![]() That's true for the Dropbox mobile app, for example, and the Evernote mobile app. ![]() In cloud storage and note-taking apps (which you might already have), document scanning is included. ABBYY FineScanner and Microsoft Office Lens are two great examples. Many great scanning apps are free or offer a free tier of service. The app will then prompt you to repeat the process if you want to add more pages to the same file. Most apps scan the page automatically, but in some cases, you may have to tap to complete a scan. Most scanning apps have automatic edge detection, so long as you make a reasonable effort to frame the page within the on-screen guides. Launch the scanning app and position your phone parallel to the document. Most scanning apps correct minor imperfections, such as creases and upturned corners, but if you can get the document to lay flat, that's ideal. Being near a window during daylight helps tremendously. Place the paper on a high-contrast surface. All you need is a smartphone with a mobile scanning app, a high-contrast surface (i.e., if your paper is white, the surface should be dark), and decent lighting. You do not need a tabletop scanner to get professional-looking results. Let's look first at how to scan a document and turn it into an electronic file. For any documents that are extremely delicate or high-value, consider reaching out to an archivist for help, or read some tips from the US National Archives (Opens in a new window). If you have historical family documents that are more akin to family photos, perhaps because they're antiques or have sentimental value, then you're probably better off handling them more like photos. Plus, with photos, you have to account for color, sepia tone, or grayscale, which usually isn't an issue with standard documents. With a document, you don't need a high-resolution image, but with photos you do. Official education transcripts and graduation certificatesįamily photos may come to mind, too, but they require a totally different process for scanning and saving. Health reports, including vaccine and immunization records Passports, drivers licenses, and identification cards Some examples are:ĭocuments related to major life changes: birth certificates adoption papers marriage, divorce, domestic partnership certificates immigration certificates and forms ![]() While there might be some potential value in saving every utility bill or every credit card statement, what's the likelihood that you need them and can't access them from your online bank account or utility provider?įocus instead on documents that you're likely to have to reference at some point (tax returns, for example) or which you would really benefit from having a backup copy. What are some important family documents you might want to digitize? What's the best way to scan and store them so that they're secure, easy to find, and always available when you need them? Examples of Documents to Digitize Finally, it's much easier to share an electronic file with a lawyer, financial adviser, or family member who needs it, rather than sending faxes or photocopies. Third, when information is digitized, you can search for it using keywords rather than wade through piles of paper. Second, you can retrieve the documents anytime and any place as long as you have a secure internet connection. There are so many advantages to doing so.įirst, you end up with a backup copy, which is incredibly helpful if something ever happens to the originals. In many cases, you should save physical copies of the papers, too, but that doesn't mean you can't make a digital copy as well. The best way to put important documents at your fingertips is to go paperless by digitizing them and then save those electronic files to a place where you can retrieve them from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Ideally, all the important documents you could ever need would be easy to find and easy to access. The same can be said in moments of high stress or grief. In an emergency, the last thing you want to do is search for paperwork.
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