Getting Started: Scanning Your Stamps

To begin using the Stamp Analyser, you will need images of the stamps you want to analyze.

There are three ways to obtain these images:

  1. Scan your stamps – simple and by far the best method (see details below)

  2. Photograph your stamps – trickier but workable (click here for instructions)

  3. Use stamp images from a website – (click here for instructions)

Scanning Your Stamps

You can use any type of scanner. Most all-in-one printers produce scans that are perfectly adequate.

Only one scanner setting truly matters: the resolution (DPI).

For optimal results:

  • Set the resolution to 300 DPI

  • Place the stamp on a clean black background before scanning

You may adjust Exposure, Contrast, or Saturation afterward if needed, but do not resize the image.

Resizing removes or invents pixels and invalidates the original DPI, which affects perforation and frame dimension calculations.

To save time, consider scanning multiple stamps together, then crop them either on your Mac/PC or directly in the Stamp Analyser.

Transferring Scanned Stamps to Your iOS Device

The iCloud Photo Library  or Photo App is an easy and convenient way to transfer scanned images from your Mac/PC to your iPhone or iPad.

You can also use the software provided by your scanner manufacturer.

Please refer to your scanner’s documentation for installation and file-transfer instructions.

Again, scanning multiple stamps at once can save time, and you can crop them later using either your computer or the Stamp Analyser.

Cropping on a Mac (Stamp Analyser)

  1. In the Tools menu, select Set Crop Mode and switch it ON.

  2. Drag and drop an image into the Stamp Analyser.

  3. A Crop View will appear, where you can zoom and pan the image.

  4. Click and drag the crop rectangle around the stamp you want to analyze, leaving a small border around it.

  5. Select Crop.

  6. You can now Save the cropped image or Analyze it directly.

Cropping on iPhone or iPad (Stamp Analyser)

  1. In the main view toolbar, tap the Crop icon. When crop mode is ON, the icon appears filled in orange.

  2. Tap Photos to open your Photo Library and select the image you want to crop.

  3. The Stamp Analyser will show a crop view with a rectangle over the image, where you can zoom and pan the image.

  4. Move and adjust the rectangle around the stamp, leaving a small border, 

  5. Tap Analyse.

The stamp will be analyzed and also saved automatically to your Photo Library.