I know, it’s an irrational thought.  But that’s the BIGGEST reason why I scanned my parents slides, negatives, and photos.  I was afraid all those images would get ruined, or even destroyed in a fire.

Let me tell you how I learned how to succeed with scanning slides, negatives, and photos…

About 7 years ago I was scanning my parent’s originals, and got very frustrated with the quality of scans I was getting from my scanner.  It was the most expensive scanner out there, and it promised to “bring back colours to their original luster”.  But no what I tried, no matter how much I played with the setting, I was still getting bad scans.

Then I tried to contact a scanning company.  At the time there were only 2 scanning companies,  and they all used EXACTLY the same scanner I hae: Nikon 5000 film scanners, with Digital ICE 4.   I wasn’t going to pay for the same results I was getting at home.

Well, after a lot of hard work, trial and error, I finally figured it out — and kind of by accident.  One day I forgot to press all the scan enhancement features (Digital ICE, ROC, DEE, etc.).  What I had was one ugly natural scan.  Then it hit me! Why not use Photoshop to fix the scan!?  Photoshop doesn’t have Dust Removal and Color Fix, but it’s worth a shot.

I finally figured out what the common problems are with a scan (dust, colour cast, RBG values not level, exposure mid-tones too low or high, etc). And got far better results than if I would have used Digital ICE.

Now I have a system.  I scan and edit each slide, negative, or photo individually in Photoshop.  And I can get ANY scan to look brand new.

I guess my system works.  I’ve been scanning since 2005.  I now have 4 employees, in three locations.  I’ve helped scan for all types of people — from an 84 year old gentleman with 1 slide to a diamond mine up North with 35,000 photos, slides, and negatives.

I Know Offer Free Trial Scans

It’s easy to talk about my business and how I get perfect scans.  But there’s a lot of claims on the internet talking about “quality”.  Who cares.  I want to prove it.

That’s why I want to scan 30 of your slides, negatives, and photos as a FREE trial.

I know you’ll love your scans.

To start your trial scans, email me at info@scancanada.ca and ask me about “Free Trial Scan”.

Your friend,

Konrad Michniewicz

When you save your slide, negative, and photo scans as JPEG digital images, make sure the “compression” level is not too high. In this article you’ll learn how to properly setup your scanner so that your scans are saved at the highest quality JPEG’s possible.

Next time you scan your slides, negative, and photo, watch for something called JPEG “compression” level.  Don’t worry, all this will make sense soon.

For now, just know that your scanner’s default “compression” level is probably set too high.  This means your scans will lose some pixel quality.  I will show you where to adjust the JPEG compression levels.

But first, you need to know two things about JPEG image files.  Once you know this stuff, then you’ll be able to control the quality of your JPEG files.

1.  JPEGs Files Are Compressed

Professional photographers and graphic designers like to use TIFF image files.  TIFFs are huge.  Sometimes they are 500 MB in file size.  They’re great because TIFF’s have a lot of digital data.  And the more data they have, the more a person can manipulate and edit that digital image.

But, for you and I, TIFFs are over-kill.  Most of this digital data is redundant, and doesn’t add to the overall quality of your image.

So, somebody figured out a way to remove all this useless data that didn’t affect the quality using a compression method.  Your TIFF file is sized down from 500 MB to 5 MB — but without losing any picture quality.

So what you end up with is a high-quality digital image, but at a file size that won’t clog up your computer space or take forever to upload.

2.  You Can Control This Compression

When you save your slides, negative, and photos as JPEG’s, your scanner will give you the option to change the compression level.

Except the problem is, maybe like my scanner, your scanner’s default compression level is too high.  The more compressed your JPEG, the less detail you’ll see.  It doesn’t matter if you scanned your slide at 4000 DPI.  If you save that slide scan at a high compression level, it will take a way some detail.

