Turning slides into a digital format via scanning does not require a lot of experience or special skills. Most anyone with a flatbed or dedicated film scanner can achieve great quality scans by just following a few basic rules. Clean the slides before scanning, use the scanning equipment based on the manufacturer's recommendations and use the software's built-in features to manipulate the image before scanning. Follow these guidelines to achieve great scans from slides.

Slide Preparation

Use a small dust-free lens cleaning cloth or lens blower to remove any dust from the slides. If the slides have grime or fingerprint buildup then use a drop of water combined with a wetting agent like Kodak's Photo-Flo. Photo-Flo minimizes watermarks and streaks and promotes faster, more uniform drying on negatives and slides. Mix the solution one-part water to one hundred parts Photo-Flo. If the slides suffer from dirt and require a cleaning, then use a photographic film cleaning solution. Different manufacturers make film-cleaning solutions. Kami RC 2001 film cleaner has anti-static properties and can clean any type of graphic or film. Kodak's film cleaner will also do the job. Follow the manufacturer's directions for mixing and use.

Scanner Input

A flatbed scanner with slide scanning capabilities has a mask that sits on the scanner's bed. Wipe the scanner's bed down with alcohol to remove any dirt from the glass. Do not use a window cleaning solution unless it has streak free properties. Place the mask on the scanner's bed and align with the appropriate marks suggested on the scanner. Hold the slide by its mount and place it in the mask according to the manufacturer's directions. Dedicated film and slide scanners use carriages to insert the slide into the scanner. Insert the slide into the carriage according to the manufacturer's directions and then insert the carriage into the scanner's housing.

Scan

Use the software of choice to scan the slides from the scanner into the computer. Select the scanning resolution. The lower the resolution, the less detail captured in the scan. Adjust the slide's color balance, hue and exposure if required. Use the software's image selection tools to crop the slide prior to scanning. Finalize any adjustments to the slide's image settings and select "Scan" from the file menu or click the "Scan" icon. Depending on a few variables--the image resolution selected, the amount of available computer memory and the connection to the computer (USB, serial port or Firewire) the scan takes a few seconds to a few minutes to complete.

Source:

Kodak.com: Kodak Professional Solutions