Scanning Negatives

AnrBjotk · Feb 19, 2011

I have quite a lot of 120 film negatives and a scanner... So instead of spening money I don't have on developing the film I was hoping to use the scanner. An Epson Something-or-other
Two problems:
If I try to scan using the Epson program's "Scan photo negative" The program claim there is no element in the scanner.
If I use the ordinary scanner function, the photos are obviously not in any descent colours, and if using Photoshop invert, the colours are still not any good. After an hour in PS, THIS is the best I could do:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5459178746_d5c41f8d2f_z.jpg

Any tips or straight out guides, would be appreciated :blushing:

dxqcanada · Feb 19, 2011

Sounds like your scanner does not have the proper accessory to scan negs/slides.
This requires backlighting. Some Epson scanners have this built into the top ... ie Epson PERFECTION 1650 PHOTO SCANNER 1600X3200 48BIT USB SLIDE ADAPTER Product Information - PCWorld

Some scanners have this as an addon ... ie http://drsjmc.tripod.com/filmadapter/filmadapter_gd.htm

AnrBjotk · Feb 19, 2011

dxqcanada said:
Sounds like your scanner does not have the proper accessory to scan negs/slides.
This requires backlighting. Some Epson scanners have this built into the top ... ie Epson PERFECTION 1650 PHOTO SCANNER 1600X3200 48BIT USB SLIDE ADAPTER Product Information - PCWorld

Some scanners have this as an addon.

I don't know the name of the scanner, it's not mine but my schools. But it does have a setting like: "Scan photo negative 1. bw negative 2. colour negative 3. colour positive - Scan with film holder" etc...

dxqcanada · Feb 19, 2011

Ok, but does it have the backlight to illuminate the image ?

You may have to remove a cover plate to reveal it from the top cover ... or plug it into the back of the scanner.

AnrBjotk · Feb 19, 2011

dxqcanada said:
Ok, but does it have the backlight to illuminate the image ?

You may have to remove a cover plate to reveal it from the top cover ... or plug it into the back of the scanner.

As I understand, it doesn't appear to have any backlighting. Just the ordinary scanner bed and the cover. The cover is too thin to have any light in it, but why then does it have an option for scanning negatives? And worst case scenario, can negatives scanned in the tradional way be "fixed"?