subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 29 June 2019 39
ner
2 Load up the negs
According to the size of film being scanned,
load negatives or transparencies into their
appropriate tray and place on the bed of
the scanner. This will line up the film with
an aperture in the scanning hood through
which light is transmitted to the scanning
head. Close the hood.
2 Load the negatives
Load the film into its tray, according to
whether you are scanning negatives in strips
or transparencies in individual mounts. Then
slide the tray into the scanner.
3 Correct settings
From the scanner software’s menu choose the
film type. Input a high resolution if scanning 35mm
film and check the Unsharp Mask box if there is
one. Press the Preview button. Another window
opens, then use the mouse to select the part of
the image you want to scan. Hit the scan button
and choose where you want the image saved.
3 Start scanning
Turn on the scanner. Use the menu to
choose the film type, resolution, exposure
compensation and picture orientation. Check
the image on the screen and press scan.
4 Edit on computer
Remove the SD card and place it in your
computer’s card reader. Open, adjust and
tweak it as needed in your usual image-
processing software.
Digitising your negatives technique
4 Retouch as necessary
Open the scanned file using your usual
image-processing software. Adjust the
resolution to 300dpi. Use the software to
make any minor adjustments to contrast,
colour saturation, colour bias, etc. Retouch as
necessary to remove dust spots and blemishes,
and then resave the image.
a purpose-made scanner and its dedicated
software designed to compensate
automatically for the orange negative/blue
positive scenario. For that you have two
popular choices:
l Flatbed scanners are usually equipped
to shoot flat artwork by reflected light but
can be fitted with film scanning hoods
to scan negatives or transparencies by
transmitted light. Masking frame trays
allow scanning of 35mm and roll film
images from 6x6cm to 6x9cm.
l Purpose-built film scanners are easier
to use, but usually only accept 35mm
film, although they can scan both
negatives and positive transparencies.
Top to bottom: Straight scan of a strip of 35mm
negatives; the same negatives inverted in
Photoshop, resulting in a blue cast; the negatives
scanned, automatically reversed in the
scanning software and tweaked in Photoshop