How to View Film Negatives

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As technology has progressed, digitization has taken over much of the art form of photography. Using negatives represents one of the earliest techniques within the field and there are several different ways to view these negatives. The most common methods are by either using a flat-bed scanner, which many people commonly own, or by using dedicated film scanners, which generally only work with 35mm film strips and are much less common.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using a Flat-Bed Scanner

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  1. Leave the scanner in "standard" mode if there are no other options available. This means that your scanner is only equipped to handle regular scanning. It's still possible to scan your negatives using this type of scanner, just follow the backlighting step later on.
  2. If there is a professional mode, this means that your scanner is equipped to scan negatives directly. There will be several different "modes" when the software opens and it will probably be defaulted on "standard".
    • Professional mode allows you to select more detailed options for the scan.
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  3. These softwares allow you to edit the photo once the image has been scanned into your computer. [1] Examples of editing software include:
    • Microsoft Paint
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • Pixlr
    • Photoscape
  4. It’s really important to make sure that the negative is clean and free from any dust or fingerprints as this will drastically impact the quality of the scan. [2]
    • If the film is very dirty, it can sometimes be an idea to get hold of some anti-static emulsion cleaner.
    • You can also use non-abrasive pads to clean dust and other particles off of the film.
  5. This can be determined by holding the negative up to the light and gently flicking it side to side. One side will be dull/matte and the other will be shiny/reflective.
  6. In order to be scanned properly, the negative needs to be backlit. The easiest way to do this is to cover the negative with a piece of paper and then shine a bright light directly onto the paper. [3] The lid of the scanner should be up. Examples of good light sources might be:
    • Desk lamp
    • iPhone facing down on the paper with the screen on full brightness
    • Propped up torch
  7. In the scanning software, select the highest resolution possible. If it gives you the option, the format you select should be “film".
    • If you have professional mode, tick the “dust removal” box as this will assist in getting the highest possible quality image.
  8. A JPEG is a standard image format and will allow you to easily edit the photo once you have it open in your editing software. [4] Unless you are operating on a more professional basis, JPEG format will be sufficient.
  9. Open your editing software and proceed to open the JPEG file you scanned in. The image will be in negatives so select either the “invert image” tool or the “positive exposure” tool in the toolbar. The image will now be colored normally and ready to use.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Film Scanner

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  1. Most dedicated film scanners are specially designed to process 35mm negatives. For any other format, you will likely need a flat-bed scanner.
    • You can tell if a film negative is in 35mm if the dimensions of the frame are 24mm by 36mm. [5]
    • You can use 35mm negatives in flat-bed scanners as well, but they come out much sharper in film scanners.
  2. It’s really important to make sure the negative is clean in order to ensure that the scanned image doesn’t have any spots or distortions on it. Be very gentle when handling the film and ideally use tweezers to avoid scratching the film or leaving fingerprints on it.
  3. Dedicated film scanners have a specific holder for your negatives to sit in as they have a tendency to curl up which can completely distort the image. [6] This holder will ensure that the film lies flat while it is being scanned.
    • The shiny/reflective side should be facing up for this type of scanner.
  4. Once the negatives are inserted, select “preview” in the scanning software on your computer so you can see what a reduced resolution scan will look like. Before you scan the photo, run a checklist to make sure you will get the highest quality image possible. This will include:
    • Checking the “dust removal” box.
    • Selecting the “film” format.
    • Choosing the highest resolution available.
  5. Open your editing software and open the file that you have saved as a JPEG. It will be in negatives so select the “invert image” tool or the “positive exposure” tool to convert it to a regular looking image. You can now edit the photo and add any touch ups where you deem necessary.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I enlarge a printed photo from a negative?
    Kari Bjorn
    Photographer
    Kari Bjorn is a Professional Photographer based in West Hartford, Connecticut. With nearly 10 years in the industry, Kari is a specialist in Film and Digital Wedding Photography. He has a wide array of photography interests and experiences. Kari is originally from Iceland and came to the US a decade ago to pursue photography at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. His previous editorial and commercial clients include Vanity Fair, InStyle, UN Women, The French-American Foundation, Plug & Play, KRANTZ + KRANTZ, and NPR. Kari has exhibited his work at the Aperture Gallery in New York City, the Eastern State Penitentiary Museum in Philadelphia, and Fotografiska in Stockholm, Sweden. He also had a solo exhibition at I Kring 03 in Reykjavik, Iceland in 2019.
    Kari Bjorn
    Photographer
    Expert Answer
    You'll need a photo enlarger. As the name of the tool suggests, a photo enlarger projects your negative film onto a sheet of photo paper, enlarging the image in the process.
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      Tips

      • Always be careful handling negative images as they’re incredibly delicate. Ideally, use tweezers when moving them around.
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      • There are many scanners on the market and they all have their own little variances so some aspects of them may not be exactly the same.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about photography, check out our in-depth interview with Kari Bjorn .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-free-photo-editing-software/
      2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/scan-film-negatives-pro/
      3. ↑ https://www.pcworld.com/article/211222/scan_slides.html
      4. ↑ https://kb.iu.edu/d/adqe
      5. ↑ http://www.digitalcopycat.com/slide_negative_identification.html
      6. ↑ https://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/getting-starting-with-film-scanning--photo-9727

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