Converting 35mm Negatives to Digital Images

If you looking to convert negative slides and films in particular 35mm format to digital images you will probably want to get a negative scanner, a dedicated film scanner that is specifically designed for the job working in a similar way to a traditional scanner but with the ability to transfer negatives to digital images with little fuss.

If time isn't a problem then buying a negative scanner and using it to transfer your 35mm negatives to digital may be the best solution not only from a cost point of view.  Many amateur and professional photographers use the same process to transfer negatives produced by older digital SLR's to digital format.

If you really want the best quality in terms of digital files you will need to get a dedicated film scanner specifically designed to do the job rather than using a traditional flatbed scanner as you will not get the desired results.

Negative scanners used to be pretty expensive and whilst some professional version may cost more than £1000 you can pick up a perfectly reasonable budget version for les than £80.  Be aware though as with many things digital including cameras, the newer the negative scanner, the better the technology and in turn the scanner, modern versions have such features as Digital ICE whereby scans are automatically retouched to remove dust particles and such like.  If your not a perfectionist then you may not see the imperfections but many like to get the optimum results by spending a little extra time on each scan and achieve a better overall result.

Whatever negative scanner you decide to buy you may want to invest in an alternative piece of scanning software to get the most out of your scanner and there are some decent pieces of software available for very little money (some free) which we will cover with a future article.

Converting 35mm Slides to Digital Images

Converting 35mm slides to digital images is the first step in the preservation and the restoration of your memories. The options are almost unlimited when it comes to converting 35mm slides to digital images.

The most important thing is to do the conversion and do it yesterday. Once your 35mm slides have been converted to digital images, you have stopped the deterioration in it's tracks. From that point on, there is no rush to do anything. It is recommended that you save the images to CD in case you have any issues with your hard drive.

When you look at your slides you will be able to see if there is dust or finger prints on them. If they look clean I suggest you leave them alone and scan them as is. If there are particles that you could not see, the scanner's software should have a function that will fix minor scratches or dust. If you see a lot of dust, use an anti-static cloth to clean them up before you scan them.

Once you have finished converting 35mm slides to digital images, use the scanners software to enhance colors, remove scratches and or red-eye before you save the digital images. Now you have a solid base from which to work. You can take the slides into photo shop and do more detail work if you need to, depending on how much each slide needs.

Once you have finished converting your 35mm slides to digital images, you can then go to the next phase and decide how you want to view them. If your only desire is to view them on your computer, then a CD data disc is all that you have to make so that you can view them on other computers and protect them from a major computer malfunction.

If you want to take it to the next step after you are finished converting your 35mm slides to digital images, you can create your own, custom slide show on DVD. The opportunities are limitless. You can enhance your images by using slow moves, blowups, and transitions between shots. Titles are another option that will enhance your slide show while clearing up names, locations and time lines.

Adding music to your slide show is another option that personalizes your slide show while making it much more enjoyable to watch. If you can get the music off the internet, or a CD, you can easily put it into your slide show. These are just a few of the options available to you when you decide to present your slides as a slide show, but first you have to begin by converting 35mm slides to digital images.