Understanding 35mm Scanning Services


by Brite Pix - Date: 2009-04-21 - Word Count: 569 Share This!

Prior to the advent of the digital camera, most amateur and semi-professional photographers shot pictures on 35mm film. Anyone who spent much time behind a camera had binders full of 35mm negatives, carefully preserved in archival sheeting. Those negatives, when preserved properly, last quite a while, but no matter how careful you are with them, they will eventually begin to deteriorate. Dust, scratches, and fading make them practically useless for reprints. Today, there is an alternative to storing your negatives in this way. By taking advantage of 35mm scanning services, you can create a high quality digital image from your negatives that will not fade or get scratched.

Why Scan Negatives?

Even if you have a paper print of your image, the negative is the best option to scan if it is available. This is because it is a "first generation" image, and, even though it is much smaller than the print, a negative has more detail and contrast than a print. This means you will get the highest quality digital image if you use the negative over the print.

Choosing a Service

If you are interested in having your negatives scanned, the first step is to choose the right 35mm scanning service. First, look for a company that offers a variety of resolutions. Negatives are scanned in a resolution measured as "dots per inch," or dpi. The dpi you need varies depending on the intended use of the image. A 35mm negative scanned at 1500 dpi is a good choice if you wish to archive your images, view them on a screen, or print up to a 5 x 7 picture. In contrast, a scan of 4000 dpi gives you the ability to zoom in on a particular area of your picture and make prints up to a 13 x 19.

Besides choosing a 35mm scanning service with several dpi options, choose one that uses a quality negative-specific scanner. You do not want to pay someone to scan negatives on a device you could buy and use at home. High-end professional scanners deliver quality images that make excellent prints.

Touch Up Services

Another option to look for when choosing a scanning service is photo enhancement service. Choose a company that has the ability to remove scratches, fix fading, or reduce red eye in your finished image. This will allow you to archive your oldest negatives, even if they have been damaged with time. Keep in mind that a poorly shot image will still look poorly shot, even with touch up services.

Kodak has developed a technology known ad Digital ICE that allows the imaging professional to isolate images of dirt and scratches on an image. The area is then filled in using information scanned from the color in the surrounding are of the image. Kodak also offers Digital GEM, a program that allows the imaging professional to remove film grain and the effects of poor lighting from a finished image. Programs like Digital ICE, Digital GEM, or something similar are one feature you want to look for when choosing a 35mm scanning service. This is especially true if you are working with older negatives that have faded with time.

The next time you move your old box of negatives from one shelf in the closet to another, ask yourself if there is a better way. The answer is yes, because you can store your negatives in a much more compact digital format by choosing 35mm scanning services.

Related Tags: picture, slides, photo, photos, photograph, negatives, 35mm, large format, slide scanning, photo scanning, negative scanning, medium format

BritePix offers you digital slide scanning using the latest imaging technology available in the market.

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