Film negatives to jpegs without film scanner

[@rocksterize]

This is a great idea. I love the sprocket holes. I definitely get what you're doing and will definitely try this. Too bad a lot of "professional" photographers knock on what you're doing because they have no clue about lomography-type images. They're not supposed to be crystal clear or super high resolution, people! They're artsy, different pictures. I'm sure he has a dslr for the quality of that when he wants to take amazing pictures, and then for the artsy ones he does this, which I do, too.

[@samsung4126]

You can try this 1) Put the film on the scanner 2) Put a phone with white display(you may use a white wallpaper with no icon) over it *Keep the scanner cover open 3) Scan it on max possible quality(res) 4) Invert the image(in terms of color) 5) Then open the image in GIMP 6) Go to Tools->Colors->Layers... 7) Select the dropper with white color and select a point in the image that according to you is 100% white 8) Now select the dropper with black color and select a point in the image that according to you is 100% black *Don't choose a point in step 6 and 7 outside the image like film border etc Now you are done. (You may try the auto feature as well) I tried with a pre-scanned films(steps 4 till end) and the results are pretty impressive. (This is not my original content but rather a comprehension of 4-6 similar articles that I read on internet.)

[@HeatherRichardsonPhoto]

This worked for me! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@JohnEnduro]

Tried that but the scan turns black&white when I place my phone on the flatbed over the negative film. Do you have any idea why this happens?

[@JasonTepoorten]

Thanks very much for this contribution. I've just got back into film, and going to develop my first B&W tomorrow, and I'm not sure if my scanner can do film, so thanks for this alternative method.

[@firehandszarb]

i'm amazed at how easy that was. My attempts so far have included trying to cancel out the orange mask, but apparently this is not necessary (or even desirable). Colours look good and is more than good enough for getting stuff up on the web.

[@fdh1004]

The limitless creativity and ingenuity of humans never ceases to amaze me. Awesome video. Thanks.

[@minotaur9419]

Dude, you are a genius! I was just about to buy a negative scanner just to occasionally scan a couple of negatives. This may have saved me some money. I'll try it. Thanks for posting.

[@WorkloadWithdrawal]

dude, this was awesome! I have negatives of a sitting my grandparents did when they were young lovers! (1927!) Having very little cash, I never knew what to do to 'see' the actual photos..I just did, thanks to your help! thank you thank you!!!

[@WorkloadWithdrawal]

check this out!! thank you again! i.imgur.com/DGsoDpY.jpg

[@Railrodder]

@dharvell Just a note, I too own a Digital SLR as well as 35mm SLR. I find 35mm so much more rewarding and the exposures end up on hard copy with negatives that can be stored safely away in a box for future development. I have found with my digital, I have lost photos due to hard drive failure and corrupt (for some reason) discs. Don't get me wrong, I love my DSLR! It's a lot of fun! But my first love is 35mm. Have a Happy New Year!

[@thomasbranconier]

Hey this is pretty good! Very innovative. Just don't forget the paper bag on that lamp.

[@ArmagideonMan2kXX]

@ViolentPassions I agree with Airmoto. It's not about being professional. It's more about experimenting and sharing your ideas.

[@vleek07]

This is great! I have my degree in photography, and I think this is pretty clever! Well done!

[@Aydosh1991]

A good trick if you do not have the right scanner, but of course you need a good camera (a good lens really) to avoid image distortion. I do not if anyone else has suggested a couple of things about overcoming the colour problems. 1. Do not use a flourescent lamp, they always cause problems. 2. Before your try to auto-correct the image, try to rebalance the white, this will often remove most of the colour errors.

[@meretricis]

This is such a unique way to get some degrading in the end result photo, fantastic!

[@xbabigurl08x]

@statquo112 Sometimes it won't, if you want true tones doing it this way, open "levels" and if the whole photo seems too blue, shift the blue slider lower, then go into curves and lower the greens, and then go to "image>auto tone" it should correct it

[@firehandszarb]

because you still get some of the advantages of film (better highlight detail, the look of film). Obviously there are times when you would just shoot digital. Film cameras can be really nice to operate, full of old school charm. You shoot film when you want to escape modern technology for a while.

