How to Scan a 35 mm Slide With the Microtek ScanMaker 5900

You can scan slides with film or flatbed scanners.

There are many ways to convert 35 mm slides into digital files. One of the easiest is to use a flatbed scanner like the Microtek ScanMaker 5900, which comes with everything you need to scan slides. The machine scans at a resolution of 4800x7200 DPI (dots per inch) and has a platen that accepts media up to 8.5 by 11.7 inches.

Things You'll Need

• Antistatic cloth

Instructions

1. Clean your slides with an antistatic cloth. This specially treated material removes dust and helps prevent dust from collecting on them during the scanning process.

2. Turn on your computer and scanner. Install the software for the Microtek ScanMaster 5900. Create a folder for the scanned slides to be saved to.

3. Open the software for the Microtek scanner. Select "35mm slide" as your source.

4. Place the slide carrier tray on the platen. Press the "Start" button on the scanner or commence the scan by clicking "Start" in the software.

5. Save the scanned 35 mm slides as TIFF files. This format retains all the information the scan collected. The scan now can be used as a digital negative.

References

• Slide Scanning: Slide Scanning Tips
• Microtek: ScanMaker 5900
• Help2go: How to Scan 35mm Slides

Resources

• Scantips: A Few Scanning Tips