Scanning film negatives

[Peter127]

Having recently cleared the loft, found a box of assorted fim negatives, mostly 35mm mostly colour.

Is there a software package i can buy that will enable my PC to convert them to positive images.

Got a good scanner and can scan them, PC uses Vista.

PC World just tried to sell me a new scanner, which i don't need or want.

Thanks in advance.
Peter

[madsteve]

Hi

All you need is a negative scanner these can either be dedicated ones or ones that are integrated into a flatbed scanner.

Prices for stand a lone scanners are from about 40 (GBP) upwards the more you pay the more features.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Veho-VFS-001me-pixel-n egative-scanner/dp/B000XFTQ5M

Flatbed scanners with negative attachments also vary in price from about 50 (GBP) up.

The process can be very time consuming, I know I�ve done it, in the end I took them to a photo lab like Tesco or Boots and got new prints 6x4 cheapest possible and had all the images put to a CD.

Hope this helps
Regards
MS

[Peter127]

Thanks for that Steve but I have a scanner and can already scan the things,
But the image i get is a negative, i need to change this to a positive.

Thanks

[Buenchico]

Are you sure you don't need a new scanner? Flatbed scanners scan photographs and documents using reflected light. Scanning negatives requires the use of a scanner which can recognise images via transmitted light. (i.e. the light has to pass through the negative, rather than being bounced off its surface).

Some flatbed scanners do include the facility to scan negatives. (i.e. they come with an appropriate adapter). Such 'dual-role' scanners used to be pathetic at scanning negatives (because of their low image resolutions) but some newer flatbed scanners are now just as good as many proper film scanners.

If your scanner has the facility to scan negatives (by passing light through them, rather than reflecting light off them), the printer driver should give you the option to change the source to 'negative film'. Simply using that option will automatically reverse the colours, so that a positive image is imported into your image manipulation software. (i.e. you don't need any additional software).

If your scanner can't handle scanning by transmitted light, PC World were right and you do need a new scanner.

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

if you think your scanner is scanning them OK the try downloading gimp, open the image in it an select invert from the colour menu and see what it looks like.

don't be surprised if it doesn't look right though, as Chris has said you really need a negative scanner

http://www.gimp.org/windows/

[Peter127]

Ok folks thanks for your help
looks like i'll be blowing my pocket money on a new scanner instead of using it to support my local pub.

Cheers all and thanks again

[Lil O'lady]

I have found with slide scanners that the imperfections in your slides become dominant and what was a passable slide just becomes a crummy jpg (or whatever format you are using).
However, trial and error has given me an easy working solution using my old slide projector, and a digital camera. Project the slide old-style using the slide projector and take a digital photo standing to one side of the projector. Crop the result and maybe play about with brightness / hue / sharpness to get a satisfactory digital image.

[ChuckFickens]

LOL....


errrr, Lil O'lady it's a negative here not a slide :)

[Rhp1]

check out a Summit Photofix copier on ebay they copy negatives onto your pc via a usb connection . Also seen them on qvc.

[chrispy1]

Before you splash out on a new scanner (if it's not too late)
have a look at this

http://graphicssoft.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsi te.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=graphicssoft&cdn=compute &tm=68&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.a bstractconcreteworks.com/essays/scanning/Backl ighter.html

It show how to make a little "thing" that refects the scanners own light.
I hav'nt tried it so if it does'nt work don't blame me.

Chris