Pricing Guide
Digitization Costs: A Transparent Guide to Archiving
The decision to transfer precious family memories into a digital format often comes with questions about pricing. Many of our clients in Innsbruck and the surrounding Tyrol region ask why costs vary depending on the medium and which factors influence the final quote. In this guide, we explain in detail how the pricing for scanning slides and negatives is structured and what you should consider when planning your archival budget.
Why do digitization prices vary?
Costs for digitization are not arbitrary; they depend directly on the technical complexity of the carrier medium and the required quality standard. A standard scan of a 35mm slide requires a different handling process than scanning medium-format films or treating damaged negatives that have degraded over time.
At our studio in Innsbruck, we utilize high-resolution hardware capable of up to 6400 dpi, ensuring precise color reproduction and extreme detail. This level of quality requires a longer processing time per image and intensive maintenance of the scanning equipment, both of which are reflected in the calculation.
Price structure for photo and film scans
Generally, we distinguish between standard digitization and specialized procedures. While 35mm films can be processed more efficiently due to their standardization, larger formats such as medium format require manual adjustment and longer scan cycles to ensure the entire frame is captured perfectly.
Another critical factor is the resolution. A scan in 4K quality provides immense future-proofing but demands more storage space and computing power during post-processing. For most family archives, we recommend a balance between file size and detail to ensure that the images can be easily shared with relatives via cloud services or email.
| Medium | Unit | Price incl. VAT | Price excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35mm Negative/Slide | per image | 1.20 € | 1.00 € |
| Medium Format | per image | 3.50 € | 2.92 € |
Additional costs for manual restoration
Not every original image is in perfect condition. Dust, scratches, or severe color fading over the decades often require manual intervention. When automatic dust removal is insufficient to restore the image to a presentable state, we offer professional image restoration.
This service is billed on an hourly basis, as the effort varies significantly depending on the state of the medium. Professional restoration is priced at 85 € incl. VAT per hour. We always inform you in advance if we determine that a specific medium requires such treatment to avoid any unforeseen costs on your final invoice.
Local advantages in Innsbruck and Austria
Compared to large online providers, we offer the advantage of personal drop-off and consultation right here in Innsbruck. Many of our clients prefer not to send their irreplaceable originals by mail, choosing instead to deliver them directly to our studio in the Altstadt district. This eliminates the risk of loss during transit and saves on the cost of insured shipping.
Furthermore, we strictly adhere to Austrian pricing regulations and transparently list the statutory VAT of 20%. This ensures that all services are legally secured and professionally documented according to local standards.
Checklist for cost optimization
To keep your digitization costs as low as possible, we recommend the following preparations before visiting us:
- Sorting: Sort your images beforehand. Remove duplicates or blurry shots that do not need to be scanned.
- Grouping: Arrange your films in a clear order to reduce the effort required for file naming and organization.
- Format Selection: Decide in advance whether you need high-resolution TIFF files for archival purposes or compact JPEGs for digital viewing.
- Combination: If you have various types of media, ask about our combined approach for video and photo digitization.
Comparison: Professional service vs. home scanning
Some clients ask if it is cheaper to purchase their own home scanners. While this may make sense for very small quantities, the investment in professional-grade equipment is not cost-effective for most. The quality of a 6400 dpi scan and the professional cleaning of films cannot be achieved with consumer-grade devices.
A professional service also protects your originals from damage that can occur during improper handling in home devices. We view these costs not as an expense, but as an investment in the permanent preservation of your cultural and family heritage.
Further information and next steps
Now that you have a clear understanding of the costs, we recommend visiting our detailed page on Film and Slide Scanning to learn more about the technical process. If you also possess old video tapes, please read our guide on How to Prepare Your Cassettes to save time and money on those services as well.
For an individual cost estimate based on your specific archive, we are happy to assist you. You can reach us via our contact form or visit our studio in Innsbruck for a personal consultation.