Slide, Negative Film, Photo Scanning: FREE Scanning Tips, Tricks, and Secrets

Learn How To Scan Your Slides Into Quality Digital Images

Stuck scanning your dad’s slides?  Check out my slide scanning guide, and you’ll learn:

• You don’t need an expensive scanner to get quality slide scans.
• What resolution you should scan your slides.
• How to properly edit slide scans using GIMP, Lightroom, and Photo Shop.
• Load your scanner so you don’t scan your slide backwards.

These scanning methods are exactly how I edit all my clients slides.  And I’m more than happy to share my scanning “secrets”.  Check out…

How To Scan Slides Like A Pro: HowToScan.ca

Thanks!

Konrad M.
ScanCanada.ca | 647 726-2265 | 206, 2 Royal York Rd. | Toronto

Most people think you need a lot of resolution / DPI to get high-definition digital photo scans. But the fact is, if you scan your 4”x6” photos 300 DPI, you still get HD quality digital images.  Here is 3 reasons why:

1.  Your HDTV Has A Screen Resolution Of 1080 x 1920

It does not matter if your HDTV is 32 inches or 52 inches– if you have an 1080p HDTV, the “screen resolution” is 1080 x 1920 pixels.  What does screen resolution have to do with your photo scans?

2.  Your 4”x6” Photo Scans Have A Pixel Dimension of 1200 x 1800

Instead of “screen resolution”, your digital photos have what is called “pixel dimension”.  When you convert a photo into digital, you are going to get digital image that has a pixel dimension of 1200 x 1800.

3.  Always Look At Pixel Dimension As A Yard Stick

Resolution is always confusing because there is so many terms: DPI, mega pixels, pixel dimension, screen resolution, etc.  To make it easier for you, always look at the pixel dimension or scree resolution.  Forget about DPI, mega pixels, 720p, 1080p– those are all fancy marketing terms that mean the same thing.

Anyway, back to your photo you converted to digital.  Remember I said that it has a pixel dimension of 1200 x 1800.  Now, if you look at your HDTV, it has a screen resolution (same thing as pixel dimension) of 1080 x 1920.  This means when you put your digital photo on your HDTV, it is going to fit perfectly.  Your HDTV won’t have to crop it, size it down, stretch, etc., to make it fit on the screen.  Your 4”x6” photo scan at 300 DPI is considered HD quality.

Always try to find a number like, 1080 x 1920.  And use your HDTV as a yard stick.  If, say your digital camera is 2 mega pixels, check and see the pixel dimension of the digital photos.  If your digital photos from your camera are 1200 x 1800 (give or take), then you know they are HD quality.  Always use pixel dimension or screen resolution as the yard stick.

Learn More About Photo Scan Resolution So You Can Have More Control Over Your Digital Images

Choosing the right DPI for photo scanning is just the start.  If you like to learn more on how to get better looking photo scans, please read my eZine article:

Get Excellent Quality Photo Scans: Three Tips

Good luck with your photo scanning project!
Konrad M.
ScanCanada.ca

These 5 Basics Will Help You Control What You Do With Your Slide, Negative, & Photo Scans

To help you better understand what is the best resolution to scan your family slides, negatives, or photos, here are 5 basics to have in mind.

1) Higher DPI Does NOT Equal Higher Detail Scans

The number one myth is that the higher the resolution, the better the quality and detail your scan will be.  That is exactly what I thought– “I will setup my scanner at the highest resolution possible, and I will see detail I could never imagine”.

Except there are limits.  Have a look at your actual slides, negatives, or photos.  When they were developed, the print shop used a certain amount of dots per inch to print them.  A typical 4” x 6” photo was printed at 300 dots per inch.  That means the print shop used 300 colored dots per inch to make up your photos.  So your photo has a limit of 300 DPI.  Same for a 35mm slide or negative.  These guys were printed (emulsion coated on film) using about 1500 DPI.  Quick note: I had arguments with professional photographers saying that slides and negatives have over 1 million DPI– we just do not have the scanners to pickup that detail yet…. but I digress.

You see, your originals have limits.  And once you setup your scanner to go past those limits, you are no longer picking up detail.  All you are doing is making your digital image bigger.  This leads me to my next point.

2) Higher DPI / Resolution Only Makes Your Digital Image Scans Bigger

I just talked about how scanning at a high resolution will not give you more detail.  All you will get is a bigger scan.

This is what your scanner does when you increase the resolution: it will produce the EXACT quality and detail of your original slide, negative, or photo at a bigger size WITHOUT losing quality.

