Perhaps the negatives were lost, destroyed, or we never had them to begin with. Getting the most accurate digital rendition of the photo is our last best hope of preservation. In order to do that, you'll need to pair your scanner with Hamrick Software's VueScan.

What it is
Designed to work with any scanner on the market, past or present, VueScan is a versatile scanning engine for the novice or pro. Written by Ed Hamrick, who knows more about scanners than any other person I've met, VueScan will help you get the most from your scanner, regardless of brand.

For the advanced or professional user, it will give you complete control over every aspect of the scan, from DPI (dots per inch), to bit depth (the more bits, the higher the quality), to complete control over the color balance and exposure. VueScan also offers a variety of file formats to choose from, including the standard JPEG and TIFF, but also Adobe's DNG format, and the ability to perform multiple passes, combining them for a better result.

For the novice and inexperienced, VueScan has a wizard interface. The wizard essentially walks you through the scan, step-by-step, virtually automating the entire scanning process.

What it does
In a nutshell, what VueScan does is allow you to get the best scan possible from your scanner. Through the use of scanner-specific algorithms, the software is able to interpret the data from your scanner and tailor the results for the best possible outcome. And it does so with no interaction from the user.

Worried about whether or not your decades-old scanner will work with VueScan? It will. And updates are released on a regular basis. Sometimes weekly.

Still having difficulty with your particular scanner? Contact Hamrick Software. They are very approachable, very responsive, and very helpful.

What about Vista? A lot of scanners simply don't work under Windows Vista, Microsoft's newest incarnation of the Windows operating system. And many manufacturers are simply not providing updated drivers, are reluctant to do so, or are just taking their sweet time about it. VueScan will also take care of you in this regard.