[@aimoto]

Some scanners are built for scanning film negatives, but a lot aren't. The problem with a regular scanner is that it lights and scans from the front, and film negatives need to be lit from the back, or lit all the way through in order for the negative to be read by the scanner.

[@aimoto]

Select the magic wand tool and while holding down shift, click on all the black sprocket holes. Then right-click on the image and "select inverse." That'll let you adjust the levels of the image w/o the sprockets. I'm not sure if this'll work since I don't have any images on me to mess around with, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

[@iguanapete3809]

I have a bunch of analog cameras from 30 years ago. I have a tube that screws on the front lens. It about 6 in. long and it has a holder on the other end , square opening , to hold the film strip. A negative from a negative gives a positive.

[@guitarded306]

Nice job man. Simple solution to a simple problem.

[@seedubyu]

I have an ancient 110 negative (Christmas 1983). I had it over a white back lit background (laptop screen actually with just a totally white image ie blank document) magnified with a lens from some binoculars and then got some pics with my mobile phone camera (no macro tho), got them on to pc and then inverted with MS Paint. That was first time Id seen pics since 1983 and it was a good result!

[@ozzirt]

Not exactly the best method, but a great simple way if you don't have any other available at the time. Thanks for sharing your discovery.

[@MassiveJetGrind]

Pretty cool! Gives you some artsy options!

[@aimoto]

I use a canon point & shoot camera for these shots as well. I just put the camera in macro mode and crop in Photoshop.

[@aimoto]

I've tried sandwiching the film between two pieces of glass, making a cardboard holder so that the film floats between the bed and the lid, and trying to light the film from the back w/a flashlight. Nothing worked for me, but you're welcome to try it out for yourself :)

[@aimoto]

Thanks. This is just a demonstration and not a "do it this way or else" video. I obviously don't take photos while holding a video camera in one hand and an SLR in the other. I would also probably use a film scanner if I had one, but I don't, which is the point of the video. Also, common sense will direct most people to use trial & error to find the best way to get the best results.

[@aimoto]

This works just as well with a regular point and shoot camera, and yes, I tried everything else I could think of before settling on this.

[@Dodin7]

i'm guessing you would need fairly good high end digital camera to take the pic. I have a 8mp cannon and can't get it to focus in that close...pic just come out blury.

[@MichaelDarnton]

With the quality of high-end digital cameras these days, it's possible to do as good of a job with your camera as with a sub-$1000 scanner. I'm using a Nikon D300 and micro lens with a copy stand setup and am getting better results than possible with ANY flatbed scanner that also does film. There's even a tutorial on the web from a museum that's using this method for their archives. In my camera "scans" the original grain is visible, and there's no way to get a scan sharper than that.

[@RailyardProductions]

Thanks, good idea. I thought that you need to pick an orange color from edge of film... of course I'm old and can't remember why!

[@ArmagideonMan2kXX]

I looked at your flickr profile and the pictures in the BBF second roll album look amazing. What kind of toy camera do you have? I have a Holga 120N and I use the 35mm adapter, but only the back cover and not the film slide. So, I get the whole film exposed. What would be the best software to edit these and Camera to take the pictures of the negatives.

[@ozzirt]

My Cano Scan takes about 5+ minutes per shot with final editing. Taken with a camera they take about 5 seconds each,... A huge difference if you have any number of shots to do.

[@selca14]

I love the background sounds I will have to try that.

[@aimoto]

@nianymue I guess I should add a note to the description because I've had to correct this comment several times, but this technique can be done with just about any digital camera. In fact, all of the shots at the end of the video were done using an old Canon PIXY. I only used my DSLR because it's easier to visualize than a tiny point and shoot.

[@aimoto]

I should have been more specific. Floating, not floating, half-pressed, levitated lid, etc--I've tried everything and not once gotten a workable image. The problem isn't the method, it's most likely the scanner. Unless someone creates a device that will prop up over the film negative to direct enough light through so that the scanner can get a clean image, a regular non-film scanning scanner will probably not be able to do the job.

[@davorsite]

There is much easier way, instead your lamp you can use your monitor light, just open something with white background and when you take pictures with camera put it on some box and let it take the picture with timer on to avoid hand shake. Also select macro mode on camera for close up shots. You can get great negative pictures on this way.

