Frequently Asked Questions

Why scan/digitize my old photos?

• Archive them for a lifetime and pass them down through generations
• Reprint, cut and crop them as many times as you would like
• Share them with all your family and friends
• Protect them from external factors (fire, flood, insects/rodents, theft)
• Environmental Factors
• Light Fade - Photos can fade or discolor from normal exposure to light.
• Thermal Degradation (dark fade) - Photos can fade or discolor even at room temperature over time.
• Air Fade - Ozone and other airborne pollutants can cause photos to fade.
• Humidity - Humid environments can cause colors to change hue or become less vibrant.

External Factors

• Fire
• Flooding
• Insects and Rodents
• Theft

How much does it cost?

See our Pricing Page for details.

Where do you send my photos?

Your photos are delivered to our processing facility in New Jersey.

How do I get my photos back?

Your sales representative will deliver your photos as well as your new digital files to your home upon completion of the job, or they will be shipped using FedEx or UPS, depending on your area.

What type of media will my digitized files be delivered on?

All your digitized files will be delivered on DVDs unless otherwise specified while placing the order. If you would like your order to be placed on an external hard drive, SD chip or other types of media, please consult your sales representative.

What format do you convert my photos to?

Your photos will be scanned into a jpg at 300dpi. (the same format as a digital camera)

What is the best way to preserve my home videos?

The only practical way to preserve home videos is to convert them to a long lasting digital format. Once digitized, your home videos can be saved in a variety of digital formats: DVD (for viewing on your TV) or mpeg (for viewing on your computer).

How long does the process take to complete?

Depending on the size of your project and the time of year, the average turn around time for digitizing your media is 2-3 weeks.

Is there a limit to how many film reels and videotapes I can have converted?

There is no limit, Acentra can handle any size order.

How many home videos will fit on a single DVD?

Approximately two hours of videotape will fit onto a single DVD.

How many minutes of footage are on my home movie film reels?

The running time for 8mm film, Super8 film is approximately:

• 3" reel (50 feet) 2-3 minutes
• 4" (100 feet) 5-6 minutes
• 5" (200 feet) 12-14 minutes
• 6" (300 feet) 19-22 minutes
• 7" (400 feet) 26-29 minutes

If you have any additional questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us.