How Do You Scan Film Negatives & Slides?
For the best possible digital acquisition of a photographed or filmed image, scan the original negative or a slide. Film and photographic prints are reproduced from slides and negatives and are approximations that can lose detail found in the original. Additionally, the borders of the negative or slide are often cropped in a print. Most importantly, slides and negatives can deteriorate over time. Digital scans preserve them. Most professional film archives scan slides and negatives and you can too. The process is easy and relatively inexpensive. Purchase a specialized film scanner. Do not attempt to use your flatbed scanner. It will not be able to scan your slides and negatives adequately. Be sure the machine scans at a minimum of 2,400 dpi. If you plan on scanning small-gauge negatives, you will need to scan at an even higher resolution. High-end scanners of 6,000 dpi and more are available for a price. If you need high-resolution scans, consider using a photography lab. It may cost l