3. Where Can You Change Your JPEG Compression Level When Scanning

Now that you know that you have the option to change the JPEG compression level, you’ll need to read your scanner’s manual to find this option.  With my scanner, the option to change the compression level of the JPEG comes up when I’m about to save my scan.  There’s an “JPEG Option” box I click to adjust the compression level. Once I have this set, I don’t have to touch it anymore.

My scanner’s default compression level is 6 out of 10.  That’s too high.  It gives me a small file size. But who cares.  I want quality pixels.  So I changed my compression level to 1 out of 10.  This will ensure that all my scans will be the highest JPEG quality possible — with the lowest compression level possible.

Need Help With Your Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Project?

Hello, my name is Konrad.

If you’re stuck with your home scanning project, check out my free scanning guide:

HowToScan.ca: Free Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Tips

Thanks for visiting!

Konrad M.

ScanCanada.ca: Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Services — Guaranteed 100%

Learn How Your Own Scans Will Be Edited Into Hight Quality Images

In this article, I’ll show you what it takes to turn a 57 year slide and make it look brand new.  This is exactly the editing process I’ll go through with your own slides, negatives, and photos.

Let’s begin…

1.  Getting A “Natural” Scan Means I Won’t Lose Detail

My scanner’s use 6 line, CCD optical lenses that can get a 16-bit pixel.  Basically, what this means is that the pixels are going to be as sharp, as defined, with as much contrast as possible.  I don’t apply any scanner editing processing such as Digital ICE, Dust Removal, etc.  Remember, I want as much detail as possible — this means all dust and scratches too.

Anyway, here’s the natural scan I’m working with:

My goal is to achieve the highest quality scan — something like this:

Follow along, and I’ll show you how I achieve quality scans using Photo Shop.

2. Color Balance Tool To Correct Cast

Whenever I scan a slide, negative, or photo there will always a be a colour casted over the image.  That’s because my scanner also scans the glossy surface of a scan.  Using the Color Balance tool, I adjust the RGB values according to what colour is casted over the scan.  In this slide scan, there’s a yellow cast to it.  Here’s a before and after…

3. Noise Filter To Fix Film Grain

Because I get a natural scan, I’m going to get a lot of noise.  But that’s good.  Noise means detail, and sharper pixels.  But I do need to remove some grain — especially if your slide, negative or photo was shot using a high iso speed.

Using the Noise Reduction filter, I can remove grain WITHOUT messing with the detail.  Here’s a before and after…

4. Heal Brush, Clone Stamp — Tool To Remove Dust And Scratches

Noise reduction gets rid of grain.  But to get rid of the larger dust and scratches, I need to do this “manually”.  Photoshop has a lot of great tools like Heal Brush tool to clean up artifacts like dust and scratches.  This takes a while.  But it’s the only way to maintain detail. Here’s a before and after…

5. Fix Faded Colours Using Hue/Saturation And Exposure Levels

The last step is to brighten faded colours, and to even out the mid-tones.  Here’s the before and after…

Final Image: Slide Scan Edited Using Photo Shop

Here’s a before and after…

Put Us To The Test With A Free Scan Test-Run

At ScanCanada.ca, my team and I dedicated to our craft, and are more than happy to show off our work.

But don’t take my word for it. Put us to the test. Send 30 of your slides, negatives, and photos for a scanning test-run.

If you’re happy with the quality and service, then send the rest of your scanning project.

If not, you can keep your scans, and your originals are returned in the same order and condition they left your home. A scan test-run is a free service from ScanCanada.ca.

To start your scanning test-run contact me at info@scancanada.ca, or visit:

Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Services Guaranteed 100%

My name is Konrad, and I’ll be happy to help you with your slide, negative, photo scanning project.

Thanks for dropping by!

Konrad M.

The Purpose Of A Free Scan Test-Run Is So That You’re 100% Satisfied
Before You Hire A Scanning Company

How it works is, send us 30 of your favourite slides, negatives, and photos, and put us to the test.

If you’re happy with your scan test-run, then send the rest of your scanning project.

If not, you can keep your scans and your originals are returned in the same order and condition they left your home.