[@aimoto]

You can always try wand selecting all the sprocket holes and then reverse selecting so you just get the image. I haven't tried it myself, but I don't see why it wouldn't work :)

[@chocomental]

@davorsite wouldn't the macro pick up the pixels too, behind the photo?

[@traceur1099]

@aimoto does it really effect the quality of the image, really keen to try this out but concerned it will loose the detail that film cameras are so good at having!! plus is the normal procedure to get them developed into normal photographs then take those and scan those? thank you!

[@whoopiedoo]

cant wait to try this out when i go back to my apartment. does it matter what kind of lightbulb i use?

[@Josh.Sanderson]

you have to do color correction in a image editor

[@miesals]

so it could work if I put a thicker glass on film while scanning (so it's lit all the way through) or keep the lid open and put a thin sheet on film or a lamp and then illuminate it from the back.

[@zenoist2]

I tried a normal scanner for some slides and it doesnt work. You get a sort of shadow effect. You need a light source ,something like a light box face down on the scanner might work with a black cloth around all the rest of it. I havent tried it though yet.

[@moodyfeverdream]

Yup, followed the video exactly but the negatives seem to be too reflective.

[@arturmedina6540]

with the negative so close to the bag/paper, the texture of the paper may apear on the photo... it´s better if you simply put the negative a few inches away from the paper

[@aaronkeogh]

I did all of this, I brought a set of macro lenses from ebay for £12 and tryed it. The results weren't perfect by any means. What I did find was the grade of paper matters because you see marks in the background from it. Also it needs a bit of messing around in photoshop to get good results. Needless do say I've brought a scanner too..

[@tyreez10]

is there still available the roll of film sellin in shop coz back on 2002-2003 i still see the roll being sell right now i just dont they kinda never exist anymore

[@dyyhard]

if you have a phone with an app w the flashlight feature (i.e. the whole screen brightens) - you can use that too.

[@davorsite]

@chocomental No it wouldn't because it is focused on negative image only.

[@robinheil]

Hey! I was wondering what I should do if my camera has a wide angle lens? It's not an SLR so I can't replace it with another one, and I don't want to distort my negatives!! IS there some function in Photoshop that can correct that distortion?

[@RetroSpectreUK]

@pinkyzoey I have to agree, getting and image from a to b is easy...but getting a QUALITY image from a to b is quite a different matter. This is as heath robinson as it gets.

[@halofreak4t5]

Question, I tried doing a makeshift scan of some 120 negs with my Canon flatbed scanner, and of course once they scanned the negs were all amber colored (they were color negs), and I can not get rid of that amber color easily at all. Is there a program that will remove the amber hue from the negs once they are scanned? I can do it with some tweaking in photoshop, but the colors just never look quite right.

[@toujourpur]

Scan your negatives as linear tiff files and use ColorPerfect PS plugin from CFSystems to convert the negatives.

[@fancysnake1]

You used a light like shown in the video and turned the flash off?

[@k1eee]

arent you worried about the quality sine your crop sensor in your nikon is smaller then the actual film?

[@aimoto]

I just put a link to my Flickr in the info. You can view more these photos there. =D

[@Izzkhairable]

I am a lomographer and this really helps..

[@miesals]

woudn't it be possible to scan film on a regular scanner and do the photoshop magic afterwards too?

[@vandenkevin]

Hi, I tried this too but I don't have a good DSLR w Macro Lens, so I did it with a 12 MP Nikon in macro mode. It kinda worked, except that the result was really unsharp/grainy (certainly compared to the scans from the shop which were very sharp). Is this because of my camera or is there a way to fix this?

[@MaKsPuA]

Look at your videos first please.... This is way more usefull than someone drinking milk honestly

[@chaweemek]

a square format with large space inbetwen shots, my guess is, you using Diana mini, right? Nice video BTW.

[@DawnPorter4ever]

Marvellous! Now I won't have to buy a 'Negative Scanner'! Thank you!

[@moodyfeverdream]

nice idea, but it didn't work for me. the reflection of my camera would show up on the film negatives.

[@miesals]

the problem probably was that the film wasn't pressed against the bet but "floating" above it. tho one question: did you get any image at all

[@denisepouliot7991]

Does it work for black & white in formats 2 1/4" x 3"?

[@ilan_nahshon]

still trying..I scaned it first cut the film sprockets but still get the blue-

[@paranormal33]

It's an ok method if you don't mind the grain of the paper becoming part of your photo.

