35mm Slides to Digital

[David Hyde]

I recently decided to have a small selection of 35mm slides converted to digital files. Not having been impressed with prints from transparencies in the past I have been cautious about spending money converting them to digital. Of the dozen I had done, all taken in the late 1980s, I have added four to my Gallery, one is shown here.
I was pleased with the result but they needed some work in Photoshop before they looked anything like the originals.
I opted for tif files so as not to loose anything. They were returned soft (which, being digital, I expected) but with all came back with a very blue colour cast.
I loaded them in Photoshop (7 Elements) as a RAW file, adjusted the colour temperature and re-adjusted the exposure. Once opened I worked on the contrast and sharpness etc. in the normal way to produce an acceptable image.
In my view this has proved the best way yet of converting old slides to prints but it needs some experience with Photoshop, or similar, to get satisfactory results.

[Dillybythesea]

Just to say what fabulous shots - such detail! Well worth the effort to convert and to tweak. You must be very pleased!

[Geoff F]

Converted slides and negatives usually have a distinctive colour cast which varies depending on the make of film used.

My scanner has a film/slider option and I always have to adjust for colour and sharpen.

You could probably get that company to colour adjust at the time of scanning but I would probably prefer to have them left in the 'natural' state and do the final tweak myself.

[triops]

I recently considered having colour slides scanned, or buying a scanner. However, I bought a griturn adaptor for my Nikon D200 and 18-55 lens, and simply photographed them. I was surprised and delighted at the result. Converted to digital files in an instant!

[Jim Ford]

I've got a Canon CanoScan FS2710, but it's a slow process to scan a neg or slide. I've seen posts that the best and quickest way is simply to photograph them as 'triops' does.

Jim

[Meta menardi]

I have loads of 2.25 in. sq slides, I use a light box, a macro setting and a tripod stand. Every on e takes a good half day to get as right as I can, and they show typical colour casts from 50 year old film. I am very selective as to what I do, but they are memories of my childhood, so the work can be worth the trouble. A lot of the time it is not worth the effort, and it can make you quite sad. Nostalgia is best avoided unless it moves you forward in some way.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Nostalgia is best avoided unless it moves you forward in some way.

Very wise words!

Jim

[David Hyde]

Originally Posted by Dillybythesea

Just to say what fabulous shots - such detail! Well worth the effort to convert and to tweak. You must be very pleased!

I am pleased thanks. My wife now wants family slides transferred! - thanks for your kind comment.
David

[David Hyde]

[quote=Geoff F;740272]Converted slides and negatives usually have a distinctive colour cast which varies depending on the make of film used.

Interesting Geoff, I did not realise this, thanks. I may well try another batch sometime.
David

[David Hyde]

Originally Posted by triops

I recently considered having colour slides scanned, or buying a scanner. However, I bought a griturn adaptor for my Nikon D200 and 18-55 lens, and simply photographed them. I was surprised and delighted at the result. Converted to digital files in an instant!

I agree with the comments you and Jim have made, it would seem the quickest and easiest way. However, being put off by the quality of the results when I tried duplicating slides on film with such methods years ago, its an option I did not consider with digital. My wife now wants a lot of family slides printed so I will certainly look into this. Thanks.
David