How to digitize film at home?

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Translation film materials and slides into digital format does not lose relevance today, when it would seem, everything is already processed and placed in virtual media.The old archives and photo negatives or require special storage conditions, or the final transformation into computer files.This raises the question: "How to digitize film at home and at minimal cost?"Immediately it should be noted that the means at hand to confine it does not, especially if the result should be of high quality.Professional equipment, which is used to digitize the laboratories and studios, of course, not required, but the acquisition of the scanner is necessary to prepare.At the worst you can do SLR, though in this case the increased responsibilities have handmade.

technological process of digitizing

To understand how methods work in principle the transfer of film frames in computer images, it is necessary to disassemble this technology transformation.By and large, the digitization of films involves splitting each frame into pixels - small elements of which there is another, a computer image.Formed during the processing of the image stores the colors of the image and other photographic properties in a digital file.

scanner to digitize - what to choose?

At the moment, in terms of digitizing scanner is not a viable alternative.There are two types of such devices: a film scanner and a model equipped with a slide module.The advantages of tablet slide module include the ability to capture and film materials and the finished photos.If you want to digitization of films at home, then slide the module will be the best solution.He inexpensive cost, provide at least a functional workflow and takes a little extra space.

film scanner can be attributed to equipment that is close to professional models.It allows you to receive high-quality digital images with the convenience for the user.This option is ideal if you want to process and appear regularly new footage, and old film.Digitize the images at the amateur level to help many scanners, but if you want to get a high quality professional results, you need the photo drum scanners and mini-lab.

optimal resolution

It is important to be guided by a simple rule: as you know, 300dpi is a standard for printing - respectively, the scanner should at least support this option.Generally, modern photographic equipment and scanners are capable of supporting and 4800dpi - another thing that this format simply did not pay off in the old film.For example, many are wondering how to digitize film at home, so that each element was the most detailed.In practice, the finished frame can not select more than he gives.For optimal resolution, you can take the format twice the similar features of the film.For example, 900dpi can go to almost all the old photographs.Even if the resolution is significantly exceeds all boundaries and limits of negativity, you can always trim excess - most importantly, that the loss of quality is not.

process of digitizing

scanner procedure on elementary and requires almost no user involvement.Of course, before the first treatment will have to download the necessary drivers and software for the operation of the equipment - then set the settings and starts scanning.It is important to note that the film scanner to digitize the films depending on the model may have a whole range of useful options that will increase the quality of the finished image.Among them:

  • reduction of grain;
  • removing dust and oil traces;
  • recovery shades;
  • increase in noise reduction and sharpness;
  • AE;
  • histogram to adjust tone curves.

In modern versions of Epson technology also provides Digital ICE, through which the device performs self-cleaning workers and machined surfaces, and removes scratches.

In what files are stored?

main mistake novice photographers for whom the digitization of films at home is associated with the usual conversion of files is the wrong format to save the image.Do not use the output JPEG, since this will lead to substantial losses in the compression.The best option would be TIFF.Here again the principle that is relevant: it is better to make the volume, but high-quality sources than later suffer with poor resolution, and so on. D. Indeed, TIFF - rather cumbersome format, but this inconvenience is more than decent pay for printing in the future.

problem of digitizing negatives

Most printers negative attitude to the problems of scanning negatives.The reason is not the correction of color, fine-tuning of contrasts and so on. D. Quite often there is the question of how to digitize film at home and without the expression "noise."So negatives in this respect are considered the most problematic.

If digitized slides, the "noise" gets into the shadows, where it is difficult to detect.In the treatment of negative same thing happens, and it seems that all the flaws left in naturally dark areas.The disappointment comes when the scanner to digitize the films turns negative into a positive - after this operation all the "noise" is transferred to the light.This should be remembered and to maximize the opportunities avtokorretsiey aimed at the suppression of the "noise".

digitization negatives SLR

Many believe that this way of working with the negatives for the fans is the best.On the camera to shoot film, after it is handling and processing.Technically, the procedure is as follows: The camera is firmly fixed to the platform, installed LED lamp (with filter, if necessary), and adjusts the exposure.This digitized films can be streamed, but only on condition that the frames identical lighting conditions.In other cases, for each frame, white balance, for example, chosen individually.Actually, this aspect of personal refinement and settings for each image can be seen as a plus: the first is the freedom of creativity, and secondly, practiced skills with photographs.

Conclusion The last step is to decide on a system of cataloging files.In general, the question of how to digitize the photographic film in the home and receive high-quality images at the output, assumes an elementary response.To do this, you need to have the appropriate scanner or SLR camera - in the first case, most of the worker process is assigned to the equipment, while the second - on the user, which in its discretion adjusts digitization and conditions for its execution.That is all the views that scan and transfer to "figure" kill all the advantages of pictures, untenable.There are lots of tools, methods, parameters, and adjusting the subtleties that allow you to create from old negatives a work of art.