5 Must-Have Features in a Photo Scanning App

Before you download any photo scanning app, make sure it nails these essentials. They save hours of manual cleanup and keep priceless memories safe.

1. Auto-Crop & Edge Detection

Look for apps that detect multiple photos per shot and draw precise corners. Manual cropping dozens of prints is tedious; auto-crop plus a quick adjustment is a game changer, especially for scrapbook pages.

2. Perspective & Deskew Tools

When you scan an album page at a slight angle, trapezoids happen. Perspective correction flattens each photo into a perfect rectangle so faces aren’t stretched. Bonus points if the app supports guides or grid overlays during capture.

3. Glare Removal & Lighting Assist

Glossy prints love to reflect ceiling lights. The best apps analyze highlights, blend multiple exposures, or use AI inpainting to remove glare. Some (like PhotoScanRestore) even warn you when a hot spot appears so you can reshoot quickly.

4. Color + Scratch Restoration

Scanning alone doesn’t fix fading. Built-in AI restoration boosts color, sharpens detail, and repairs tiny scratches so the digital version looks better than the original. This saves you from exporting to extra apps like Remini afterward.

5. Secure Storage & Sharing

Family photos are private. Choose apps with encrypted cloud storage, granular sharing controls, and easy exports to your personal backups. Features like captions, tags, and voice notes also help keep context with every image.

Use the Checklist with PhotoScanRestore

Bonus Capabilities to Consider

• Slide/negative support: Helpful if you uncover film strips or 35mm slides.
• Batch renaming/tagging: Lets you group photos by decade or event before exporting.
• Timeline view: Keeps relatives engaged with a scrolling story rather than a static folder.
• Accessibility cues: Voice guidance and haptic feedback matter for older family members.

When an app ticks these boxes, you’ll spend time enjoying photos—not fighting with them.

Scan & Restore a Photo Free

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