It’s easy to talk about “quality”.  But all your scans are professionally edited  in Photo Shop, and we want to prove our quality first before you hire us.

Feel free to contact me at 647-726-2265, or info@scancanada.ca to get started with your test-run scans.

In the mean time, check out some of our work…

Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Gallery: ScanCanada.ca

Thanks!

Konrad M.

ScanCanada.ca: Professional Slide Negative Scanning Services

Our Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Equipment And Software

1.  Best Scanner For 35mm Slide And Negative Scans

I found that for 35mm slides, the Nikon Super CoolScan 5000 ED film scanner  does a great job.  But one problem.  They don’t make them anymore. Nikon advertised them to the home scanning crowd, but I guess only scanning companies bought them.  If you do find one on Amazon, watch out.  I paid about $1200 for mine, but they’re going for $3000 due to the fact that they’re great scanners and there no longer made.

2.  Best Scanner For 120, 220 Slide And Negative Scans

For other slide or negative formats (120. 220, etc.) the Nikon Coolscan 9000 film scanner works great.  But again, one problem — they don’t make them anymore. I paid $3200 for mine.  So watch out if they’re selling them for double that on the net.

3.  Best Scanner For Photo Scanning

For all photo scanning, I use the Epson Expression 10000XP.  It’s about $3000, and you can purchase them at any photography store.  Or check out… Epson 10000xl Photo Scanner, Vistek.ca

4. Scanning Software To Edit Slide, Negative, Photo Scans

All our scanning is edited personally in Photoshop.  I avoid using Digital ICE and other scanning features that came with the scanner.  I have nothing against Digital ICE.  I just get better results when I edit scans in Photoshop and not use the software that came with the scanner.

If You’re Looking To Buy A Scanner Here’s What I Recommend

To be honest, you don’t need a high-end scanner if you’re scanning your family’s slides, negatives, or photos.  In fact, a simple $200 – $500 photo scanner like the Epson V500 is good enough to scan photos, negatives, and slides.  But be careful — don’t rely on the scanning features such as dust removal, etc.  You’ll need to get a natural scan, and edit your scan in software designed to fix images (i.e. GIMP, Lightroom, Photoshop).

You Don’t Need An Expensive Scanner To Get Quality Slide, Negative, Photo Scans — Here’s How

If you have a photo, slide, or negative scanning project, I invite you to visit…

Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Tips: Professional Advice From ScanCanada.ca

In the scanning guide you’ll learn how to:

• How To Use An Inexpensive Scanner To Get Quality Scans
• Best Software To Use When Editing Slide, Negative, Photo Scans
• Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To USE The Software
• How Resolution Works So You Have More Control Over Your Scans

And bunch more tips. Check it out…

It’s exactly how I edit my client’s scans, and I’m more than happy to share my scanning “secrets”.

Thanks!

Konrad M.

ScanCanada.ca: All Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Guaranteed 100%

If you’re going to trust a scanning company with thousands of your slides, negatives, and photos, here’s four tips:

Tip 1:  Get Samples Scans As A Test-Run

It’s better to lose $10 than $1000.  So before you commit all your thousands of slides, negatives, and photos, send ten.  And ten of your worst ones.

Put the scanning company to the test.

What’s the quality like?  Is it worth paying 99 cents for a scan that is worse than the original?  Do they scan them as-is?  Or do they try to improve the quality?

Get a feel of how their process works.  Do they want payment upfront?  Do they care how they handle your slides or photos?  Do they return your slides in the same condition when they left your home?

Again, It’s better to test 10 slides, negatives, photos and lose $10 than send all of them, and find out you paid too much.

And hey, if they try their best with a such a small order, then they will do the same if you come back with thousands.

2.  Ask If Your Slides Are Scanned Overseas

There’s nothing wrong hiring a scanning company, where they ship your slides, say to India.  You’ll get the same quality scans, and prices far lower than they can charge in Canada.

