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Ghetto Scan Those 35mm Negatives with A Window!
written by falsedigital on September 24th, 2009 , 1 submission , 19 comments (9 votes)

So here’s what you’ll need:

1. 35mm Negatives
2. Some tape
3. A digital camera
4. A computer w/ photoshop or a similar editing program

All you do is tape the negatives to the window. Make sure your window is facing light, obviously this won’t work too well on dark days. You’ll notice that because it’s not completely white outside (as in there is buildings or grass or whatever is outside that the light won’t be entirely consistent through the negatives). This creates some weird effects. So move them around a bit and see what happens!

Then all you do is aim your digital camera at the negatives and focus them. I recommend manually focusing if your camera can or if you’re using a point and shoot set it to macro mode. :D

Then bring the photos into photoshop (or similar program) and INVERT them. We gotta make those negatives positive! You should end up with some pretty funky colors. If you want you could tweak the colors to balance them out or leave them as is. Either way you’re going to get some funky results.

SO GO TRY IT! It’s the simplest and most ghetto way to scan those negatives! :D

1 submission

19 comments

  • dogtanian
    by dogtanian
    2 months ago

    no.4 is great!

  • stouf
    by stouf
    2 months ago

    I love n° 5 !

  • trash-gordon-from-outer-space
    by trash-gordon-from-outer-space
    2 months ago

    yeah, why not?

  • juznobsrvr
    by juznobsrvr
    2 months ago

    brilliant! i've been having difficulties with my scanner... i think i'll deep 6 it.

  • lomosexual_manboy
    by lomosexual_manboy
    2 months ago

    Very interesting effects for sure.

  • by abfa00
    about 1 month ago

    Wow, this sounds awesome- I wish I hadn't read about it after it got dark :(

  • falsedigital
    by falsedigital
    about 1 month ago

    Thanks guys!
    I even have another really fun way of doing this which I'll share with you in my next tip.

  • hansie14
    by hansie14
    about 1 month ago

    This is a coooool tip. Good work.

  • falsedigital
    by falsedigital
    about 1 month ago

    If you guys do this please let me know. I'd love to see what you come up with :]

  • amaan
    by amaan
    about 1 month ago

    this is totally raad!

  • yiyo
    by yiyo
    about 1 month ago

    awesome!!!
    i'm doing it right now!
    let you know

  • 1minute1second
    by 1minute1second
    about 1 month ago

    this is cool. i'll have to try this out!

  • luobodingr
    by luobodingr
    about 1 month ago

    excellent adaptation.. and I love the name "Chetto Scan". Did you coin that one? I can see user groups popping up all over the place!

  • peteparker
    by peteparker
    about 1 month ago

    I'll try it and submit my results [it sounds pretty cool]

  • falsedigital
    by falsedigital
    about 1 month ago

    luobodingr - haha thanks! Yeah I made up that term.
    peteparker - do it do it, I want to see what you come up with!

  • danielflynn
    by danielflynn
    about 1 month ago

    hi, i tried this and am having difficulties getting the same results as you. i had left it on the window with full sun, then when i photograph it and invert it on photoshop, it just goes...weird (and no not a good weird). there is also no colour like their is in yours. if its any help i have the latest photoshop, fisheye 2, and pentax K200D.
    is it possible to maybe get a more detail explanation?

  • falsedigital
    by falsedigital
    27 days ago

    danielflynn - Well first off it depends on your exposure. If you're using a digital SLR make sure to correctly set the exposure so you don't lose any details in the film. Second, you will get different results with different film. The easiest way to bring out the colors is go to Image > Adjustments > Curves. Play with the curves to bring out all the details. Curves are your best friend when it comes to color correction. :D

  • danielflynn
    by danielflynn
    27 days ago

    sweeeeeet. thank you so much. that actually worked. it came out PERFECT. great idea, ill be using it for my upcoming assignment at school - thanks

  • danielflynn
    by danielflynn
    27 days ago

    oh, and i forgot to ask. about a month ago you said

    'Thanks guys!
    I even have another really fun way of doing this which I'll share with you in my next tip.'

    Im interested to see this next tip.

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