Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. We understand that the photographs, slides, negatives and tapes you send us are often completely irreplaceable. Every order is handled personally and with care throughout the digitisation process. Our premises are alarmed, and your originals remain with us until they are safely returned to you with your completed order.

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DPI stands for dots per inch and is a measure of scanning resolution. Put simply, the higher the dpi, the more detail is captured from the original photograph, slide or negative. Higher resolutions can be useful if you want to enlarge or print an image, but they also create larger digital files.

The best resolution depends on the type of original and how you intend to use the finished image. At PicSave, we use resolutions chosen to give an excellent balance between image detail, quality and practical file size.

Yes. Most modern smart TVs can display JPEG photographs and play MP4 video files, although compatibility varies between different televisions. You can usually view your digitised memories by connecting a USB drive to your TV, or by displaying them from a computer, phone or tablet using your TV's screen-mirroring or casting feature.

No. An approximate quantity is absolutely fine when placing your order — there's no need to spend hours counting every photograph, slide or negative. We will count your items as part of the digitisation process and confirm the final quantity. If there is a significant difference from your estimate, we'll contact you before proceeding.

Your digitised videos are saved as MP4 files and supplied on a USB drive. MP4 files are widely compatible and can be viewed on most modern computers, smart TVs and other compatible devices.

There is no charge for tapes or discs found to be blank. We will identify them as blank and return them to you with the rest of your order.

In many cases, yes. If a tape is damaged or has snapped, we may be able to repair it before digitising. Tape repairs are charged at £5 per tape. If we find damage after your tapes arrive, we'll let you know before carrying out any additional work.

Yes. We automatically trim unwanted footage from the start and finish of your recording as part of the standard digitising service. If you would like additional editing, this is available from £10 depending on the work required. Please contact us to discuss what you would like edited and we can advise on the cost.

No. We cannot digitise commercially produced or copyright-protected recordings, such as purchased films, television programmes or other material where you do not have permission to make a copy. Our video digitising service is intended for personal recordings such as family videos, holidays and home movies.

First, please check your spam or junk folder, as confirmation emails can occasionally end up there. If you still can't find it, please contact us at hello@picsave.co.uk and we'll check that your order has been received and that we have the correct email address for you.

No. PicSave is not VAT registered, so VAT is not added to our prices. The prices shown on our website are the prices you pay.

Yes. Our minimum order value for scanning services is £40. You can include different types of photographs, slides or negatives in the same order to reach the minimum value.

Turnaround time depends on the size and type of your order and how busy we are when it arrives. We aim to complete most orders promptly, but larger or more complex orders may take longer. Once we receive your order, we'll let you know if we expect there to be any significant delay.

Once you submit your order, we'll email you a copy of your order details. Please print this and include it with your parcel. If you don't have access to a printer, simply include a piece of paper with your name, address and order number instead. Pack your originals securely in a strong box or suitable protective packaging, and we recommend using a tracked postal or courier service so you can follow your parcel until it reaches us.

You don't need to pay anything when you place your order. Once your digitisation is complete, we'll confirm the final cost and send you details of how to pay. This means you only pay once the work has been completed.

Once your order is complete and payment has been received, your original photographs, slides, negatives, albums or tapes will be carefully packed and returned to you. Return postage is charged according to the weight of your parcel, and the cost will be included in your final invoice. Local customers can also arrange to collect their completed order from PicSave by appointment.

For photograph, slide and negative scanning orders, your digital images can be supplied by download or on a USB drive. Video tape conversions are supplied on USB because the files are generally much larger. You can choose your preferred delivery option when placing your order.

Yes. As soon as we receive your parcel, we'll email you to confirm that your order has arrived safely at PicSave. Your originals will then be kept securely with us throughout the digitisation process.

Your scanned photographs, slides and negatives are supplied as high-quality JPEG files as standard. JPEG is ideal for viewing, sharing and printing and is compatible with virtually all computers, phones, tablets and televisions. TIFF files are also available if required — please let us know when placing your order.

Yes. We will keep your photographs and slides in the order they are supplied wherever possible. If you have several separate groups that you would like kept together, please bundle or clearly label them before sending. If you would like your digital images organised into named folders, we can also do this for £1 per folder.

Yes. We can scan photographs directly from photo albums and scrapbooks, including albums where the photographs cannot or should not be removed. Depending on the album, we can scan complete pages, crop individual photographs while they remain in place, or remove and scan photographs where appropriate. We can scan albums and scrapbook pages up to A3 size.

We remove loose surface dust from photographs and slides before scanning where appropriate. Slides are cleaned using an anti-static brush and compressed air, and infrared dust reduction is also used on suitable colour film during scanning. We avoid aggressive cleaning or using liquids that could risk damaging your originals.

We can only scan material that you own or have permission to reproduce. This means we may be unable to scan professionally taken photographs, commercial images or other copyrighted material unless you have permission from the copyright holder. If you're unsure about a particular photograph, please contact us before sending it.

Yes. We understand that family collections can sometimes include personal or sensitive photographs. We treat all material discreetly and confidentially. However, we cannot scan any material that is illegal or that we believe may depict unlawful content.

Possibly, depending on the size and type of your order and our workload at the time. If you need your order completed by a particular date, please contact us before sending it and we'll let you know whether we can accommodate it. An additional charge may apply for express orders.

Yes, if you specifically request this. We normally return all original photographs, slides and negatives with your completed order, but we can securely dispose of them if you no longer want them returned. Please make this clear when placing your order. We will never dispose of your originals unless you have asked us to do so.

For most photographs, 300 dpi is ideal for viewing, sharing and making standard-size prints. Choose 600 dpi if you would like more detail, expect to enlarge or crop your photographs, or simply want greater flexibility for the future. Higher-resolution scans create larger files, so 600 dpi isn't necessary for everyone.

We can scan 35mm negatives as well as medium and large format negatives. Negatives should be supplied in uncut strips, as we are unable to scan individually cut negative frames. We do not currently digitise APS film cartridges.

If you already have a good-quality digital image, you can send it to us electronically for assessment. Alternatively, you can send us the original photograph and we will scan it before carrying out the restoration. If you're unsure which option is best, please contact us and we'll be happy to advise.

The cost depends on the condition of the photograph and the amount of restoration work required. Once we've seen your image, we'll assess the damage and let you know what can realistically be achieved and the cost before any restoration work begins. There is no obligation to proceed.

Sometimes. It depends on the original image and the reason for the poor quality. We may be able to improve contrast, colour, fading, marks and some loss of detail, but a severely blurred or out-of-focus photograph cannot always be fully corrected. We'll assess the image first and let you know what we believe can realistically be achieved.

No. If, after assessing your photograph, we don't believe we can achieve a worthwhile improvement, we won't carry out the restoration and you won't be charged for the restoration work.