Converting 35MM Slides to CD

Convert Slides Taken This Way to CDs

Copying photos to CDs, particularly old 35mm slides, preserves the pictures in digital form and functions as a backup to copies on a computer. The slides can be converted to a slide show with a narrative before putting them on the CD, further enhancing their usefulness. While photo editing software includes the capability of creating a CD version directly, the steps below cover the basic principles involved in doing this manually. These instructions apply to Windows Vista, but the process is similar for older operating systems. Mac computers should have similar steps for accomplishing the same thing.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• CD-R recordable drive
• Scanner
• Photo editing software

1. Use a scanner with a 35mm slide adapter or a specialized film scanner and photo editing software to transfer slides to a digital copy on the computer, saving the slides as JPEG files (*.jpg). Edit the photos to correct orientation and clean up any image problems such as scratches or darkening that may have occurred with long-term slide storage.

2. Choose a Format

   Insert a blank CD-R disk into the CD recorder drive. When asked how to format the disk, choose “Mastered,” which is readable on any computer and operating systems older than Windows XP.

3. Select the Picture(s)

   Use Windows Explorer to locate the file(s) to be copied on the PC. For more than one file, choose “Organize” or “File/Select All.”

4. Burn to Disc

   Click on “Burn” on the menu across the top of the screen. When the next screen appears showing a list of files ready to be written to the disc, click on “Burn to disc” in the menu bar.

5. Finish the Process

   Choose “Next” when a second “Prepare this disc” appears. The copy process should finish.

Tips & Warnings

• While Windows Vista includes an enhanced version of burning files, using the older “Mastered” system is safer if the intended use is to print photos from the CD or display them on another computer or television.

• Before transferring digital photos to CDs, review them carefully for orientation and quality. Nothing is quite as annoying later as preparing a slide show on CD and learning that some pictures are upside down or turned sideways.

• Store the CDs in a slipcase to prevent damage.

• 35mm slides can overheat if left in a scanner for too long, so remove them once the scan is finished.

• Do not try to scan more than one type of slide (positive or negative) at a time.

• Be very careful with the shiny side of the CDs—it is very easy to scratch them.