Slide Scanning Standards

Slide scanners are uniquely designed to handle 35mm slides and film negatives. They are capable of achieving slide image quality that is superior to flatbed slide scanning for a couple of reasons:

A slide scanner is an ideal choice for scanning when:

 

If your slide images are for web quality educational use AND if you have a bulk amount of slides to digitize, it is not advised to use a slide scanner. Slide scanners are expensive and can only scan 1- 4 slides at a time. Flatbed scanner slide trays hold up to 15 slides per tray and allow for batch scanning.
 
We have one dedicated slide scanner in the Westphal Slide Library which is available for use during regular slide office hours. Its important that you complete a brief tutorial with a Slide Library assistant before you begin scanning. Below are instructions for using this scanner.

MINOLTA DiMAGE SCAN ELITE 5400 (UPRIGHT SCANNER)
 
Loading Slides

  1. Loading slides into the slide mount holder:
    1. Open slide mount holder by lifting small tabs on the top that say “pull”
    2. Place slides in compartmentalized regions with the top of the slide in the direction of the “UP” arrow (indicated on the pointed side of the holder)
    3. Close slide mount holder by lifting “pull” tabs again, lowering the top of the holder, and then releasing the “pull” tabs
  2. Loading holder into the Minolta scanner:
    1. Make sure that the scanner is turned on by looking for the green indicator light by the “on/off” button
    2. Open Adobe Photoshop and select the DiMage Scan Utility from the File>Import menu (the program must be open in order for the scanner to accept the slide mount holder)
    3. Push the slide mount holder into the scanner with the pointed side forward and the "UP" arrow facing up about 3/4 of the way into the machine (the machine should automatically start to feed the slide mount holder in further and realign its position by pushing it out and in again)
 

Using the DiMage Scan Utility

  1. In the topmost bar, select the film format in the first dropdown menu (on the left) and the film type in the second dropdown menu (on the right)
  2. Making an Index Scan:
    1. Go to the Index tab and make certain that the input and output resolutions are at 3000 dpi
    2. Select the Index scan arrow (gray arrow on top of blue grid/ first arrow in the top row of buttons) to make a scan of all the slides in the slide mount holder
      1. Images of the slides should appear in the large gray box of the index tab with numbers indicating their scanning order
  3. If images need to be rotated or flipped, select between the first four buttons of the Index tab (curved arrows placed on top of blue rectangles/ blue and gray triangles separated by a line
  4. Making a Final Scan:
    1. Select the image(s) of the slide(s) you would like to save and press the Final Scan arrow (gray arrow on top of blue rectangle)
      1. The images should appear in Photoshop once this process is completed
      3. If you wish to use the Digital ICE feature, select the ICE button in the top row of buttons**

    **Digital ICE: This feature scans information on defects, surface dirt, and scratches then rebuilds the missing information. This results in scans that are scratch and dust free. Digital ICE does NOT work with traditional black and white films and will cause loss of detail when used with Kodachromes

  5. Saving your slide images:
    1. In Photoshop, go to Save As under the File menu
    2. Select to save the file as a .TIFF in the format dropdown menu
    3. See naming convetion standards as set by the indexing guidelines*

    6. *The name of your file must correspond to the TITLE ID on your collection excel spreadsheet. If this is confusing, please contact a D&I member for further explanation.

Removing Slides

  1. Exit the DiMage Scan Utility and Photoshop
  2. Press the Eject button on the scanner and pull the slide mount holder out of the machine
  3. Open slide mount holder by lifting "pull" tabs and lifting the top of the holder, then remove slides
  4. Close slide mount holder by lifting "pull" tabs, lowering the top of the holder, and releasing "pull" tabs
  5. Please turn off scanner by pressing the "ON/OFF" button

EPSON EXPRESSION 1680 (FLATBED SCANNERS*)
*Please note that scanning windows may be different for different flatbed scanners but general settings of resolution and saving procedures should remain the same.
 
Loading Slides

  1. Load slides in the slide mount holder according to directions on holder
  2. Place slide mount holder on scanner bed, making sure it stays flat once scanner is closed
  3. Open Adobe Photoshop and select the Epson Expression 1680 from the File > Import menu
 

Using the Epson Scan Utility

  1. Select Professional Mode from the dropdown menu at the top of the scan utility window
  2. Under Original, select Film for Document Type
    1. Select the appropriate kind of film being scanned under Film Type
  3. Under the Destination section, select 24 bit color for Image Type. Make sure Resolution is set at 3000 dpi
  4. Make a Preview Scan by selecting the Preview button at the bottom left corner of the scan utility
    1. Draw a marquee around the image you wish to save by clicking and dragging the mouse to create a dashed line around the image in the preview window
    2. You can opt to use the Auto-Marquee tool (the button that appears in the preview window as the bottom left of the four at the top of the screen)
  5. Once you have your image selected, press the Scan button at the bottom of the scan utility. The selected image should appear in Adobe Photoshop
  6. To save your scan, go to File > Save As in the Photoshop menu. Save the scan as a .TIFF in the Format dropdown menu

DOWNLOADS
For a printable .pdf version of these standards, click here