[@zizzymichi]

i don't have photoshop, so do you know how to do it with corel paint shop x2?

[@user-oe3hw4us3d]

what did you click on to get the negetive off?

[@withpants]

But can you actually just scan the film with a scanner and then do the same on photoshop?

[@superdaveXtreme]

Great creative thinking!

[@prakhere]

You sir, are a hero! Thanks for sharing this! :)

[@aimoto]

From the info: "...by using any digital camera." So you can either save the $164 and use a digital camera you have laying around, or you can use the $164 and get the CanoScan.

[@FreoTragic]

Awesome, thanks, just saved me buying a film scanner!

[@macupausini]

when i hit "AUTO LEVELS" it doesnt give me any colors... am i missing something?

[@Epsilon5th]

@ViolentPassions Frankly, my 5dmkii and 100macro lens work really well thanks to this tutorial. You're no photographer.

[@charrysalce4580]

What it i don't have a dslr?

[@delonge5000]

TOP TIP before you put the film on the paper, do a photo of the paper with the custom white balance so you'll have pure white as backlight ..and use a tripod.

[@aimoto]

Thanks for the tip! I'll add it to the info.

[@patricksab]

any idea how to do it on cs4, it doesnt have an auto levels option. =|

[@sootandstars]

Great guide, but sadly doesn't work for me, the "image" is just blue.

[@matthewmuli487]

man, whenever i try to invert the colours it goes all bluee, even after applying the auto level :(

[@boddahdidit]

Thats cool. unlike all the "pro" photographers commenting here I recognise its not an efficient way of doing this, but its good enough for a bit of fun. I have hundreds of negatives lying around that I never printed. it will be fun to try this for a laugh. cheers

[@mirandap00]

wow thats awesome. i'm gonna try it!

[@missladydean]

This is really cool! :D!

[@Silverbleedy]

I'll try this one sometime =) Thank you.

[@teacherbelle111]

I soooo love this!!! THANK YOU!

[@aimoto]

I'm sorry, what's your point? The video is to show how to get negatives on a comp without a scanner.

[@pulitzer1976]

Great thanks for sharing

[@pswallace]

Very clever and good incase your scanner craps out when you're in a pinch.

[@meretricis]

@ViolentPassions I don't get all the purists knocking this method? Aimoto wasn't showcasing this method as a proper alternative but more so as a unique approach. Sorry you can't see the art in what you do.

[@noramohr7469]

What software are you using to invert? I can get the negatives into my computer but can't find the software to do the invert please help?

[@jeff-bz8bd]

+Nora Mohr its an old version of Photoshop

[@tristanhorner2484]

What's the airport shot from? Is it Naha, Okinawa? Lots of times I've been in and out of there.

[@fourfortyroadrunner]

"CanoScan 8800F" You can get nowhere near the resolution with a flatbed scanner that you can with a DSLR, a good macro lens, and a dedicated setup, such as a bellows/ slide copier, or a good tripod/ copy table and light box. This IS a legit approach, but it can be improved upon easily and vastly simply by using a macro lens and tripod.

[@pipiruvata]

hi! i´m an italian girl and i want to ask you how you do with photoshop, because i do "invert" but.. whats the next step? ohh, i´m sorry, tnx guy :)

[@sambamstewart]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ChemicalTaint]

I tried scanning, and then tried this method. I had better results taking the picture of the slide, and NOT scanning it.

[@matich67]

Thanks man, you a great !

[@ladyacephoto]

Awesome!!! Thanks!!

[@chocomental]

@davorsite ah, it did for me, but holding it a little further away from the screen did the trick perfectly. :)

[@rephixphoto]

@SaypheZonE i disagree the point of film is not to avoid photoshop at all sure you can use film to print from negative but some photographer do enjoy scan their film and digitalize them to do more important correction that cant be done without photoshop. check my channel view a scanned image from a imacon scanner is the first video

[@Fridgemusa]

Why not just fullscreen a white image on Windows picture and fax viewer and lay your negatives on the LCD screen? As long as you have a high resolution (1920 x 1080+) LCD and the screen is clean there should be no problems with background texture coming through and you won't possibly set fire to your house with that paper bag on your lamp!