Frequently Asked Questions

At Chicago Scanning, we make it simple to bring your old photos, film, and videos into the digital age. Digitizing safeguards your memories from fading, makes them easy to share, and frees them from outdated formats that are difficult to view.

General questions

We digitize the following formats:

  • Photo Prints

  • Photo Albums

  • 35mm Slides

  • 35mm Negatives

  • Video Tapes

  • 8mm, 16mm & 35mm Film Reels

  • DVDs

  • Audio Tapes

  • Professional Formats

  • Personal Documents

  • VHS Tapes

  • Mini DV Tapes

  • 8mm Tapes

  • Digital 8 Tapes

  • Hi8 Tapes

  • Betacam Tapes

  • U-Matic Tapes

Yes, and we encourage you to do so. You can avoid the risk of shipping your items by bringing them to our location.

We are open Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at:

848 W. Eastman St., Chicago

No appointment is required.

Pick up service is available for large projects in the Chicagoland area.

Otherwise, we recommend shipping your items via FedEx or UPS, or reaching out to a local courier service such as 4 Star Courier.

Yes. All digitizing work is performed in our Chicago office.

  • Small Projects: Less than 1 week

  • Medium Projects: 1–3 weeks

  • Large Projects: 3–6 weeks

  • Archive / Library projects: Quoted per project

You can receive your digital memories via cloud, USB thumb drive, or disc.

Yes, we offer bulk discounts. We specialize in large projects but happily accept smaller projects as well.

You can view your digital photos and movies on:

  • Cloud storage

  • Computer

  • Smartphone

  • iPad / Tablet

  • Smart TV

We are the #1 rated digitizing company in the Chicagoland area and have served over 10,000 customers since 2018.

Your items are handled by experienced professionals, and our office building has 24/7 live security guards on-site.

  • 8mm

  • Super 8mm

  • 16mm

  • Super 16mm

  • 35mm

In most cases, yes. We routinely transfer films that are 50–100 years old.

We use a modern 4K laser-guided, frame-by-frame, sprocketless HD film scanner.

Your films are digitized using 4K QHD overscan, capturing the entire frame. Sprocket holes and frame lines are cropped, and final output is provided in 4K UHD for maximum compatibility.

Yes. We apply:

  • Scratch reduction

  • Grain reduction

  • Color correction

  • Stabilization

Unedited versions are available free upon request.

  • Standard: .MP4

  • Optional (extra fee): Lossless .MOV (Avid DNxHR)

  • Yes. We transfer:

    • Magnetic sound on Regular 8 / Super 8

    • Optical sound on 16mm

  • Yes. You will receive one digital movie file per reel.

  • We scan:

    • Standard prints (3×5, 4×6, 5×7, 8×10)

    • Non-standard prints such as vintage photos, Polaroids, wallet size, curled or slightly damaged prints

    • Manual-digitizing prints including photos stuck to albums with strong adhesive, prints larger than 8×10, heavily damaged prints, or mounted on thick cardboard

  • Photos must be removed from album sleeves before scanning.

    If photos are stuck to pages with strong adhesive, do not remove them. We can scan the full album page safely.

  • If your photos are grouped and labeled, we can create matching digital folders such as:

    • 1986

    • Disney Trip

    • College

  • You can provide loose photo prints in ziplock bags, envelopes, boxes, or containers.

  • 300 DPI (standard)
    600 DPI (optional)

  • High-resolution JPG files.

  • Yes. We can digitize scrapbooks up to 11 × 17 inches.

  • 35mm, Super 35mm, 110, 126, 127, and Super 127 formats.

  • Slides can be provided in boxes, carousels, or ziplock bags.

    Slides in plastic binder sheets or Airequipt cartridges must be removed before scanning (or we can do this for a fee).

  • Captured at 4500 DPI. Final images are delivered between 3700 and 4000 DPI depending on cropping.

  • Yes. We apply color correction plus dust and scratch removal.

  • JPG format. Unedited RAW files are also available.

  • We use pressurized air to remove dust. For very dusty slides, we recommend cleaning them before bringing them in.

  • 35mm negatives (strips or cut), medium format, large format, and non-standard formats such as 110.

  • 35mm negatives are digitized at 4600 PPI using DSLR capture.

    Final images are typically 4000 × 6000 pixels (24 MP) before cropping.

    RAW files are available optionally.

    Medium and large format negatives are scanned on flatbed scanners starting at 300 DPI.

  • For family memories, we recommend scanning prints. It is more cost-effective and requires no additional color correction.

  • We use pressurized air to remove dust. Heavily dusty or damaged film should be cleaned before visiting if possible.

  • Yes. We apply dust and scratch reduction.

  • We do not transfer Blu-ray discs or copyrighted commercial content.

  • We charge a reduced fee for attempting transfers on blank or damaged discs.

  • We can finalize most Mini DVDs.

    Regular DVDs require the original recording device.

  • Audio tapes: Standard cassettes, microcassettes, DAT
    Audio reels: 1/4-inch reel-to-reel only

    We do not support 1/2-inch, 1-inch, or 2-inch reels.

  • Uncompressed WAV format.
  • MP3 available upon request.

  • Files are numbered to match stickers placed on your tapes and cases.

    Optional service available to use your existing labels.

  • No. We preserve original quality. If needed, you may use an external audio mastering specialist for further enhancement.

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