Duck CheckedOriginal-first sorter
What kind of thing are you trying to save?
The file can wait a minute. First decide whether the original lies flat, bends safely, fits the capture area, or needs a holder, cradle, or trained help.
Do not put the whole box through one machine
Separate ordinary loose paper from photos, bound items, film, and anything fragile or irreplaceable. The fast option for office paper can wreck a photograph or a brittle family document.
The National Archives family-digitizing guide treats flat papers, photographs, books, fragile items, naming, metadata, and backup as different parts of the job. Our sorter turns those boundaries into a first-pass route.