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brian11375
Participating Frequently
October 13, 2026
Question

How best to use PSE Organizer for over 4000 pictures scanned by Epson FF-680W, which does 3 images per picture

I recently completed a project to digitize 4,000 family pictures found in old albums.

For the scanning itself, I used the Epson FF-680 (highly recommended), which creates three files per photo:  an original, an enhanced version (color improvement, red-eye removal, etc.), and a scan of the backside of the photo.  So, 4,000 snapshots is now 12,000 files.

I have not yet imported these into the PSE (I have version 2026) because I’m not sure the best way to go about it with multiple images per photo.

Are Version-Sets the answer?  If so, any way to automate their creation (or do I have to create each of the 4,000 sets manually)?  If not, what should I do?

And, after the photos are imported, I still have to deal with setting the dates-and-times (where I know it) for them, and the facial recognition.

I’m starting to think that getting these ‘properly’ imported and setup in PSE could be as big a job (if not bigger) than the initial scanning of the photos.

I’m hoping that this community has some ideas or suggestions on how to tackle this.  I only want to do it once, and I want to do it right.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this.

-Brian

    2 replies

    99jon
    99jon
    Legend
    October 14, 2026

    When you import a folder of photos you can ask the software to automatically select stacks, however it uses visual similarity and doesn't always get it right. It's probably quicker in the long run to select manually using shift+click and from the Edit menu choose:

    Stack > Stack Selected Photos

     

    You may want to stack the enhanced copy as the top photo in the stack, also from the Edit menu:

    Stack > Set as Top Photo

     

     

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    Glenn 8675309
    Glenn 8675309
    Legend
    October 13, 2026
    • Import your batch of photos using File > Get Photos and Videos > From Files and Folders.
    • Once the files populate your catalog, select the images you want to organize.
    • Navigate to Edit > Stack > Automatically Suggest Photo Stacks.

    • Facial recognition can take a while:   I recommend starting it, and going to bed.  It’s not perfect, and it will miss  images- but it’s a start The software evaluates the metadata timestamps and groups related bursts together. Review the suggestions and click Stack to merge them.

      I think what is important here is the time of each scan-- which is how the photostacking should work.  

      I’ve got some scanning software which is very similar-   scans 3 images at a time, created a png, a tiff, and notes the time of the scan-- you can add image descriptions and add notes / captions if you want to.    

      “I’m starting to think that getting these ‘properly’ imported and setup in PSE could be as big a job (if not bigger) than the initial scanning of the photos.”   Nope, far from it- setting up the import will take a minute or two  the actual importing / stacking a few more minutes- what will take some time is the facial recognition-    with 12,000 or so images it could take up to 8 hours, even more.
       
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