Here is an example. Remember, your physical photo is 4” x 6” at 300 DPI.  When you setup your scanner for 600 DPI to scan that photo, you basically doubled it in size.  So if you bring your 600 DPI digital image to a print shop you can make a physical print that is 8” x 12” WITHOUT losing quality.  So you took your 4” x 6” photo, scanned it at 600 DPI, and now you can re-print it 8” x 12” without losing quality.

You did NOT add extra detail or added quality.  Your scanner just did the math and made sure you got the same quality as your original but at a bigger size.  It all goes back to the quality and amount of detail your original has.  Most people I know used simple cameras, and had their photos developed at generic photo shops.  If that is the case, it is most likely your photos are 300 DPI, and your slides and negatives are 1500 DPI.

3) Your HDTV Will Only Display At 1080 x 1920 Pixels

Lets look at your physical photo again– it is 4” x 6” at 300 DPI.  Now if you convert all those numbers into digital, you would get a 1200 x 1800 digital photo.

How?  Scanner magic*:

4” x 300 DPI = 1200
6” x 300 DPI = 1800

*math.

This number, 1200 x 1800, is your pixel dimension.  Write this down: your pixel dimension is the most important number.  Do not worry about dots per inch, resolution, mega pixels, etc.  Those are just a bunch of numbers that mean the same thing.  Whenever you get a digital image look for the pixel dimension.

Anyway, I just mentioned your HDTV is 1080 x 1920– that is its pixel dimension.  And your 4” x 6” photo scan has a pixel dimension of 1200 x 1800.  Since your digital image will fit perfectly on your HDTV, it is going to be displayed at HD quality.

What if you scanned your 4” x 6” at 900 DPI?  Would you see more detail on your HDTV at this resolution?  This is what you would get:

4” x 900 DPI = 3600
6” x 900 DPI = 5400

You would get a digital image that is 3600 x 5400– that is awesome! But, wait…  Remember your HDTV is only 1080 x 1920.  It has a limit.  So your HDTV is going to re-size it down to 1080 x 1920.  Or it is going to crop most of your digital image, giving you maybe the bottom corner.

But now worries.  Remember how I said that at a higher resolution you get a bigger picture– not more detail or quality.  So when your HDTV re-sizes it down to 1080 x 1920 you are NOT losing quality.  It is just making it smaller so that if fits your screen, but still maintains the same quality.

Are you seeing how all this resolution stuff is coming together so far?

4) How Resolution, DPI, And Pixel Dimension Gives You Mega Pixels

The basics of what your scanner does is this:  it takes the actual physical size of your original and multiplies the amount of DPI or resolution you imputed.

Here is what I mean.  Your 35mm slide’s physical dimensions is 0.85” x 1.30”.   When you tell your scanner you want to scan your slide at 1500 DPI, here is what you get…

0.85” x 1500 DPI = 1275
1.30” x 1500 DPI = 1950

So your pixel dimension is 1275 x 1950.  Remember how I told you to write down “pixel dimension”?  This is why it is important, because all these numbers we are using (300 DPI, 1500 DPI) all equal to the same thing: pixel dimension. Lets have a look again…

4” x 6” Photo Scanned at 300 DPI = 1200 x 1800
35mm Slide Scanned at 1500 DPI = 1275 x 1950

The pixel dimension is pretty close, thus you are getting pretty much the same digital image.  And even though you used different DPI, you still got the same digital image pixel dimension.

Now, I am sure you have heard of mega pixels.  To get your mega pixels, simply multiply your dimensions….

1200 x 1800 = 2.1 million.  In marketing terms 2.1 million is 2 mega pixels.

5) What Resolution You Should Scan Your Slides, Negatives And Photos

The simple answer is, if you want to maintain the same quality, scan your 4” x 6” photos at 300 DPI, and your 35mm slides and 35mm negatives at 1500 DPI.

Even at 2 mega pixels (see above), you are still getting HD quality digital images.  Remember, your HDTV is only 1080 x 1920 in pixel dimension and at 300 DPI / 1500 DPI you get 1200 x 1800 / 1275 x 1950.

But it is always better to have too much resolution than too little.  I scan my photos at 900 DPI and my slides and negatives at 4000 DPI.  This give me a 3500 x 5200 digital image, which is around 18 mega pixels.

