The HP Scanjet 6350 CSE proved to achieve excellent results on document and paper scans, but the scans of old photos were lacking in detail.

I was very happy with my HP Flatbed Scanner and from this I formed rule number one about buying computer equipment, which is: When performing a task that is critical to yourself and your future, spare no expense and always buy the best equipment that you possibly can. I wanted to scan and digitize all of my childhood photos. The scans I made from the prints were bad, but I still had the negatives. I started to read about film scanners on the Internet.

Then in the Summer of 2001 I went once again to the computer expo at the Jacob Javits Center to look at film scanners. I stopped into the Nikon booth to look at their film scanners. I brought some negatives with me to try and the Nikon rep did some scans for me and showed me the results on the screen. It looked good, but I asked what kind of prints could I get from this. He then pointed to a picture behind him that was the size of garage door. I was impressed. A few days after the show I went to Focus Cameras and bought a Nikon Cool Scan 4. After scanning a few images I realized my next hurdle was to learn how to use image correction software.

I needed to know how to correct the colors and textures, etc. The HP Scanner had come bundled with the software MGI Photosuite 2, but it was kind of clunky to use, and directions were scant. The Nikon scanner came bundled with another program called Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE. This software proved very hard to use at first, but there were lots of books published out there on this software as opposed to almost none on Photosuite. So I bought a book on Adobe and embarked upon one of the steepest and toughest learning curves of my life. I do not regret it for one single moment. Adobe Photoshop now ranks as number 2 in my software arsenal right behind Microsoft Office. I can take photos or negatives that are almost totally destroyed and make them look like new again. I can also take many dffrent images and combine then into one and make it all appear completely natural. Every image on this web site was created by me using Adobe Photoshop CS. I also use Photoshop Elements too. Both programs are good, but Photshop CS has absolutely awesome power.