How to Convert a Digital Slide

Many of us have boxes full of old 35mm slides languishing in closets, dresser drawers and attics. Those old Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides contain treasured memories, but in this digital age, it's easier to enjoy them and share them with friends when they've been scanned. You have two choices for converting slides to digital format: 1) Take them to a photo lab that will scan the slides and return them to you with the digital image files on a CD or DVD, or 2) Scan them yourself at home with a slide scanner and computer. Leaving it to the pros is an increasingly easy and inexpensive option, but if you prefer to do it yourself -- maybe you don't want to let those precious slides out of your sight -- here's how.

• 1

  Shop around for an image scanner that meets your needs. Canon, Epson and other manufacturers sell scanners in the $100 range. In addition to converting slides, many scanners will also scan 35mm negatives and color prints. Whatever model you end up buying, make sure it is compatible with your computer's operating system.

• 2

  Read the manual before you get started, and follow the instructions for hooking the scanner up to your computer and installing the scanner software. Different scanner models work differently, so read the manual to learn how to use yours.

• 3

  Clean dust and lint off of each slide with a shot or two of compressed air.

• 4

  Most slide scanners have a tray that holds one or more slides. Load the tray, making sure to place the slides with the emulsion up or down as directed.

• 5

  Press the "scan" button.

• 6

  When the scanned image appears on your computer screen, check the scanner software settings to make sure they are set correctly. Choose the maximum image resolution, and save the image as a JPEG file.

• 7

  Save the scanned image to a folder in your computer. Use the scanner software or a photo-editing program such as Picasa or Adobe Photoshop to adjust size, exposure, color and contrast. It may also be possible to reduce the appearance of dust and scratches.