Conclusion: A 1200 x 1800 Digital Image Is Enough

I just want you to know that as long as you scan your photos at 300 DPI and slides and negatives at 1500 DPI, you will be safe.  Your digital image will be the SAME quality as your original.  This is good to know because 1) scanning at higher resolutions take way longer so you can save some time, and 2) you do not need to go higher than that if want to view your scans at HD quality.

But if you are interested in “future-proofing” your family’s originals, then I suggest scanning them at 900 DPI for photos and 4000 DPI for slides and negatives.  You never know what future technology will bring.

Good luck with your scans!

Konrad M.

Oh, if you have weird sizes, like 2” x 2” negative film, etc, here is the best resolution to scan them at…

What Resolution To Scan Unusual Size Photos, Slides, Negatives

If Your HDTV Is Cropping Your Digital Scans, Here Is Why And What To Do About It

Did you know your HDTV has a pixel dimension of 1080 x 1920.  And if you scan your 35mm negatives and slides  at 4000 DPI you will get a pixel dimension of 5200 x 3400.  And if you scan your 4″ x 6″ photos at 900 DPI, you will get a digital image with a dimension of 5400 x 3600.

As you can see, your digital photos are WAY above the dimension of your HDTV.  This may cause your HDTV to crop your digital photos.

How To Make Sure Your Scans Fit On Your HDTV

Well, you can use a smaller resolution and still get HD quality scans.  Even at 1500 DPI you still can get HD quality digital images.  Plus at a lower resolution you will scan your originals faster, and be able to view them perfectly on your HDTV.

Also, just because you used a lower resolution does not mean you are reducing quality.  All you are doing is making the digital image smaller, but in no way are you taking way detail.  If you like to see how this works, I have a link below.

So, to make sure your scans fit snug on your HDTV here is a safe resolution to use…

35mm Slides and Negatives
Resolution: 1500 DPI
Gives You: 1275 x 1950

At 1500 DPI your slide and negative scans will still display at true HD quality, and be small enough to fit perfectly on your HDTV.

4″ x 6″ Photos
Resolution: 300 DPI
Gives You: 1200 x 1800

At 900 DPI, your photo scans will be small enough to display on your HDTV and still be HD quality.

Discover How Resolution Can Help With Your Scanning Project

If these tips have helped, you can go deeper into learning how resolution can help you control your digital photos here…

Understand Resolution So You Can Control What You Do With Your Scan

Good luck with your scans!
Konrad M.

ScanCanada.ca

If You Are Unsure What Is The Best Resolution For Photo Scanning, Here Is What I Use

For your normal 4″ x 6′ photo I use 900 DPI.  But did you know you can use 300 DPI, and you will be perfectly safe?

Here is why.

Take a look at your HDTV.  The actual screen dimension is 1080 x 1920.  Now, if you scanned your 4″ x 6″ photo at 300 DPI, you would get a digital photo dimension of 1200 x 1800.  HDTV = 1080 x 1920.  300 DPI Photo Scan = 1200 x 1800.

You see, your photo scan is technically HD.  That is because it will fit snug on your 1080p HDTV.  And you will not lose any quality.  So why would you want to scan more than 300 DPI?

Well, to be even safer, I rather have more pixels than too few.  You never know what the technology will be like in the future.

One Big Problem Scanning Your Photo Over 300 DPI

Here is the thing– if you go over 300 DPI, say 600 DPI, you will start to pickup unwanted detail.  Minute dust, scratches, the oil off your finger prints– it will all be picked up.

And do not think that sine you doubled your DPI to 600 you will get twice the detail.  When your  physical photo was printed in the photo lab, the printer used 300 dots of colour to make up you photo.  So your physical photo has a limit of 300 DPI.  If you try to scan higher than that, you are just going start picking up surface detail– such as gloss off the photo, dust, etc.

Advantage Of Scanning Your Photo Bigger Than 300 DPI

I mentioned it is better to have too many pixels, than too little.  You never know what the technology will be like in the future.  Maybe HDTVs will be 2160p (2 x bigger than 1080p).

But the best advantage of going over 300 DPI, is that you image will be twice as big.  This means if you want to re-print your 4″ x 6″ photo, scan it at 600 DPI, and the photo lab will be able to print it at 8″ x 12″ without losing quality.

I get more into detail in the following article…

When To Scan Your Photos At 300 DPI, And When NOT To

If These Scanning Tips Helped, Get More…

I have a side project called How To Scan.  All the stuff I learned in 6 years scanning for a living is all in my free scanning tips and tutorials.  Actually, all the stuff to AVOID is in there.  I will show you what to avoid and how to get better quality scans.  You do not need an expensive scanner.  And you do not need to be a graphic designer.

