This cool sketch is of my husband’s great grandfather, Ferris Whitesides. He happens to be my husband’s namesake. On Sunday we visited his daughter, my husband’s grandmother.
This sketch hangs in her basement. It is large and framed, with glass. The sketch has hung in the basement for as long as I’ve known Grandma, more than 20 years. It’s the kind of item that is difficult to scan and even more difficult to “borrow” to scan.
I decided to try out the new Google PhotoScan app to capture a scan of this precious family treasure. I was surprised by how easy it was to use and how well it did in poor conditions. The lighting in the basement is not good and the glare on the glass is very noticeable. The app took care of most of that. You can see a lighter spot on the right side of the image. This is where the majority of the glare was. But overall, not bad at all.
I think I am going to play with the app some more and see how it compares to a variety of other scanning and photo taking options. The real test will come with printing the different images. We’ll see what the quality differences are.
Have you tried the new Google PhotoScan app?
ps – I feel like I have a genealogy sports injury. I found out I have a cataract in my right eye. What on earth?! I’m 40. Four-oh. The worst part is when they fix it, I’ll have to sit on the bench for a bit. Sigh. But the bright side is when they remove the lens, they will put in one that is my prescription. I will get to ditch my glasses and contacts. Hooray! Now, here’s hoping they get bad enough to fix this year since I’ve met my deductible already…
Thanks for sharing the app. I’ll be trying it out. I hope your surgery goes well.
Thank you!
I hadn’t known about this app! I have a few on my phone, but none work very well. I will have to try this one!! Thanks!!
You are welcome! With the few photos I scanned, I was impressed. This image is 2.8 MB, so it’s a larger file that I would have expected (which is good, of course).
Great! I can’t wait to try it.
I haven’t heard of this app. What a great idea!
The sketch is beautiful. Do you know who the artist was?
Thank you! I don’t know who the artist was. There is no signature. I need to ask Grandma, it’s hard to get a question in sometimes though. 😉
Best of luck with the surgery, and get rested up. If genealogy was a sport like baseball we would put you on the 10 day DL. 😉
Thank you Charles! I had to google 10 day DL. Haha. 🙂
First of all with the cataract: WHAT?! How could this happen? Is it hereditary? I too have cataracts that I developed suddenly last year. While I am much older than you are, I am still “too young” to get them (at least in my family), and I am actually worrying that computer/iPhone screens are causing this! Did your doctor say anything about that? When are you having this surgery?!!! I’m so sorry, Amberly!
As to the app, I have not tried it, but I will keep it in mind. I often have this trouble with things under glass, and I didn’t even notice that lighter area until you mentioned it because the face of the sketch is so compelling!
Thank you Luanne. It’s not the same type of cataract associated with age. It’s one that is more common in your 40s. It is often hereditary or comes from steroid use. Over the last several years I have been on tons of steroids because of chronic sinus infections. They think that, plus the hereditary component got me. (My dad and his youngest brother both had them in their 50s.) I’m trying to look at is as a great way to force myself to sort of get LASIK – I’ve always been too chicken to do it. I’m not going to have a choice now. Last week I could still read the 20/20 line with my glasses on. Yesterday, I couldn’t. In fact, I couldn’t even see that there were letters with my one eye. Since it’s happening anyway, it may as well happen really quickly…
The app surprised me with how well it worked. I didn’t even try to put it in better lighting and it turned out this great.
I’m glad that you know the cause, at least. Nice that you can give yourself a little treat because of it (the LASIK), but I’m sorry you have to go through this!
Thank you Luanne. <3
I hadn’t heard of the app, so thanks for the introduction. Hope you get your surgery soon 🙂
Thank you Su! My vision had already dropped significantly in just a week, so it’s looking good so far. 🙂
That’s terrible (but good too for treatment). It’s a good thing the doctor discovered the problem so soon. 🙂
Yes, I feel really fortunate that the timing has gone so well. I found out on Sunday that my Uncle had his done when he was 42. I thought he was older than that (but still young). And he didn’t have the steroid issue I do. So I think it was bound to happen soon anyway.
I’m sorry about your “sports injury”, but I always look at the upside of things…no glasses! I will be interested to hear what your take is on the best scanning app versus camera or??? for old photos. I’ve got a bunch I have vowed I will do this winter!
Thank you Elaine! I am the same. I’m really excited to be able to ditch my glasses and contacts. I’ve worn glasses since I was 14. My eyesight is terrible. I can’t even walk around my house without some sort of eyewear. It will be awesome to see without assistance. Then of course I will also get to skip the whole set of bi-focal issues that I was dreading. I can just deal with reading glasses as needed.
