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Underground > Creation >

Scanning slides

06:18 / 20.02.02

Wasn't quite sure where to put this, but..

I'm trying to get my portfolio stored digitally, last night I borrowed a mates scanner (cheers haca!), but every slide I tried came out really dark. We thought the reason for this was that because they're transparencies the light travels through them twice before being picked up by the sensors in the bed, if that makes any sense. Couldn't restore them to their true appearance by tweaking the brightness/contrast etc. either.

Any suggestions? I need to get this done by Sunday, and will go and pay for it if necessary, but it'd be good if I could sort it using what I've got.

The Return Of Rothkoid

06:18 / 20.02.02

What sort of a scanner is it? You'll need one with a light-lid in order to scan trannies, either that or a dedicated transparency slot like some of the Agfa ones do. I'm using a Microtek Scanmaker X6 that has a lid with a light built in: it creates a lightbox-effect that enables the scanner to work. That'll be your problem - if they're not backlit, there's no way it'll work.

You could try doing it by shining a white light (muted) onto the trannies while having the lid open: that might work...

06:18 / 20.02.02

not sure of the spec but it's a cheapy one and isn't backlit. guess i'll either have to get fruity with an anglepoise lamp or shell out to a professional.

The Return Of Rothkoid

10:49 / 20.02.02

Go the anglepoise. Just get a frosted bulb or something similar... you really need that lightbox-stylee light behind it.

11:06 / 20.02.02

we can but try.... thanks for the tip.