Sep 26, 2009
Slide Scanning Software
With the advent of digital technology, so many things have been made possible these recent years. One example worth noting is the ability to save and restore images from old film negatives and slides. And this has become possible through the use of the slide scanner.
Various brands, types and sizes of slide scanners are on the market today. And what’s more, their prices have become very competitive that anybody wishing to purchase one can be greatly challenged as to which one to choose. This device can now be had at a few hundred dollars which is not bad enough for an ordinary user.
Each slide scanner usually comes with a scanning software. Most brands have their own software that carries a specific name. The software is the one that allows you to save, store and edit your images on the computer. Upon purchase of the unit, you will first need to install the driver (through a CD-ROM) on your PC so that you can work with your images immediately.
The slide scanning software is responsible for controlling your scan. To start, you have to open the software and choose the source of your scan. If you’re using mounted slides, for example, click on the positive color film and the scanning will proceed.
The next step is to select the preview button to view the images on your slides. If you’re not contented with what you see on your screen, you can adjust the settings. For the color, adjust the brightness using the backlight correction button. For more advanced settings, the brightness/contrast icon is the one to use. When a small window pops up, you can adjust the slider to the right or left according to your preference.
Meanwhile if you see scratches or tiny particles, use the remove dust and scratches button.
When scanning, you can also select the resolution you want. The higher the resolution, the more detailed your scan will be and the better is the quality of the image you’ll get. A 300 dpi resolution is the most appropriate choice. After you have selected your slides, just click scan to proceed.
Some slide scanners allow batch scanning which lets you complete your work faster. Otherwise, you’ll have to scan each slide manually. Once scanned, your images will be then be displayed on your screen. Make sure then to save your files in TIFF format and in a folder which you can easily locate.
After you have saved your scans, you can always go back to them and edit where necessary. Your scanning software will help you do this. First search for your saved files in the right folder and open them. To edit, you just have to use the various tools on the toolbar available such as the crop, paint or brush among others. To remove red eyeballs, use the red-eye removal while the clone tool is best for masking unwanted marks. The Photoshop is the most common image editing software being bundled with the scanner.
Now that you know this, make sure to confirm from the sales staff that your software is included in the slide scanner that you bought.