But be sure you are aware of this fact!  Some scanning companies that charge as low as 25 cents per scan hide this fact.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with outsourcing your scans.  But make sure you’re ok with that fact.  And if you’re NOT ok with it, and you’re unsure, one red flag is the price.  If a scanning company advertises as low as 25 cents per scan, and they’re advertising highest quality scans, then they may be outsourcing your scans.

3.  Get A Quote And A 100% Scan Guarantee

The truth is, anybody can buy a scanner, put up a website, and offer slide scanning services.  That’s easy.  What’s not easy, is getting quality scans.

And if you’ve ever tried scanning yourself, you know exactly how much time and effort it takes to get scans that look at least as the original.

A quality scanning company will have no issues giving you a full 100% scan guarantee.  It’s the guys that buy a scanner, put a up a site, and offer cheap scanning that won’t back up their work.

4.  Ask Yourself: “Do I Want Convenient Scans Or Quality Scans”?

This last tip is probably the most important.

Say you’ve tried scanning, and it’s taking too much time.  If you rather have somebody else do this for you, and not not concerned about quality, then I suggest a “bulk” scanning company.

These scanning companies are ofter fast and cheap.  And if you rather save on price and pay in quality, then there’s nothing wrong hiring a “bulk” scanning company..

If you rather have quality scans then look for scanning companies that focus on quality not speed.  They often take longer and are more expensive.   But they will be glad to give you samples of your scans before you commit all of them; they’ll be happy to offer a full 100% scan guarantee; and they’ll treat your family’s originals as if they were their own.

Remember, these are the only copy of your originals.  And if you like to pass on quality scans to the next generation, then find a scanning company that focuses on quality, and not speed or bulk scans.

About The Author

Hey, my name is Konrad.  Thanks for reading.  I’m a digital designer, and I’ve been scanning since 2005.  I’ve also been using Photo shop since it came out.

So, if you like my team and I to scan your family’s slides, negatives, or photos, please visit: http://ScanCanada.ca

Digital ICE can’t give you consistent quality scans like you can in Photoshop.

Here’s a quick video of how I scan my client’s slides, negatives, and photos in Photoshop:

About ScanCanada.ca

We’re a small team of graphic designers, dedicated to slide, negative, photo scanning services. Located in three locations: Toronto, Calgary, and London.

Before you a scanning company, be sure you’re 100% comfortable with somebody else handle your only copy. At ScanCanada.ca, you’re invited to scan a small batch before you decide to commit all your scans.  This is a free service from ScanCanada.ca, and you’re under no obligation.

Please visit, ScanCanada.ca for more info.

It’s easy to talk about quality.  Here’s a quick video of a comparison between normal scans vs. slide scans edited by ScanCanada.ca:

Slide Scanning: Compare Normal Scan Vs. Edited Scan By ScanCanada.ca

I want to share a simple story with you.

Tess, a customer from Toronto, found some old slides that belonged to her Father.  Here’s a quick video of her story:

Slide, Film, Negative Scanning: Slide Show of 60 Year Old Slide Scans

This scanning blog is just one place  where you can find my articles on how to convert slides, negative film, and photo into digital. Here’s where you can find my stuff…

HowToScan.ca

This is my side project when I’m not scanning for a living.  I will show you exactly how I scan my customer’s slides, negatives, and photos.  I try to make is as non-technical as I can.

Check it out, FREE Slide, Negative, Photo Scanning Guide

eZineArticles.com

These articles are a bit more technical, and my major focus is on understanding resolution.  I also have quick scanning tips as well.

Please visit, eZine Article Expert Author on Scanning

Squidoo.com

Here’s where you can get quick, fast tips on scanning your own slides, negatives, and photos.  If you don’t have the time, and want to jump right into scanning, check out, Squidoo: Squidoo Lensmaster HowToScan

Imagine your Dad’s reaction when he sees 60 year old slide scans of himself when he was just a boy.  Convert your family slides, negative film, and photo into HD quality digital images.  Slide, Negative Film, Scanning Services Toronto.