So if you have a home scanning project, and need some quick tips, check out…

A Non-Technical Guide On Scanning Your Family Slides, Negatives, and Photos: Free Guide

Good luck with your scanning project!

Konrad M.

Here Is Three Tips To Help You Scan Your Own Family Collection Of Slides, Negatives, & Photos…

Tip One: Get Rid of 89% Of Dust And Debris

Before you even load your originals into your scanner, try this. Clean them!

I know, it sounds simple. So simple, many people skip this. But try it. Take a lint-free cloth and wipe your slide, negative, and photo.

But hold on! Make sure you do not wipe too hard. Use a light sweeping motion. If you press too hard you might scratch the film.

Oh, DO NOT use water or any kind of liquid on your slide or negative. If you do, you will smear the surface for good.

Tip Two: Avoid Scanning The Wrong Side

If you scan the wrong side, your image will be backwards. How do you make sure you scan the right side?

Well, take a look at your slide. One side will be bumpy, the other will be smooth. You will need to look under a light to see this. But eventually you will notice a difference.

If you have a flat-bed scanner, you need to keep the bumpy side UP, and the smooth side DOWN.

Negatives are easy. If you look closely, every exposure has a number. When you load your negative, make sure that number is backwards, toward you and facing up. The correct letting will be facing the glass.

Tip Three: The Best Resolution To Use

When you are scanning 35mm slides and 35mm negatives, use 4000 DPI. DPI can also be called PPI. At 4000 DPI you will get an 18 mega pixel scan! This means that you can print your digital image at billboard size. Why this big? It is always better to have too many pixels, then too little.

Scan your 4″ x 6″ photos at 900 DPI. This too will give you an 18 mega pixel scan.

But sometimes that is too big for your HDTV. So to make sure your scans fit your HDTV, scan your slides/negatives at 1200 DPI. And scan your 4×6 photo at 300 DPI.

Need More FREE Tips?

I hope these quick tips helped you. But if you truly want quality scans that look better than the originals, I have more tips for you. Check them out here…

How To Scan Slides, Negatives, Photos: A Non-Technical Guide

I’m always putting up new articles, so visit my Twitter if you wan to keep up…

Twitter/HowToScan

Thanks for stopping by!
Konrad

Have you tried scanning a photo at 4000 dpi?  It’s not going to happen.  Why not?  It’s because resolution is confusing.  Well, not really.  It’s really simple.

1. You can’t squeeze 4000 dpi in a 4×6 photo

When you take your 4×6 photo and set your scanner to 4000 dpi, what you’re trying to do is put 4000 dots (or pixels) per inch into a 4 inch by 6 inch photo.  No flat bed scanner can go that high.

2. Then why can you scan a negative at 4000 dpi?

Ah.  That’s because your negative is not 4″x6″, is it?  It’s actually something like 0.875″ x 1.35″.  Have a look at a negative strip / exposure:

3.  It’s all about playing around with the same numbers:

A negative scanned at 4000 dpi is the same as a photo scanned at 900 dpi.  Here’s how:

So both scans work out to around 3600 pixels by 5400 pixels.  Or, 18 megapixels (multiply 3600 by 5400 and you get your megapixels).

Hope that clears some things up.

Konrad

ScanCanada.ca is a small team of graphic designers who are dedicated in providing slide, negative, and photo scanning services. Visit www.scancanada.ca for more info.

If you’re having trouble understanding what resolution you should scan your photos, read this first. Read the rest of this entry »

First, ask yourself, do you want your scans to be JPEGs or TIFFs?  What if you don’t even know that?  Well, a TIFF is like an unprocessed digital image.  Nothing has been Read the rest of this entry »

Scanning at the highest resolution isn’t a good idea.  I’ll show you a better way.  But first, lets compare a few scans.

1.  Why would you scan at 72 dots per inch?

Well, first of all most monitors are 72 dpi.  And if you’re only using your scans for web use, then use 72 dpi.  Plus a 72 dpi scan gives you a small file size.  That’s great for web us as well.  Below is a 72 dpi scan (I’m using my baseball card because a photo doesn’t show as much detail such as lettering and an image):

Click on the image to download the image.

I want to teach you something about dimensions.  This will help you understand resolution.  Dimension is how big the image is on you computer.  This image has a dimension of 247 x 177 pixels.  How do you get that?

Read the rest of this entry »