How to Successfully Scan Your Slides
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Phoenix Delray
For a better look at auto GPS units available, please visit our website. By Phoenix Delray
Published on 10/22/2008
This article informs of the process of how slide scanning works.
There are several ways to scan slides to turn them into digital photos. Many people remember the small square cardboard cut outs containing negatives that would be popped into a tray at family gatherings, and with some light and a projector screen (or blank wall) people could reminisce over photos that were larger than life. Today, it is relatively simple to scan slides so that you can enjoy them in a digital format on your computer. The slide has been deemed pretty much obsolete, but how do people scan slides and keep them viewable? The answer is simple. There are some different ways to scan slides to transform them into great, state of the art digital pictures.
How to Scan Slides: The Scanner
One of the easiest ways to scan slides is to use a scanner with a special attachment. The attachment is like a mirror box, which diverts light around to the back of the slide so that the scanner picks up transmitted light instead of reflected light. However, this method does not produce the best results; scanned pictures can look soft, unrefined, too dark, and often appear with white spots all over them, which is actually just dust that is being lit up. Some scanner models have special transparency adapters that can be bought to scan slides. These can be very pricy, though, averaging about $1800.00 for a decent one. Many people claim that the image results using the adapter are no better than the scanner that uses the mirror box attachment.
How to Scan Slides: The Digital Camera
This method is not exactly to scan slides, but it will get you a picture copy of your slides. It makes sense to use a camera to get a picture of a picture. However, although this can be a simple way to get results, it often proves to turn out some pretty disappointing photos. Missing hues, colors, highlights, effects, and downright blurry, fuzzy images are very common. Devices exist that can link your camera and a slide projector so that when a projector changes display images, the camera is set up to snap a picture of it. These can be frustrating, and the obvious downfall is that you must have a working slide projector to use the method. To help you scan slides, other devices are on the market that attach right to the camera and hold a slide to it; however, you can only insert and deal with one slide at a time, and the devices are usually specific to a certain make and model of camera.
How to Scan Slides: The Professional
By far the most hassle free, low effort, cost effective way to scan slides is to take the slides to a professional. Someone at a camera shop or photography shop will be able to work the gizmos, gadgets, equipment, and devices needed to safely scan slides to become perfect pictures. Prices vary depending on the amount of slides to be transferred, but many people find it is an invaluable service to have when they need to scan slides to have digital pictures.
How to Scan Slides: The Scanner
One of the easiest ways to scan slides is to use a scanner with a special attachment. The attachment is like a mirror box, which diverts light around to the back of the slide so that the scanner picks up transmitted light instead of reflected light. However, this method does not produce the best results; scanned pictures can look soft, unrefined, too dark, and often appear with white spots all over them, which is actually just dust that is being lit up. Some scanner models have special transparency adapters that can be bought to scan slides. These can be very pricy, though, averaging about $1800.00 for a decent one. Many people claim that the image results using the adapter are no better than the scanner that uses the mirror box attachment.
How to Scan Slides: The Digital Camera
This method is not exactly to scan slides, but it will get you a picture copy of your slides. It makes sense to use a camera to get a picture of a picture. However, although this can be a simple way to get results, it often proves to turn out some pretty disappointing photos. Missing hues, colors, highlights, effects, and downright blurry, fuzzy images are very common. Devices exist that can link your camera and a slide projector so that when a projector changes display images, the camera is set up to snap a picture of it. These can be frustrating, and the obvious downfall is that you must have a working slide projector to use the method. To help you scan slides, other devices are on the market that attach right to the camera and hold a slide to it; however, you can only insert and deal with one slide at a time, and the devices are usually specific to a certain make and model of camera.
How to Scan Slides: The Professional
By far the most hassle free, low effort, cost effective way to scan slides is to take the slides to a professional. Someone at a camera shop or photography shop will be able to work the gizmos, gadgets, equipment, and devices needed to safely scan slides to become perfect pictures. Prices vary depending on the amount of slides to be transferred, but many people find it is an invaluable service to have when they need to scan slides to have digital pictures.