Avoiding Blurry Scans – The Most Common Causes and Their Solutions

You’ve digitized an old photo, but the result looks like it was taken through frosted glass? Blurry scans are one of the most common issues when digitizing – and they are almost always avoidable. Here are the five main causes and what you can do about them.

Cause 1: Movement While Photographing

Even the slightest hand movement can make a photo blurry. This happens especially quickly in low light, as the camera uses a longer exposure time, making it more sensitive to shakes.

Solution:

Place your phone on a stable surface or use a mini tripod
Use the self-timer so you don’t have to touch the device when taking the shot
Keep both elbows close to your body when shooting handheld

Cause 2: Incorrect Focus

Sometimes the camera focuses not on the photo but on the background or another area. The result is a sharp table but a blurry image.

Solution:

Tap directly on the photo on your smartphone display to set the focus manually
Maintain enough distance – most smartphone cameras only focus correctly from a certain minimum distance
Wait a moment for the autofocus to lock in before you take the shot

Cause 3: Poor Lighting

Insufficient light is a common sharpness killer. In low light, the camera automatically increases the ISO sensitivity, which leads to image noise – and this looks like blurriness, especially in shadow areas.

Solution:

Photograph during the day in natural light, ideally next to a window
Use an additional light source if necessary (LED panel or ring light)
Avoid using the flash – it creates harsh contrasts and reflections on glossy photos

Cause 4: Angled Perspective

If you don’t hold the phone exactly vertical over the photo, you’ll get a perspective distortion. This causes part of the photo to be out of focus because it’s outside the focal plane.

Solution:

Hold the phone as straight as possible over the photo – at a 90° angle to the table surface
Use the grid lines in the camera app to check your alignment
Many scanner apps automatically correct perspective afterward

Cause 5: Too Low DPI Setting

If you’re using a flatbed scanner and set a resolution that’s too low, you’ll end up with pixelated, soft-looking scans – especially when the image is later enlarged on the screen.

Solution:

Set at least 300 DPI, and for old or small photos, 600 DPI
For archival purposes, 600–1200 DPI is recommended
Test different settings and compare the results on the screen
Not sure which DPI you need? Our DPI Guide explains all the settings.

Extra Tip: Automatically Improve Sharpness

Modern scanner apps and programs can enhance sharpness afterward. This is not a complete substitute for a good shot, but it can significantly reduce minor flaws. PhotoScanner for Mac, for example, automatically optimizes image sharpness during scanning – saving you post-processing steps.

Conclusion

Avoiding blurry scans can be managed well with a few simple measures. Another common issue when scanning with a smartphone is shadows – how to avoid them is covered in our article Scanning Photos Without Shadows. The most important factors are a stable shooting position, sufficient light, and the correct resolution. By keeping these three points in mind, you’ll rarely struggle with blurry results.