DIY Guide to Digitising Photo Slides
How to digitalise slides myself is a question that may have pondered over whilst staring at an old box of old photo slides occupying valuable closet space! We believe these 35mm slides should be a top priority for a significant reason: digitisation.
Why Digitise?
Your old slides may already be deteriorating – fading with sunspots, losing image quality rapidly. Although the slide digitisation won’t stop this inevitable decay, it’s a reliable method to preserve your memories indefinitely. Digitised formats are easy to view, manage, and recover, enhancing your overall experience.
How to Digitise Slides Myself
So, how do you convert those glass slides into a digital format such as USB, DVD, or the Cloud? Below, we outline some DIY methods:
- Use a slide copier to convert the slides:
If you have a DSLR camera, you can buy attachments that transform your camera into a “slide copier.” These devices enable you to mount photo slides just in front of the camera lens and take a photo of the slide, effectively transferring the image to the camera’s memory card. Then, you can edit the pictures in Photoshop or any other photo editing software.
Cons: This method may be challenging for those unfamiliar with DSLR cameras or photography. Cost can also be a factor as slide copier attachments typically cost around £150 - Use a scanner to digitalise slides:
If you have access to a flatbed scanner, you can scan your slides directly to a computer.
Cons: This method might not preserve the highest quality of your photo slides, especially if the slides are low resolution. When digitalising slides you should consider that scanned low-resolution slides often result in grainy, low-quality digital copies. - Purchase a digital photo converter:
These devices are specifically designed to take high-quality photos of low-resolution images. If you have a large number of photos to digitise quickly, this is an option but you often have to lose time understanding complex software rather than doing something more interesting with your life!
Cons: These devices can be expensive, typically starting at £200. - Photograph them:
You can use your camera to photograph your slides. However, you’ll need to consider several factors that impact quality, such as lighting, background, resolution, focal length, and lens choice.
Cons: If you’re not a skilled photographer, this method may be challenging. It’s the most complicated and time-consuming option, especially for those more accustomed to taking casual, low-light photos with a smartphone.
Before Trying to Digitalise Slides Myself – An Alternative: Professional Digitisation
If the task of digitising your slides yourself feels overwhelming when you consider how to digitalise slides yourself , you might consider turning to professionals. At Supaphoto, we specialise in digitisation. We ensure the highest quality digitised product, return your original slides safely, and provide easy-to-follow instructions from start to finish.
When it comes to slide scanning and the question of slides digitalisation, while we might be a bit biased, we believe the value of receiving a carefully curated collection of your photographs and old slides in a digital format far outweighs the cost of professional services. So if if you’ve photos from precious journeys in the past If you decide to bypass the complicated gadgets and tedious scanning process, our team is ready to handle your digitisation needs without any hassle.
Slides Digitalisation – Next Steps:
Don’t wait to digitalise your photos – If you are concerned about the process or just need some friendly advice, give us a call. Safeguard your films with Supaphoto now – to DVD, USB or cloud – No1 in the UK.
