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How do I Convert 35mm Color Slides to a DVD?

Color slide film for 35mm photography was used widely by professional and amateur photographers alike. The film was known for reproducing colors as closely to the actually scene as possible. People often stored the slides in the plastic boxes they were delivered in. They could also store them in slide projector trays for viewing, or in archival holder sleeves that could be put into a binder for safe keeping. With digital technology, those slides can be converted to digital images and saved on DVDs.

Things You'll Need

Tripod
Anti-static cloth
Recipe card holder
Desk lamp

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare your slides to be converted into a digital file. If your slides have been in storage for some time, you may want to give them a gentle cleaning using an anti-static cloth. This cloth is specially treated to remove dust and create a barrier that will prevent dust from collecting on the slide during the scan or conversion process.
- 2
  Convert your slides to a digital file by either scanning the slide using a flatbed or film scanner. Or if you have a digital camera you can set take a picture of your slide that will achieve the same objective. While a film scanner will give you the best scan out of the three options, film scanners can be expensive to buy. To take a digital picture of your slide, set up a way to hold the slide, you can use a recipe card holder to do this. Place the slide and holder on a table that is positioned against a wall. Place the holder 12 inches from the wall. Put a piece of white paper or card on the wall. Use masking or painters tape to hold the card or paper in place. Illuminate the paper using a white light. Position your camera in front of the slide, use a tripod if you have one. Fill the viewfinder with the image on the slide by using the zoom function on your camera lens, or move the camera closer. Set the camera's white balance to match the light you are using. Take the picture. Repeat this process for each slide.
- 3
  Download the camera's memory card to your computer by using a card reader or by connecting your camera to your computer using a USB or firewire cable. Save the images to a file folder. Keep the size of the file folder under 4.7GB, which is the storage space on a DVD.
- 4
  Place a DVD into the DVD burner drive on your computer. Locate and select the folder containing the slides you want to transfer to the DVD. Position your computer's mouse pointer over the folder. Right click your mouse and select "Send to" from the pop-up menu. Select the drive that has the DVD in it and click "Ok". You computer will now copy the folder over to the DVD. Note the name of the event or subject on the DVD cover.

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