I have a post planned for sometime after school starts dealing with scanning options. I’m planning to share a few images scanned using a variety of scanning methods so people can see the digital difference. I will also print out each version so I can assess the quality of printed images using each scanning option. That will be harder to showcase and everyone will be trusting my opinion, but I’ll do my best to help readers feel informed. 😉
Thanks, I will look forward to that post.
I’ve worn glasses since third grade and also don’t go anywhere except the shower without my glasses. Progressive lenses are my lifesaver! I also travel with an extra pair of glasses “just in case”. I will also look forward to a report of life without glasses!
I’m looking forward to being able to give such a report! Although, I may start cleaning my shower more frequently… Being super blind does have that one little advantage. 😉
I’m going to try this new app on my Old Photographs Saved From Trash Can collection. I have the originals and the scans were done several years ago by the previous owner. Thanks for the tip. Hope all goes well with the surgery, Amberly.
Looks like my iPhone 5C is not compatible. 🙁
Bummer! I am planning a post for sometime after school starts in a few weeks. I shared this with another reader:
“I have a post planned for sometime after school starts dealing with scanning options. I’m planning to share a few images scanned using a variety of scanning methods so people can see the digital difference. I will also print out each version so I can assess the quality of printed images using each scanning option. That will be harder to showcase and everyone will be trusting my opinion, but I’ll do my best to help readers feel informed. 😉”
Maybe I’ll find another good option for you. 🙂 Do you have access to a good flatbed scanner?
I have a brand new Canon printer with a flatbed scanner as well as a page feeder. 🙂 But the app sounded great for things you can’t scan on a flatbed. Looking forward to your post.
Yes, it is great for that. I’m sorry you can’t get it. Maybe your next phone will be compatible. 😉
Thank you Cathy! Me too, I have my first one scheduled for a few weeks from now. It’s just a biopsy, but it’s the first of three that I need.
Sending up prayers to our Master Physician. May the Lord guide your doctors every step of the way and the Spirit see to your needs.
So…I was wondering if I might pick your brain on some dna stuff? I have a little mystery I am trying to help with and I want to see if I am on the right track and what I might do to under a little more. I am amazing on the tree portion but understanding the dna percentages and data is a little tougher 🙂
Sure! You can always ask. I don’t know if I’ll know the answer. I’m really such a beginner on DNA stuff. But feel free to shoot me an email. amberlysfamilyhistory {at} yahoo {dot} com. Are you part of the Genetic Genealogy Facebook group? They are MUCH better at DNA tips than I am. It’s a closed group run by Blaine Bettinger so you have to request to join. It’s a large group of nearly 16,000 members.
Amberly,
I enjoy the content of your blog so much, I wanted to share it on my blog with a “blogger recognition award”
http://boundlessgenealogy.com/blog-party/blogger-recognition-award/
Thanks,
Melissa
Hello Melissa! Thank you for including me in your fantastic list of genealogy blogs. That is so kind of you to think of me. I’ll click on over and check it out later today or tomorrow. (I’m in that crazy getting ready for school to start phase, plus I’m having some weird eye issues, and I’m the Stake Primary President right now, so I’m waaaaay behind on life…) <3
That sounds and looks like a great app. I’ll have to check it out. Keep us posted if you find one you like better! I’ve always just photographed things like that with my iPhone but it looks like the app does a better job with glare. I do agree that 40 sounds awfully young for cataracts. I was shocked when I was told I had cataracts at 60. Seems like people used to not have them till their 70s or 80s. Personally I blame computers. I’ve been working on one since about 1977. That can’t be good. But the great thing I discovered when I had lens replacement is no more glasses. I never wore them till my 50s when my arms got shorter. I always hated them. It’s been great. I think you’ll really like it!
Thank you Linda! I hope the app works well for your needs. I am planning a post on scanning for sometime after school starts. I wrote this to another reader’s comment:
“I have a post planned for sometime after school starts dealing with scanning options. I’m planning to share a few images scanned using a variety of scanning methods so people can see the digital difference. I will also print out each version so I can assess the quality of printed images using each scanning option. That will be harder to showcase and everyone will be trusting my opinion, but I’ll do my best to help readers feel informed. 😉”
The kind of cataracts I have are common in the 40s. It’s from steroid use. (Ummm… not for muscles, for chronic sinus issues 😉 ). I am really looking forward to ditching the glasses!! One big silver lining for sure. So big, in fact, that it is outshining the cloud. <3
Wishing you well and looking forward to your post!
Thank you Linda! 🙂