Here, I am preparing to scan an image of a woman and her two children. It's at least Civil War vintage — if not older. The image is in it's original case; which will cause a problem with scanning. It would be best to carefully remove the image from it's case. Scanning it in its current state would create a couple of problems with the finished product. First, the image needs to be in contact with the scanner's glass plate to ensure that the scan will be as crisp and sharp as it can be. The second reason is that the brass frame around the image could cause some problems with the scan due to reflected light, plus it's obscuring part of the image anyway.

Before placing the image on the glass, make sure it's clear of any dus or other debris by using compressed air or a clean, soft cloth. Place the ferrotype, face down, on the glass as shown left. Remember not to make any adjustments to the scanner settings, otherwise you might make the task of restoring the image far more difficult than it should be.