Products & Services Scan on Demand Services

Scan on Demand Services

Access millions of aerial photographs through our Scan on Demand service, which are not yet digitised and available in our map search. This enables you to request digitisation of specific imagery from one of the world's largest collections of historic aerial photography.

Unlock Undigitised Imagery

While more than one million images are available online, the vast majority of the 30 million aerial photographs held by NCAP remain undigitised. If you know the required sortie and frame reference, our Scan on Demand service allows you to access the wider catalogued archive by requesting specific photographs for digitisation and delivery. If you need help identifying suitable imagery, you can also learn more about our Paid Image Search Service. 

Whether you are supporting a planning application, researching an archaeological site, investigating environmental change, or assessing unexploded ordnance risk, our team can help access and digitise imagery from across the collection.

 

Simple Online Ordering

NCAP's Scan on Demand service is now delivered through Historic Environment Scotland's online customer portal. This gives you one secure location to manage all aspects of your order, including:

  • Submit new image requests
  • Track order progress
  • Review quotations and licences
  • Access completed orders
  • Download documentation

The online ordering process provides greater visibility, improved tracking, and a simpler way to manage your requests from enquiry through to delivery.

 

Before You Get Started

The resources below will guide you through ordering imagery, understanding pricing, reviewing licensing requirements and choosing the most appropriate image formats and resolutions for your project. They will help you order high-quality digital copies of historic aerial imagery from the National Collection of Aerial Photography.

Related reading

Next Steps

A blue support for large rolls of film with a black winding handle. A black and white aerial film is being supported on the winder. It is lit from below with a white light.

How to Order Scan on Demand Images

Not all NCAP collections are digitised and shared on NCAP's Air Photo Finder. Using the historical finding aids or a paid search service, you can request images for scan-on-demand.

A black and white aerial film rests on a flatbed scanner. The scanner is emitting light which illuminates the film. 3 separate frames are visible. A white-gloved hand points to one of the frames.

Scan on Demand Pricing

Order images from the NCAP Collection which have not yet been digitised or made available through our online collections.

A roll of aerial film on a scanner, with light shining up through it from the scanner bed. A white-gloved hand rests on the edge of the scanner.

Understanding Image Quality

Understand image resolution, file formats and the factors that affect image quality.

A figure in a white and black jumper leans in from the bottom left of the frame. The top of their head and the whole tabletop that is in front of them are visible from our vantage above. There are two black and white images of landscapes on the table top. The figure is wearing white gloves and appears to be positioning the images under a beige viewing apparatus which has two transparent viewing lenses. There are two cardboard boxes of images on the tabletop - one with more black and white images piled in it, and another with a white sheet in it.

Image Sales and Licensing Use

When using images from the NCAP Collection you will need to know the intended use in order to purchase an appropriate licence.

A row of black and white aerial photographs fills most of the frame. We can see the central image fully, but the ones on either side are partially cropped by the image frame. They are lying flat and appear to be joined together. Irregularly shaped fields and roadways are visible on the images.

Research Copies

For images that are not yet digitised, purchases can be made with confidence by requesting a lower-resolution copy of an image before you place a Scan on Demand order.

A figure in a black jumper leans into the frame from the far right. They lean on a tabletop and are holding a computer mouse. On the desk there is a screen with a colour aerial photograph displayed on it. There is also a black, cylindrical canister which has white labels on it, and a document lying on the table.

Paid Image Search

If you are not familiar with navigating non-digitised collections or if you are short on time, NCAP provides a convenient solution.

2 smiling men in blue lab coats look down at a screen in the bottom right of the image. The man on the left has white skin, a light red beard and dyed red hair. The man on the right has white skin, is wearing a blue shirt and has short grey hair.

FAQs

Find answers to some of the most common questions asked of the NCAP team.

2 men examine documents they are holding. The man on the left has light red hair and wears a blue shirt. The man on the right has dark brown hair and wears a grey jumper. 2 large colourised historic photos cover the walls behind them.

Contact Us

Find the best ways to get in touch with the team at NCAP for research support, project partnerships or image sales.

IN THIS SECTION

A room filled with runs of white tables. On each run of tables are closed flatbed scanners flanked by pairs of film reels. Rolls of film run through the scanners. Two people in blue lab coats operate the scanners and look at computer screens.

Archival Digitisation Services

The National Collection of Aerial Photography offers expert archival scanning and digitisation services to a wide range of clients.

A figure in a white and black jumper leans in from the bottom left of the frame. The top of their head and the whole tabletop that is in front of them are visible from our vantage above. There are two black and white images of landscapes on the table top. The figure is wearing white gloves and appears to be positioning the images under a beige viewing apparatus which has two transparent viewing lenses. There are two cardboard boxes of images on the tabletop - one with more black and white images piled in it, and another with a white sheet in it.

Image Sales and Licensing Use

When using images from the NCAP Collection you will need to know the intended use in order to purchase an appropriate licence.

A figure in a dark blue lab coat stands with their right side to us. They are wearing purple gloves, and a black and white mask. They have their arms stretched into a desk top cabinet which has transparent plastic front and sides, and a white frame. A vacuum cleaner hose feeds into the cabinet. The figure grasps a brush and holds up an image to examine it. There are other pictures and boxes in the cabinet.

Subject Specialist Consultancy

NCAP employs specialists in imagery analysis, data management, and collections care. Specialist support consultancy is offered in a variety of areas.

A row of black and white aerial photographs fills most of the frame. We can see the central image fully, but the ones on either side are partially cropped by the image frame. They are lying flat and appear to be joined together. Irregularly shaped fields and roadways are visible on the images.

Research Copies

For images that are not yet digitised, purchases can be made with confidence by requesting a lower-resolution copy of an image before you place a Scan on Demand order.

A figure in a black jumper leans into the frame from the far right. They lean on a tabletop and are holding a computer mouse. On the desk there is a screen with a colour aerial photograph displayed on it. There is also a black, cylindrical canister which has white labels on it, and a document lying on the table.

Paid Image Search

If you are not familiar with navigating non-digitised collections or if you are short on time, NCAP provides a convenient solution.

A figure leans into the frame from the left. They have short blonde hair and wear a dark blue top. They have their back towards us, and are working with a large white boxy machine with a display screen. Under the screen a film runs between two spools. The image on the screen is of a monotone landscape. A colour aerial image is displayed on the wall and is partially obscured by the screen.

Search Room

Request to make an appointment in the NCAP Search Room to access and consult catalogued aerial imagery.