Need Advice

sage · Nov 30, 2005

Hi there
I am a British woman living in Tennessee and I would like to ask a question. I apologise in advance if I offend anybody as it is not entirely photo related.

I have lots of slides that I would like to make into prints, then frame and sell. These pictures were not taken by me but I own them legally.
I am quite creative but I dont know much about photography and really have no idea where to begin.
Do I have to have these slides "developed" at a commercial shop, or can I buy software to do it from my PC, or do I need specialist equipment to turn the transparencies into prints?
Sorry for being niave.
I am researching photography courses but I think that I might be aiming to high just at this moment in time.
Thanks

Verbal · Nov 30, 2005

Hehe... if you were to give out advice would it be "Sage advice"? Hehe...

Big Mike · Nov 30, 2005

Welcome to the forum.

You own the slides but do you own the rights to the images? Probably not a big deal but just to make sure.

Probably the best way to get prints from your slides, is to scan them into digital files. You could have that done at a lab or buy yourself a slide scanner.

Having it done at a lab would probably be expensive, due to the time involved in scanning a lot of slides. Good slide scanners don't come too cheap either. Also, when you scan, you may be getting a lot of dust spots on the images...which can be fixed with post processing but that's a very long & tedious process. Scanners with 'Digital ICE' technology are supposed to greatly reduce dust spots...but those scanners are more expensive.

Check around your area, price out scanning and maybe get a few test scans done. It may be easier to just pay to have it done...or it may be better to have full control of the process.

jstuedle · Nov 30, 2005

To sell the images, you must have copyrights and a very good master image. The next step, as already mentioned is to get a digital file from the image. A slide scanner is one option, a digital camera of good quality and a slide copier is another. The second choice would require a DSLR to mount the copier. From there, most labs can reproduce the image in good quality. The whole trick is to start and finish with as good an image as is possible without loosing anything along the way.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

sage · Nov 30, 2005

Thanks for the responses and the advice. I have read the copyright laws and as best as I can understand them, it looks like I can't do anything with these slides legally, except put them in the trash.
Thanks again

Big Mike · Nov 30, 2005

Who actually took the photos?

sage · Nov 30, 2005

The slides were left abandoned in a rental property we own.

Hertz van Rental · Nov 30, 2005

Welcome to TPF

Mitica100 · Nov 30, 2005

Welcome to TPF, where you can learn that you can't transfer your slides! :lol:

Enjoy your stay though.

danalec99 · Dec 1, 2005

Welcome to tpf!

jstuedle · Dec 1, 2005

Welcome to TPF, where you can learn that you can't transfer your slides!

Well, maybe, maybe not. I believe there is an exception in the copyright law. So many years after the death of the copyright holder, the copyright is null and void from what I understand. You may need to wait something like 70 years, but it might be a loop hole to exploit.

Now to simply identify the original shooter and see if he/her is dead. :er:

sage · Dec 2, 2005

LOL...thank you for the warm welcome!!
Ok what about this then.
I have some large photos too!
Can I frame those and sell them without getting into trouble with copyrights?
thanks in advance