Digitize your slide collection to archive and view it on your computer.
The advent of personal computers and digital cameras has left the traditional slide projector largely obsolete. Many people, however, still have boxes of old slides collecting dust in a closet or basement. You can digitize your old slides to archive and view them on your computer. Scan your slides using a digital slide scanner, or photograph them with a digital camera and a slide projector. For best results, take them to a photo development studio to have them professionally digitized.
Instructions
Digital Slide Scanner
1. Plug the digital slide scanner into your computer and install the driver software included with the scanner. See the user manual for your model for specifics, as installation instructions vary from model to model.
2. Clean the slides thoroughly with a soft lens brush. Otherwise, dust on the slides will appear in the digital image.
3. Insert a slide into the scanner. Click the Windows "Start" button, "All Programs," "Accessories" and then "Paint." Click "File" and select "From Scanner or Camera." Click "Scan" and select the digital slide scanner when prompted to choose the scanning device.
4. Click "Scan" again to beginning the scanning process. Click "File" and "Save" to save the image file to your computer.
Digital Camera and a Slide Projector
5. Clean the slides thoroughly with a soft lens brush to remove dust and other particles.
6. Insert each slide into the slide projector. Turn on the slide projector and aim it at a blank, white wall or a projector screen. Turn out the lights in the room to increase image contrast.
7. Stand directly behind the projector, holding the DSLR camera just above it. Center the slide in the viewfinder. Use a camera tripod for best results. Take a picture of each slide as you advance the slide show.
8. Plug the DSLR camera into your computer and copy the files to the hard drive.
Professional Scanning Services
9. Take your slides to a professional photo development studio. Most studios use a professional-grade digital scanner to convert slides to image files.
10. Ask the studio to convert the slides to digital files. Most studios will either burn the image files to CD or email them directly to you.
11. Pay for the service and return to pick up your slides when the studio finishes converting them. Studios often charge per slide, so this might be an expensive solution if you have a large number of slides to convert.
Tags: your computer, slide projector, your slides, digital slide, slide scanner, archive view, best results