2022
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How to Convert Slides to Digital & Why You Might Want To Written by: Brandon Harris, Smooth Photo Scanning Services
Before digital photography became widely available, slides were the most common way to preserve family photographs.Unfortunately, most people don’t have a projector these days. Thus the memories captured on slides will never be viewed and cherished.This makes it essential to convert slides to digital formats.
You can do it yourself with a slide scanner or contract it out to a reputable slide scanning service. Read on to learn why you should convert slides to digital images or videos and how to do it.
Why Convert Slides to Digital Format
Several variables contribute to the gradual decline of slide images over time, from how the slides are handled to where they are stored.
Therefore, digitization is essential. Here are some other reasons why you may want to consider converting your slides to digital formats.
- Improved Image Quality: Slides are not immune to the wear and tear of being handled and the destructive effects of humidity and varying temperatures. . The good news is that specialized scanners and digital photo editing software can bring your slides back to life. However, remember that digitization at home often produces blurry, highly pixelated results if you don’t have the right equipment, so you might want to consider hiring professionals if image quality is your top priority.
- Easy Sharing: One issue with slides is that they are not easily sharable. However, once you digitize your slides, you may quickly and cheaply transfer the images to friends and family via services like DropBox and We Transfer. You can also upload and share them online via social media.
- Improved Accessibility: Many people have problems tracking down the slides and photos of their families. In addition to the safety and redundancy of digital storage, the ability to store and convert slides to digital format can significantly improve the accessibility of your family’s photographs.
- Trouble-Free Storage: Converting your slides to digital format and burning them to DVD will solve all your storage problems. It will allow you to store thousands of images without engaging any physical space in the attic.
How to Scan Slides to Digital Format
Multiple options are available to scan slides to digital formats. The best solution for you depends on your goals and resources. Here are a few options you can consider.
1. Consider a Film Scanner
A high-resolution, dedicated film/slide scanner is the greatest option for digitizing your slides without sacrificing image quality. It provides superior quality, especially when utilizing the function of Digital ICE (Image Correction and Enhancement)
However, it can be a hefty investment. So, unless you have thousands of slides to scan, it may not be the best option to spend on a film scanner.
2. Use a Flatbed Scanner
Consider using your flatbed scanner as a slides-to-digital converter. You can use most flatbed scanners equipped to scan slides and negatives.
You will need at least 2000 dots per inch (dpi) optical resolution. Slides also require a special transparency adapter attachment, which may come with some flatbed scanners or be purchased separately. Finally, look for a slides scanning software bundle compatible with your scanner.
If you plan on buying a new flatbed scanner for scanning slides, make sure you browse through user reviews to ensure it can scan slides competently before making a purchase.
3. Try a Duper
A slide duplicator, or duper, is a cheap and effective method of digitizing your slides if you already own a high-quality digital SLR camera. You may swap out the lens on your DSLR camera for a slide duplicator.
Unlike flatbed and film scanners, slide duplicators don’t offer the same level of digital quality. As a general rule, you’ll need to crop images. Additionally, most digital cameras lack the dynamic range of a scanner, which might diminish the photo’s shadow detail.
4. Opt for Professional Services
If you’re not tech-savvy or require excellent quality, having a professional provider handle the scanning for you is definitely your best bet. Many do-it-yourselfers get annoyed when dust and scratches appear on their digital files.
Hiring a professional photo digitization service eliminates these complications. Furthermore, a professional photo digitizing service will offer extra services, such as color and saturation adjustments, to ensure that you have the clearest image possible from your digitized photographs.
It’s in your best interest to look around, as costs and quality control might vary considerably. Ask the professionals if they clean and scan each slide separately.
Convert Your Slides Today with Smooth Photo Scanning
As professional slides to digital converters, we have the resources to give you the best digital versions of your photos and the expertise to assist you in deciding which path to take to meet your goals for digitizing your collection.
In addition to the time savings, we also ensure the best quality images. Our competent staff can also help you save your digital photos in multiple formats in case you decide to modify, retouch, or recover the shot in the future. Contact us today to learn more about our services and get a free quote.
My father has been in the document scanning industry for as long as I can remember. I worked for his company Smooth Solutions, Inc. during summer breaks growing up and for a couple years after college. Wanting to venture off on my own, I gained experience in several careers including wholesale seafood sales as well as owning and operating a bakery for several years. When my father approached me with the opportunity to expand upon his already successful business by providing high quality, professional scanning services to the general public, I jumped on board. From personal experience, I recognize how important it is for most people to have their family memorabilia preserved for future generations and I want to be a part of helping others do that.