10 gift card for use in the Reminis print store.

Return to Top

Where are you located?

We are located in Decatur, Georgia — where "Mayberry meets Berkeley" — in the heart of Metro Atlanta.

Return to Top

What do I do if I want to send items too large for the Capsule?

Original photographs that are larger than 8x10 are quoted individually and may incur additional shipping and handling charges. If you need packaging for shipping that can be included in the quote, or you may package your originals yourself.

Return to Top

Can I drop my order off at your facility instead of shipping?

If you are in the Atlanta area and would like to hand-deliver or pick up your order, please contact us to make an appointment. We're happy to meet you! (During COVID-19 our facility is closed to non-employees, but we are happy to meet you outside!)

Return to Top