Converting analog film to digital JPEG images requires readily available equipment and software. Flatbed and film scanners easily scan slides and negatives into computer software for conversion to JPEG and many other file formats. Most major electronics retailers offer moderately priced film scanners. Additionally, a number of online shops specialize in converting film to digitally equivalent images. Whether performed at home or through a specialized company, it is possible to get high-quality scans from 35mm film.
Flatbed Scanners
Flatbed scanners, typically known for scanning photographs and documents, often have the capability to scan negatives as well. This action requires a dedicated negative holder that fits on the flatbed portion of the scanner or an adapter that fits on top of the negative. Because of film's transparent nature, flatbed scanners have a light in the top to transmit light through the material. Flatbed scanners offer high resolution, but typically not as high as film scanners. Once scanned into the computer, the scanner's software directs the user to create the required file format---including JPEG, TIFF and more.
Film Scanners
Dedicated film scanners provide the best option for achieving consistently good results. Film scanners work by placing the negative or slide in a holder and inserting it into the scanner body. The scanner uses an internal light source to illuminate the negative or slide. Film scanners typically provide higher resolution and bit depth than flatbed scanners, thus resulting in higher resolution images. Film scanners usually cost more than flatbed scanners and can cost as much as $4,000. Film scanner software works the same as flatbed software.
Online Options
Film scanning services like ScanCafe.com offer high-quality film scans at reasonable prices. ScanCafe provides hand-scanned and repaired scans, 3000 dots per inch (dpi) resolution and an eight-day turnaround. Basic scans start at $0.29 per negative frame. The company scans black-and-white film as well.
Digital ICE Technology
Negatives and slides attract dust like magnets. Having clean, dust-free negatives allows for superior scanning results. A number of high-end film scanners have incorporated Digital ICE technology to help combat this problem. According to Epson, "Digital ICE technology uses infrared light, which is able to detect dust, hairs, finger prints or scratches. As infrared light is invisible it cannot reproduce the colour information of the photo and therefore only delivers the defect information to the scanner software." The infrared light delivers the defect information while the cold lamp delivers the image information to the software. The software compares the two images and discards the infrared data, leaving a clean, dust- and scratch-free image.
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