Scanning negatives can be tricky matter. Champion scans are dependent on dependable software, a unusual scanning techniques and above all a congenial scanner. It's further earnest to dream of the read's Ending avail. Testament it be used as a compact reference for your photo archive? Testament it be shared over the Internet with family and friends? Or are you production a pleasant Craft print to hang on the wall? In the digital apple, amount things.
Setting Up Your Scanner
A committed movie scanner is recommended for optimum grade when working with negatives. On the other hand, flatbed scanners can build pleasing results for most consumer uses and are generally besides affordable and and functional.
Movie scanners are designed to accomodate 35mm strips and slides, however when working with a flatbed scanner you'll longing a transparency adapter. This is included in most models designed for photographic applicability.
Your scanner should come with software to optimize the level of your scans. Nevertheless, third-party software can afford superior results whether you own the future and carefulness to create also than dispassionate plug and play.
Educe that what's on your absent Testament expo up on your scour. Dawning with a Disinfected surface, both on your scanner and your film. An anti-static microfiber cloth (available in most office supply stores) will remove dust and surface material.
It's also a great way to restore damaged negatives. If you're working with a large archive, it might be easier and more economical to employ a lab for bulk scanning. Regardless, you'll need to decide the final image size in advance. Remember: the larger file size, the greater latitude you'll have for its use later on--and the more space it will take up on your storage drive.
Quality Settings
Color/Contrast Using household glass cleaners on your scanner is not advised; they'll leave chemical residues that can damage your film over time.Resolution Settings
To guarantee quality, determining the size of your final output is key.
Computer/Internet
Images shown strictly via your computer screen or over the Internet require a resolution of 72 dpi. The final scan resolution is based on 72 dpi multiplied by the width and height of your image, for example, to display a 5x7-inch image online, the scan resolution would be 360 x 504.
Newspapers/Newsletters
Preferable image resolution for newsprint is 200 dpi. For this use, that same 5x7 image should be scanned at 1000 x 1400.
Photographic Prints
Despite the fact that most digital printers set their output at 240 dpi, scanning for photo quality prints is suggested at 300 dpi or higher if your scanner and storage space allows. However, most scanners sold for home use cannot produce quality scans beyond 11x14-inch prints. For anything larger, professional drum scans are highly recommended.
Archival Storage
While digital files do not have the same archival longevity as film, scanning your images does make them easier to identify, categorize and store.For stubborn dirt, non-water-based film cleaners are advised. Solvents containing water will emulsify the dyes on your film and destroy the image. Some film cleaners (or a water-free alcohol) can also be used on your scanning bed.
The ultimate objective when scanning is to capture as much information as possible. While you want your preview to match in color, it's important to minimize contrast. Contrast deepens densities and brightens highlights, respectively blocking and blowing out important image details. You can adjust the contrast to your liking when preparing the file for output.
Color vs. Black & White Negative Film
Even when scanning B&W film, it's best to work in RGB. Scanning for color produces more information in the file--translating into more gradations and image detail in your B&W images.
Unsharp Masking & Digital Ice
Most programs provide filters to minimize dust and digital noise, but they can soften image details and reduce resolution quality. While helpful tools, use them sparingly. A clean scan is best produced from a clean source.
File Naming and Saving
Naming your files with easy-to-identify codes is crucial to identifying your images later. A project ID_date _image# is generally all you need: FAM_090704_001.tif. You can group these images into a folder later making them easier to find, such as "July4Party09." It is also recommended that you save your files as TIFFs rather than JPEGs. When you save your scan as a JPEG it compresses the scan, creating quality loss each time you access the image. You can always create a smaller JPEG file from your source TIFF.
