27 July 2013

A Few Flip Pal Suggestions

After my first onsite  Flip-Pal scanning experience, here are a few suggestions:
  • Have plenty of batteries. Have twice what you think you will need (and maybe more). 
  • Scan the backs of pictures if names are written on them. In one way it's faster than taking notes, gets information accurate and gives you time for something else.
  • Consider taking a scanning buddy with you. The scanner is not difficult to use or learn to use. My mother scanned the smaller pictures for me that did not need any stitching, upside down scanning, etc.and that could be scanned by simply laying the picture on the Flip-Pal and hitting scan. I scanned the larger items and the ones that required later stitching. This freed me up to discuss pictures and other ephemera with the relative whose pictures were being scanned. 
  • Practice more than you think you need to if you've never done "onsite scanning" before. Practice one more time than that if you don't have any idea if you will ever get back to the person's home again. 
  • Encourage the person to locate and review the pictures before you get there. This will get their mind "running" and give them extra time to remember and organize materials. If you have to do it "cold," that's the way to go, but if they've looked over things a few times they are liable to "remember more" when you actually are there for the actual scanning.
  • Back up your scans before you perform any stitching, cropping, etc. You want to make certain you actually have scans when you get home.
  • Offer to share what you have or send them scans that you make.
This post is:
http://rootdig.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-few-flip-pal-suggestions.html