Recommendations for software to edit/manipulate scanned negatives

Forums › Digital Imaging › Recommendations for software to edit/manipulate scanned negatives

afe66

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#138965 23-Jan-2014 12:43

Dear All,

I have bought a Canonscan 9000f Mk2 to place a previous scanner which _only_ works in XP.

Unlike the previous scanner it did not include any software in the package which is a little disappointing.

My intention is to scan 35mm negatives for my predigital camera era and old photo graphs from my parents and an curious as to software options.

I am also eligible for an academic discount which might reduce some of the costs involved.

Thanks in advance

A.

ubergeeknz

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#972811 23-Jan-2014 12:48

You shouldn't need any software just to scan images, it's all built in nowadays.

However you may want to do photo editing (I'm assuming that's what you refer to). For free there's GIMP, it does most things but a little clunky.

Otherwise there are a myriad of options, and someone more into photography/manipulation will be better placed to advise on where these are at nowadays.

Edit: TBH rather than buy a scanner I'd have just taken it to a photo place for them to scan :)

timmmay

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#972820 23-Jan-2014 12:53

Photoshop can acquire images from scanners. There's probably dedicated software made that does things like color correction and scratch removal though. Can't help further sorry.

Disrespective

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#972843 23-Jan-2014 13:41

ubergeeknz: TBH rather than buy a scanner I'd have just taken it to a photo place for them to scan :)

Have you ever been quoted for scanning from a store? I was and it was $45 per negative. I decided I didn't need to spend that much, heh.

Photoshop is a great place to start, then there's Llightroom (also Adobe) and if you want to get a 30 day trial of both software you can get a Creative Cloud account. If you use an academic discount you can 'hire' the software for about AUD$150 a year. This is ALL of their software mind you, not just Photoshop. I believe you can also pay by the month but it requires a 12 month commitment.

GIMP is also good, if a little clunky. It can get the job done, it just takes a little more finessing.

Then if you're on a Mac then there's Aperture but it's less about photo editing (in my opinion) and more about organisation.

There are plenty of other options in the $50-$200 price range but none i've ever used.

I use PS and Lightroom personally so am perhaps a little biased.

afe66

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#973577 24-Jan-2014 14:33

Dear All,

Thanks for the replies. I probably should have written I was after image manipulation software.

I've got GIMP and was pondering the adope lightroom option, but wanted to check I wasnt excluding any other options.

I'm after ease of use so I'll look into the lightroom option and see how things turn out. If not happy might look into the full photoshop option.

If I "rent" the software might be better as a winter project though.

A.

jarledb

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#973722 24-Jan-2014 18:08

If you are going to do anything but adjusting the image levels etc, go for Photoshop. Lightroom is like a "development room", is not for photo manipulation (the way I interpret manipulation at least).

For photography (and especially if you have a camera that shoots in RAW) Lightroom might be a good solution, but Photoshop has gotten pretty powerful on RAW processing as well. And for your scans you won't need that capability anyways.

More about the differences here: http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/05/06/which-one-adobe-photoshop-cc-or-lightroom-5-an-intro-for-the-completely-new-photographer/

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rayonline

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#975156 27-Jan-2014 15:17

Vuescan demo might work on a later Windows, download and check ....

I had a Nikon Coolscan - dedicated film scanner and now still have a Epson V700. Shoulda got the CS instead new, I bought it off a pro in AKL and 2yr it went bust and they are not made or serviced anymore. With tripod stuff etc. Even 50 or 100 speed slide film cannot provide as sharp as an image as a Nikon D2h (4MP). Shot side by side. You should be able to get "acceptable" A4 maybe A3 at a pinch. But once you seen how good the real scanners can get .. you notice it at even 6x4" at 240dpi - even the sizes on Facebooks these days with a common 1080 computer LCD. In future I intend to use a macro lens off my dSLR and digitise the film. Like other things scanners are just getting too expensive now for the occasional amateur required detailed scan. NZ wants $1 or 50c per MB for a scan, haha, if needed just send to the USA for a $30US job.

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afe66

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#975322 27-Jan-2014 19:23

Canon d1250u2 - no drivers after xp available. Vuescan says it's compatible but then says needs Windows drivers which don't exist for 64 bit Windows.

So I decided a new scanner with more modern technology was a better deal than trying upgrade to w7 professional for xp mode then discover it didn't work. (next build will be w7 professional if I can find it...)

Thanks for the thought though.

A.

Hammerer

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#975356 27-Jan-2014 20:22

There are many useful programs that are free for scanning and manipulation. I usually read the reviews at Gizmo's Freeware before looking more widely:
image editors
high dynamic range (hdr) software
noise reduction software
image stitcher
etc

Some free products are suites of software like Chasys Draw IES which can handle multiple negatives or slides from one scan.

rayonline

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#980607 5-Feb-2014 12:17

Well, some people have the discontinued driver less dedicated film scanners - they just use VMware or dual booting and running 32bit Windows.