Home >> Hobbies >> Photography

How to Transfer 35mm Negatives to Digital

Transferring your 35mm negatives into a digital format is a great way to preserve and modernize your images. Having your images in digital format allows you to organize, print, and store your memories. Transferring 35mm negatives to digital format requires a specialized negative scanner which processes the image and presents it as a positive, much like a developed picture. From there, you may edit or print this image file from home or by sending it to a digital photo printing specialist.

Things You'll Need

Negative scanner

Instructions

- 1
  Set up your negative scanner. This process will vary based on your scanner and computer's operating system. Install any specific software included with the scanner, including drivers. Open the software and turn on the scanner to begin the scanning process.
- 2
  Insert a negative into the negative carrier. The emulsion side should face down and the shiny, gelatin side of the strip should face upwards. Align the sprocket holes in the negative to the pegs on the negative carrier, then close the area.
- 3
  Use a soft, dust-free cloth to remove any dust or grit from the negatives. This will minimize the amount of retouching which will need to be done later.
- 4
  Insert the negative carrier into the entrance of the scanner. Some scanners will automatically begin the scanning process; others will require you to press a button or use software to acquire the images.
- 5
  View the images as they have been acquired from the scanner. Your software may include tools for touching up any dust spots or enhancing the negatives and you may choose to apply these now or to save your images first.
- 6
  Save the images to your hard drive. From here they may be printed, e-mailed, or edited.

Photography