How to Scan Film Without a Film Scanner

If you’re just starting in analogue photography, like me, it’s probable you don’t own a film scanner. Well, no worries, I found a cheap way to scan your film using your old multifunctional scanner or any other simple scanner.

Materials:

• A sheet of (8 ½ x 11) thick, silver card stock
• Template
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Adhesive tape

Directions:

Step 1: Print the template on the back of the silver card stock (white side)
Step 2: Cut around the shape with the scissors and fold the triangular wings upright so that the shiny sides of the card stock face each other.
Step 3: Now fold the longest part of the rectangle so that it touches the edges of the triangles, so that the whole thing resembles an open-bottomed, triangular wedge with the shiny side of the card stock to the inside.
Step 4: Tape the corners of the adapter together, and it’s ready to use!

To use:

Place a slide or negative onto the scanner, and then place the adapter over the top. For the best results, line up one side of the slide with the center of the adapter. Leave the lid of the scanner open. If your scans have an uneven brightness, try adding a thin piece of paper between the slide and the adapter. The paper will diffuse the light and stop the scanner from seeing the space behind the slide.

The higher the resolution at which you scan, the more detail you will get. I recommend setting the scanner to at least 1200 DPI. The image below shows the raw scan on the left, the inverted scan in the middle, and the final image on the right.

2011-12-12 #gear #tutorials #film #tutorial #scanning #tipster #how-to #scanning-film #without #top-tipster-techniques