How to Use Nikon Scanners

Turn your computer and your Nikon scanner on. Open the software for the scanner on your laptop or desktop computer.

Click "File" in the navigation bar of the software and complete the preliminary steps before you begin to scan your slides or film. This includes setting up a folder where the scanned images will be saved to and setting the type of media that will be scanned. Name and date your file for easy reference. Depending on the model of Nikon scanner you have, you can scan 35mm and 120mm film, a film Kodak introduced in 1901 for the Brownie camera and still used today.

Click "File" and set the resolution and file format you want your scan. For best results set the scanner to its maximum resolution and set file format to "TIFF" (Tagged Image File Format). This will result in a large file; it will also contain the most data from the scan for archival use and any future editing. Select the "ICE" feature from the menu. This feature will remove any dust or debris on the negative during the scan.

Prepare your slides or film strips for scanning by cleaning them with a anti-static cloth. This cloth will remove any dust from the surface of the negative or slide and will help to prevent dust from collecting on the slide or film strip during the scanning process. Be careful not to scratch your film.

Place the slides or film strip into the appropriate carrier tray. Insert the tray into the scanner and click the "Scan" button in the software. The scanner will start its scan and the image will appear in the preview window where you can crop and adjust the color balance and exposure of the image. Save your scanned image to the folder you created. Repeat the process for other slides or negatives you may have. Name and date your files in a consistent manner.