color negative

Scanning Negatives with the Nikon Coolscan

Here's how to scan negative strips using the Nikon Coolscan 5000 and the Film Scanner unit (SA-21). Quick Start Guide

  1. Insert negative strip into the scanner.
  2. Change setting to "Neg (Color)"
  3. Go to Thumbnail Drawer and click the "multi-thumb" button to scan thumbs.
  4. In the thumbs area <ctrl-A> to select all the images to be scanned.
  5. Under settings, click the user defined settings: "Negative (color)" --- IMPORTANT - if this is not done then only the first image will have the correct settings.
  6. Batch window will appear...fill it in accordingly.
  7. Eject strip - click the eject button when scanning is done.
  8. Go to the next strip and back to step 1.

Preparing the negative strip and the scanner

  1. Make sure that the strip is between 2 to 6 negatives (inclusive).
  2. Make sure the strip is not damaged, too badly warped, or the ends are not square. If one end is square and the other not, it may be more time efficient to just put the square end in and flip the images later.
  3. Turn on the scanner.
  4. Place the negative strip into the scanner a) Place the strip with the emulsion (dull) side down b) The edge with the numbers should be on the left and the "Kodak" label on the right...also the top of the picture should be on the right....little half rounds should also be on the right (NOTE: you can put the strip in with the strip images being upside down and it still works...the image will however be upside down...I've found that some strips work better this way!!) c) when the scanner detects the strip it should automatically start to pull the strip in

Nikon Scan 4 Setup

  1. Open Thumbnail Draw
  2. Select the button with multiple thumbs and this should cause the thumbs to be loaded
  3. Define settings for the scan and save them under settings (don't need to do this each time...just once) -  Make sure the "Scan bit depth" under the "Scanner Extras" on the right hand side of the window is set correctly.  If it is set to 16 bits, any file type selected will re-set to tiff (as only tiff can handle 16 bits).  Generally set it for 8 bits to do jpg's. - set the type button to "Neg (color)" or "Neg (B&W)" - click the "preview" button to scan in the first thumb - orient and crop the preview etc - save the settings under the "settings" button
  4. To scan all negatives: In the thumbnail area, do a <ctrl>-A, or <ctrl> click each thumb, then click the saved "settings" (this is VERY IMPORTANT - if not done, then the first image will have all the settings correct and the follow will not...for example the first will be a jpg and the others tiff's), then click the <scan> button.  The batch window should appear.

Using the Thumbnail Drawer

  1. Batch scans can be performed with film holders and adapters
  2. that support thumbnail previews ( 23): all frames selected
    in the thumbnail drawer are scanned when the Scan button
    is clicked. The images can be scanned at the same settings,
    or settings can be adjusted separately for each frame.
    Multiple Frames, Same Settings
    1. Select one frame in the thumbnail drawer.
    2. Preview the image and adjust settings as desired.
    3. Save changes to settings in the scan window settings
    menu ( 17).
    4. Select all the frames to be scanned in the thumbnail drawer.
    5. Select the saved settings from the settings menu (if this
    step is omitted, the settings in the scan window and Tool
    Chest will apply only to the first frame; the remaining
    frames will be scanned at default settings).
    6. Click the Scan button to scan the selected frames.
    Multiple Frames, Different Settings
    1. Select the frames to be scanned in the thumbnail drawer.
    2. Preview the frames and adjust settings separately for each image
    (use the thumbnail drawer to switch between frames).
    3. Click the Scan button to scan the selected frames.

    Using the Thumbnail DrawerBatch scans can be performed with fi lm holders and adapters that support thumbnail previews ( 23): all frames selectedin the thumbnail drawer are scanned when the Scan button is clicked. The images can be scanned at the same settings,or settings can be adjusted separately for each frame.

  3. done

Time Estimate Info:

High quality jpg's scan (with ICE) at 1.5 minutes per negative.  Lapse time is more like 2.1 minutes.

TIFF's (with ICE) take about 2 minutes per negative.  Lapse time is more like 2.75 minutes.

Film Terminology

Colour reversal film - commonly called slide film.  Slide film works the opposite of print film (ie. negatives).  Most films are also this type.  Today most of these films use either the E6 or K14 development process. Colour negative film - Some Super 16mm and 16mm films being shoot by film schools are developed as colour negatives.  These appear as photographic type of negatives....ie. the colours are reversed.