Scanning in pictures is a great way to be able to edit and share your favorite images. A lot of people will scan in old family pictures and post them on their social media profiles, create scrap books, and even photo edit them. In the old days, you had to pay a lot of money for someone to do these editing jobs and touch up old photographs. Now, with the right kind of scanning software, you can turn your old pictures into wonderful new and improved versions. You can even take regular pictures and turn them into old vintage photographs with the various effects that come with the right scanning software.

Some people are still not familiar with all the great things that one can do with a scanner and scanning software programs. They may not even know how to scan a picture or document. So let's outline briefly the steps involved, in case you don't already know. The main feature of most all-in-one printers and scanners is scanning. Scanning basically means that you're converting a picture or document into electronic data that your computer stores and translates into a similar image on the computer screen. It can also translate that image into a copy and print it out on photograph paper. In essence, you can use scanning to back up all important documents and images. Here is how you do it:

1. Turn on your scanner or printer, as well as your computer system. Make sure all connections between the printer and computer, or the scanner and computer are connected properly.
   
   
2. Lift the lid of your printer or scanner. Be sure to have a thorough examination of the scanning surface. You also want to check out the underside of the scanner lid for any finger prints or dust bunnies.
   
   
3. Next, you'll place your picture or document that you want to scan faced down on the glass. Make sure to align the paper or photo with the alignment markers. This will help you to square up the picture or document.
   
   
4. Close the lid of the scanner or printer very carefully. You want to make sure that your paper does not shift or move out of position.
   
   
5. Choose the scanning resolution. The higher your dots per inch (dpi), the more detailed and sharp your image will turn out.
   
   
6. Push on the button to scan. You may have to do it on the scanner itself or on the printer. On the other hand, there may be a software program that you have to use to turn it on to scan. Make sure you understand how to turn it on and where the scan button is.
   
   
7. Evaluate your preview of your scanned in document on the computer screen. Depending on your software and on the all-in-one printer, you may be prompted to the next page or the next set of actions on the computer display.
   
   
8. Next, you may be asked if you want to edit the image. Make the necessary changes you see fit. You may be able to downsize the image, make it bigger, resize it to other dimensions, and add sepia tones, lighting effects, and other cool things.
   
   
9. After you're done editing the image to your satisfaction, you hit the accept button and then scan it in. Next, you'll want to save it. Lastly, you'll return your original document or picture to a location that's safe for keeping.