Tips for Packing Negatives

Packing and shipping negatives is a simple process with ScanCafe. On this page, we have provided some great tips for packing and shipping your negatives to us when you want your negatives scanned. Packing and shipping negatives to ScanCafe is truly quick and easy if you follow these steps:

1) First, you might want to label your groups of negatives

If your negatives are already organized in envelope groups, you can label each group. When we scan the images, we will create individual folders for that group. For example, you could label one set of negatives as "16th birthday" and another set of negatives as "Baby Pictures". We offer similar grouping options for slide scanning and photo scanning.

2) Place your grouped negatives into an envelope(s)

One of the greatest things about getting negatives scanned is that they are so easy to package and ship. Simply place the negatives/envelopes in Ziploc bags - the bags keep the moisture off the film when it is sent from your home or office to ScanCafe. This is especially important if you require photo restoration services. If your negatives are sitting in a portfolio binder, just send the entire binder. Our team will take the negatives out of the plastic sleeves and scan the negatives. Once scanned, we will then put the negatives back in the sleeves in the order they were received.

3) Place the Ziplocs into a sturdy shipping box

Although it is perfectly acceptable to place the Ziplocs in bubble envelopes designed for shipping – you are always better off placing your images in a box designed for shipping. This is especially important if you are sending negatives in a portfolio binder. We recommend that you use boxes from your local UPS store, Kinko's, or an office products store. In addition, you may be able to get a box from your office shipping department.

4) Print 3 Copies of the ScanCafe UPS shipping label

When you place an order with ScanCafe, our system automatically generates a UPS shipping label for you. We need this shipping label to track your package throughout our scanning process. You can print the shipping label directly from your computer. Print 3 copies:

• Place one UPS label inside of the box.
• Securely tape one UPS label to the outside of the box
• Keep one UPS label copy for your records

5) Drop your box off anywhere UPS picks up such as at a UPS store or your office shipping department

UPS picks up at many locations including most major business office complexes. Once your package has been picked up, you can track your package on the UPS tracking site. Once we have received your packages at our office, you will then be able to track your package through the entire scanning process on ScanCafe's site.