How to Convert SLR Camera Film to Digital

Scanners allow conversion of negatives or prints into digital files.

Photography has had a long history of using SLR cameras, which make extensive use of 35 millimeter film. Until recently, film would be developed chemically and then printed onto photographic paper for prints, and the originally developed film was also preserved in the form of film negatives, which could be used for making future prints. Since the digital revolution, devices have been designed to scan such prints and negatives in order to make them into digital files for viewing on computers and in digital picture frames. The two main devices for this work are scanners (to scan prints) and film negative scanners (to convert negatives).

Things You'll Need

• Original film negatives or prints
• Choice of flatbed scanner (for scanning prints) or negative scanner (for scanning negatives)

Instructions

1. Connect a flatbed scanner or a film negative scanner to your computer and install the software which came with the unit. The software provided with scanners permits you to operate the scanner systems and also allows you to edit and save your newly scanned images in the format you desire. When using this software, use PNG format to save your original scans, if the manufacturer included that format in the software, as this will preserve the image in the highest possible quality. If there is no PNG option, then JPEG format with lowest compression settings will yield a fairly reasonable quality image file.

2. Place one of your photo prints onto the flatbed scanner, or your film negative into a film negative scanner, and then press the "SCAN" button on the unit to initiate the scan. If the scanner software was installed properly, you will see the scanned image appearing on your computer display. In some cases, you may have to start the scanner software on your computer and then activate the scan from within the software rather than by pressing a button on the scanner unit.

3. Use the image editing portion of your scanner software package to crop the image, reduce or increase the size, correct color or make any other changes you desire. Once you are happy with the scanned image, save it to your computer hard disk drive as a PNG or JPG format. Be sure to give your scanned image a name which will let you easily identify it on your hard drive, making it easier to find in the future.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider saving your originally scanned images without using any space-saving compression. Using file-size compression may make the file smaller on your hard disk drive, but it will also reduce the quality of the file, which may be very noticeable when attempting to print a copy on a computer printer. If disk space is limited for you, consider purchasing an external portable drive on which to save all of your originally scanned image files.

• Scanning negatives will always provide the highest quality digital images, but the scanners are also more expensive than flatbed scanners used for scanning prints. If you are operating a photography business, you will most certainly want to consider a film negative scanner rather than a flatbed scanner.

• If scanning negatives, always handle the negatives by the edges. Oils from fingertips will damage the negative images on film negatives over time.

References

• Scan Cafe: Why Scan?
• Scan Tips: What About Film Scanners?
• Norman Koren: Scanning Film