Can I scan negatives or slides with a flatbed scanner, and what hardware is required?
Asked 3/20/2021
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I’d like to digitize some film negatives and slides (diapositives), mainly for viewing on screen rather than making prints. I remember older flatbed scanners being sold with film holders, but that seems much less common now. How does film scanning on a flatbed actually work if film needs light from behind? Do I need a special type of scanner, and can a multifunction printer/scanner do this, or would I need separate hardware?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
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Flatbed scanners with film scanning capability have not completely disappeared from the market. You are correct, scanning film requires the film to be backlit. So scanners with the capability have an illumination source on both sides of the scanner platen. It is (sometimes?) called a "Transparency Unit". "Back in the day", that's how it worked, and that's still how it works.
You won't find a multifunction printer/scanner with film scanning capability, as far as I know. You'll need to buy a scanner with film scanning capability, and it will leave you with more flexibility in choosing a separate printer (if anyone still needs a printer in 2021).
You can search on a website like Amazon or B&H, or visit manufacturer websites. Take a look for example at Epson's "Perfection" scanners, particularly those with "V" in the model name.
Also I guess the best way to understand how it works is a search on YouTube.
Originally by user38159. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user38159
5y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
To scan negatives or slides, you need transmitted light from behind the film. Flatbed scanners that support film include a built-in light source in the lid, often called a transparency unit, plus film holders to keep the strip flat and positioned correctly.
So: a normal flatbed or multifunction printer/scanner generally won’t do film scanning. You typically need either:
- a dedicated flatbed scanner with film/transparency capability, or
- a dedicated film scanner
If you have a lot of film to digitize, a specialized scanner with an automated feeder can be much faster; renting one may make sense for a large archive.
Another common modern alternative is to photograph the negatives/slides with a digital camera (or even a good phone for basic screen use), using a light source behind the film and a holder to keep it flat.
For your needs—screen viewing only—a camera-based setup or a flatbed with transparency capability should be sufficient. But don’t expect a multifunction printer/scanner in this price range to include film scanning.
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