Scanning Negatives

[80B]

If you're like me you've got shoeboxes full of photos and negatives or slides from the ancient days of film photography. Between raising a family, travel, parties (gotta be careful with those), and other events, there's got to be something approaching 10,000 negatives over about 20 years (I swear most of them are by my wife of our son between the ages of 0 an 4!). I've been doing this off and on for over 6 years, and am probably about half done. The scanner is a Nikon Coolscan IV, and it, along with the Nikon Scan program, is a great product. It even 'erases' scratches on the negatives with an optional feature.

It's a time consuming process, but I wanted to have an archive of the pictures and then be able to catalog them for slide shows and some high-quality albums. Anybody else undertaking such a project?

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by 80B

If you're like me you've got shoeboxes full of photos and negatives or slides from the ancient days of film photography. Between raising a family, travel, parties (gotta be careful with those), and other events, there's got to be something approaching 10,000 negatives over about 20 years (I swear most of them are by my wife of our son between the ages of 0 an 4!). I've been doing this off and on for over 6 years, and am probably about half done. The scanner is a Nikon Coolscan IV, and it, along with the Nikon Scan program, is a great product. It even 'erases' scratches on the negatives with an optional feature.

It's a time consuming process, but I wanted to have an archive of the pictures and then be able to catalog them for slide shows and some high-quality albums. Anybody else undertaking such a project?

I've been doing some of this too, though I don't think I could ever scan them all. Scanning negatives for which you have no prints (or poor condition ones) is a great thing!!

Pete

[jdandy]

Paul.......I have been scanning negatives and slides for myself and friends for a number of years. I use the Minolta Dimage Scan Dual, and it does a terrific job. I also scan prints on a Umax Astra 1200S, and then use software to clean up the images, and adjust colors and contrast on poor quality prints. Both the Minolta film scanner, and the Umax flatbed scanner are very useful photo processing tools.

I also use the Umax scanner to scan the covers of all my DVD's, then print them in color, four to a page for my DVD catalog. It makes it easier to decide what movie to watch when guests are over, and choosing from almost 600 DVD movies.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I also use the Umax scanner to scan the covers of all my DVD's, then print them in color, four to a page for my DVD catalog. It makes it easier to decide what movie to watch when guests are over, and choosing from almost 600 DVD movies.

That's a neat idea Dan....saves a lot of crouching down, going through cabinets, etc to pick out a movie!

Pete

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

That's a neat idea Dan....saves a lot of crouching down, going through cabinets, etc to pick out a movie!

Pete

Pete.......The newest DVD's are always on the last few pages of the catalog, since that is where the newest scanned pages get inserted. I keep all the DVD's in alphabethical order on shelves, so finding them is a snap no matter which DVD gets selected. I got tired of people asking me what movies I had when it was showtime. I can't remember them all. I just hand them the three ring binder catalog. It works for me, and guests like it, too.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Pete.......The newest DVD's are always on the last few pages of the catalog, since that is where the newest scanned pages get inserted. I keep all the DVD's in alphabethical order on shelves, so finding them is a snap no matter which DVD gets selected. I got tired of people asking me what movies I had when it was showtime. I can't remember them all. I just hand them the three ring binder catalog. It works for me, and guests like it, too.

I need to alphabetize all my CD's and DVD's...what a chore!!

Pete

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

I need to alphabetize all my CD's and DVD's...what a chore!!

Pete

Pete.......Yes it is. I look at it as a labor of love. There is beauty in organization, but you already know that.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Pete.......Yes it is. I look at it as a labor of love. There is beauty in organization, but you already know that.

Yeah...it's gonna take a bit of time though!

And as for scanning the covers...forget it! Maybe if I'd done that since day one...

Pete

[howiebrou]

Originally Posted by 80B

If you're like me you've got shoeboxes full of photos and negatives or slides from the ancient days of film photography. Between raising a family, travel, parties (gotta be careful with those), and other events, there's got to be something approaching 10,000 negatives over about 20 years (I swear most of them are by my wife of our son between the ages of 0 an 4!). I've been doing this off and on for over 6 years, and am probably about half done. The scanner is a Nikon Coolscan IV, and it, along with the Nikon Scan program, is a great product. It even 'erases' scratches on the negatives with an optional feature.

It's a time consuming process, but I wanted to have an archive of the pictures and then be able to catalog them for slide shows and some high-quality albums. Anybody else undertaking such a project?

I considered doing it many years ago. The Nikon Coolscans were at the top of my list. It is a little frightening though. I have about 20 full size files with slides in them ( I almost never shot negatives). I wouldn't know where to begin!

[80B]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Paul.......I have been scanning negatives and slides for myself and friends for a number of years. I use the Minolta Dimage Scan Dual, and it does a terrific job. I also scan prints on a Umax Astra 1200S, and then use software to clean up the images, and adjust colors and contrast on poor quality prints. Both the Minolta film scanner, and the Umax flatbed scanner are very useful photo processing tools.

I also use the Umax scanner to scan the covers of all my DVD's, then print them in color, four to a page for my DVD catalog. It makes it easier to decide what movie to watch when guests are over, and choosing from almost 600 DVD movies.

Dan, that's a great application of the technology to solve your problem of dealing with so many DVDs. I guess you need to save the time for your guests because it takes so long to get to your place!