Scanning greeting cards to save digitally

[PachydermExpres]

Hi all!  I am embarking on a project to declutter my "craft" room (I usually call it something else that also starts with cra), and starting with the boxes I have of greeting cards that my husband and I have given each other over 40 years of marriage.  My plan is to select my favorite ones (there will be a lot) and scan them in using HP Smart so that I can keep them digitally and toss the paper copies.  Has anyone tried doing this, and if so, do you have any tips to make this easier?  Should I use the flatbed scanner or the camera app (laptop or mobile phone camera)?  How do you scan and organize the front and inside(s) of the cards?  This is not a technical question so I apologize in advance if I should have posted it in some other forum.  But any help and ideas folks may have would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@PachydermExpres 

Welcome to the HP Community Forum.

Forgive any errors - this is being typed "on the fly"...

If I catch anything obvious, I will edit the content of this message...

Start...

The important how-to document:

HP Printers - How to Scan

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NOTE >> Not covered in this message / post > HP Scan

If HP Smart balks, acts weird, seems overly awkward, or just makes you sad,

Consider using HP Scan - part of the Full Feature Software.

If you already have the full driver printer software installed, great - if not, it can be done.

Let me know if you need help with loading the full driver.

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Go

Use the glass / flatbed - though, really, it is a matter of what feels "right".

Note that this process is likely to be easier when the card opens like a book as opposed lifting the front to flip open like a tablet of paper.  Top opening cards can be done, of course, it is a matter of managing the orientation properly when scanning.

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If you do not care about reprinting the card document later, that is, you do not care about recreating and printing the card later (as a "booklet"),

• Opt to scan two "pages" at a time. 
• For example, Open the card > Place face down on the glass in the lower right corner - top to your right side > Scan the Front/back in then first scan, then flip to the other side and scan the inside of the card using "add page" (second scan). 

What if?? 

Yes, in an emergency, that is, you suddenly decide you need to recreate the card in its original format, you can still extract and recreate a page-by-page scan document later -- it's not easy, but it can be done.

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If you do care about maintaining the format of a side opening "folded card" booklet,

You will need to scan one page at a time.

For example,

• Place the closed card face down on the glass in the lower right corner - top to your right side > Scan that side
• Fold the card backwards
• Place the "Page to be scanned" in the lower right corner - top to right side > Add the page (+ Add) and scan
• Flip the card (side to side) so the inside "message side" is face down - Add the page (+ Add) and scan
• Open and reclose the card in its natural "folded" position.
• Place the back side of the card face down, in the lower right corner - top to right side > Scan that side
• Done - Optionally edit > and Save

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Examples...

Set Preset to PDF (Document)

Set Source to Glass / Flatbed

Set the Scan Area to capture the approximate size of the scanned content (Letter or other size) OR set the scan size to "Entire Scan Area"

Set other options

Scan

General Example - HP Smart - Windows - Scan Document

HP_Smart_W10_Scan_Document_Screen_7

General Example - HP Smart - Windows - Scan Document

HP_Smart_Win_Scan_Edit_Document_Set_1

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HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

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When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guides, Product Information (Specifications), Supplies, and more

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HP ENVY Photo 7855 All-in-One Printer 

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[PachydermExpres]

Thank you so much, Dragon-Fur, for this very detailed and helpful response!  

[Dragon-Fur]

@PachydermExpres 

You are welcome.

It is a bit "over the top" --  I was thinking on the fly about a couple of ways to do this.

There are no doubt better ways to make the job easier. 

Check online for others who have tacked this task -- "someone" has to have made a video, right?

The easiest method of all is to send the stack of cards to a company that does the scanning and conversions to digital PDF.

Of course, doing it yourself at home takes longer.

Doing it at home also means you get to look at each card and remember why it is special.  Our lives are built on our experiences.

Smiling.

Happy Scanning.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Helpful = Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"