Source: https://restorebunny.com/guides/digitize-photo-postcards-front-and-back/ # Digitize Photo Postcards as Two-Sided Records Link postcard pictures, messages, addresses and postal evidence without losing their relationship. Scanning & preservation2 min readUpdated 16 October 2026 ## Try it on your own photo Have your scan ready? Repair a copy, then compare faces and details with the original. [Restore my photo]()1 credit per successful photo · Account required[See credit packs]() Quick answer ## The short version A photo postcard can carry evidence on both sides: the picture, a message, a postmark and sometimes an address. Capture both sides as one documented item. Create separate sharing copies when addresses or personal details should not appear in a public presentation. ## Define the job before editing A photo postcard can carry evidence on both sides: the picture, a message, a postmark and sometimes an address. Capture both sides as one documented item. Create separate sharing copies when addresses or personal details should not appear in a public presentation. ## Keep transcription separate from the image Use one item ID with front and back suffixes. Record the sender, recipient, readable date and any uncertainty. Transcribe difficult writing with brackets or uncertainty notes rather than editing the scan to make a guessed reading appear certain. Preserve the complete reverse privately when appropriate. ## Make the decision from evidence Handle postcards according to their condition and avoid forcing curled or fragile cards flat. If a collection contains multiple postcards from the same trip, retain their order or postal dates in the inventory. Do not infer that the picture’s location is necessarily where the sender lived. ## A worked planning example Example: PC-0021-front shows a seaside view; PC-0021-back has a 1948 postmark and a family message. A public display uses the picture and a short transcription while the private archive retains the unredacted reverse. ## A practical checklist 1. Use one ID for both sides. 2. Capture complete fronts and backs. 3. Transcribe with uncertainty noted. 4. Create audience-appropriate sharing copies. ## Keep a traceable result Keep the source file, the working copy and the delivery copy as separate items. Record the input and the changes you actually made so another person can understand the result later. These workflow examples are planning examples, not documented customer outcomes or proof of a successful restoration. ## FAQs Should the postcard address appear in a public album? Make a deliberate audience and privacy decision. Keep a complete private record while limiting the public copy as appropriate. Should I replace my original with the edited copy? Keep the source unchanged and save a separate working or sharing copy. An export, edit or AI interpretation can omit information that remains useful in the source. ## Sources Preservation and technical guidance reviewed for this article. - U.S. National Archives: [Digitizing family papers and photographs]() ## Related - [Open the related free tool]() - [Digitize a Sheet of Small Photo Contact Prints]() - [Photograph a Framed Photo Before Deciding to Open It]() - [Browse photo guides]() - [Free image tools]() ## Ready to restore your photos? Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider. [Restore my photo]()[View Pricing]() RestoreBunny Source-backed photo workflows Guides follow our [editorial policy]() for sourcing, product claims, AI limitations, updates, and corrections.