[Hidden-tech] best way to convert slides to photos/computer

[Will Loving]

Jill,

If your slides are Kodachrome, you should know that there are specific
issues with scanning Kodachrome due it¹s unique color palette. Scanning
Kodachrome requires extra measures to avoid having all your scans come out
with a strong and unpleasant bluish cast which is not easily corrected for
in Photoshop or other image processing software.. While some OEM scanning
software (the software that comes with your scanner) has a ³Kodachrome²
setting, it¹s usually not very effective.

There is a company called LaserSoft which makes a third-party scanning
software called ³SilverFast². SilverFast is widely used by commercial
services because it is almost universally better than OEM scanning software.
In the last year, SilverFast has added a new ³Kodachrome² setting which
gives, in the opinion of both myself and professional reviewers, remarkable
results. LaserSoft also sells a Kodachrome color calibration target which
can additionally improve accuracy. (Kodak stopped selling Kodachrome targets
over 10 years ago.)

SilverFast is scanner specific and the price varies in line with the cost of
the scanner, more for more expensive scanners. It includes a generic
Kodachrome profile produced by LaserSoft for your particular model scanner
and you can further enhance color accuracy by buying the Kodachrome target
and creating a profile from it for your individual scanner.

Whether you do the scanning yourself or have someone do it for you, it would
be wise to discuss the Kodachrome color issue with them and see if they are
using SilverFast or are trying to do the color correction post-scan in
Photoshop which is far more time-consuming and less effective. SilverFast
also includes a very effective dust and scratch removal system which I¹ve
been using on slides dating from the early 1940s.

See this article and related links for more information:

http://www.silverfast.com/highlights/kodachrome/en.html

Will

Will Loving, President
Dedication Technologies, Inc.



on 2/27/10 9:36 PM, jill logan at medialogan at yahoo.com wrote:

>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi, 
>  
> I have a bunch of slides from the 60's  70's - I want to convert to photos
>  
> or convert / scan into my computer.   Does anyone know the best way to do
> this?
> 1) I would like to do it myself so if you have had experience with a slide
> converter could you
> tell be the brand and rough price and how satisfied you are with this product
> - and if it was easy to do
>  
> 2) or i would consider having someone else do it as long as they are local
> I wouldnt want to mail my slides off to anyone
>  
> Thanks for any help you can offer
>  
> Jill Logan
> MediaLogan at yahoo.com
> 
> 
> 
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-- 

William M. Loving
Dedication Technologies, Inc.
7 Coach Lane
Amherst, MA 01002-3304   USA
will at dedicationtechnologies.com
Tel: +1 413 253-7223   (GMT ­5)
Fax: +1 206 202-0476

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