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08/28/2006 10:08:06 AM · #1 |
| I have never had to do this before but I have been asked to scan a negative for enlarging and printing purposes. The scanner I use does have the little thingee for scanning slides and negatives, but what do you do then?? ANd what resolution/dpi do you scan at (the lady wants a super big print, like 24inches on one side - is that even possible?) What kind of photoshopping will need to be done? I tried a google search last night but the info I found wasn't very helpful at all. |
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08/28/2006 10:11:07 AM · #2 |
| Scan at the highest resolution that your scanner is capable of, make sure the negative is as clean as possible and edit as required in Photoshop. |
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08/28/2006 10:22:31 AM · #3 |
| What scanner is this - brand and model? |
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08/28/2006 10:52:41 AM · #4 |
Most flatbed scanners do a just OK job of scanning film negatives (or positives). Negs should be somewhat easier, since their density is not nearly as high as positives.
Resolution of most flatbed scanners won't be quite high enough to get all the detail out of a 35mm negative; you need at least 2400 dpi optical resolution (not interpolated), more if you want to accurately render the film grain. For very large prints, you want to pull all the detail you can out of the negative.
Another option is to shoot the negative with a DSLR. I've done this with the 10D, and gotten great results. It does take the right set-up:
- Negative must be purely and uniformly backlit
- Must have macro capability to 1:1.6 magnification (for 300D)
- Camera on tripod and remote release
- White balance set for the illumination source... don't use auto.
- Compose, focus (use test shots), ISO at lowest value. Acquire image
- Check histogram, make sure you didn't blow highlights badly. Remember that highlights become shadows after inverting the negative; some blown highlights which will become pure blacks are not necessarily a bad thing. Also remember that shadows become highlights, so you want to keep noise as low as possible in shadows. Shooting RAW and "exposing to the right" is a good idea.
- Pull into Photoshop, convert/invert. Post process as desired.
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