Gather supplies: flatbed scanner (with transparency adapter) or dedicated film scanner, lint-free gloves, microfiber cloth, compressed air, anti-static brush, archival sleeves/envelopes, optional film cleaner
Inspect negatives for dust, scratches, fingerprints, and tears
Clean negatives: remove loose dust with compressed air, then gently wipe with a microfiber cloth or anti-static brush; handle edges only
If using a flatbed: place the film in the transparency adapter emulsion-side down (or follow scanner guide)
Align the negative strips: ensure frames are straight, not overlapping, and fully covered by the scanning area
Set scan settings (typical targets):
Color depth: 16-bit per channel (or highest available)
Resolution: 3000–5000 DPI for 35mm; 2000–4000 DPI for larger formats (adjust for desired output size)
File format: TIFF for archiving; PNG/JPEG for quick use
Color mode: scan as color if negatives are color; scan as grayscale if B&W
Disable sharpening and noise reduction unless you will control it manually later
Preview scan: use the preview to confirm correct placement, focus, and frame coverage
Scan each frame:
Use “multi-frame” scanning if supported, or crop/scan frame-by-frame
Save with consistent naming (e.g., roll-date-frame#)
Convert negatives to positives:
Use scanner software’s negative-to-positive conversion if available
Or in an editor: invert tones, adjust levels/curves, then correct color balance for color negatives
Correct orientation: rotate to proper orientation and ensure borders/crops are consistent
Save final results:
Archive originals (raw scans) as TIFF
Export edited positives as high-quality TIFF/PNG, and optional resized JPEGs for sharing
Re-scan if needed:
If frames are cut off, misaligned, too dark, too light, or have missed dust/scratches
Store negatives after scanning: place in archival sleeves and keep in a cool, dry, dust-free container