2006-07-26 05:05:50 · 6 answers · asked by joeyromero 1 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
many consumer-grade scanners have a built-in adapter for 35mm film. scan in the slide and view it on your PC. You photo software on the PC can also invert the colours so that your negative will then be a "positive" -easier on the brain/eyes for selecting a good negative.
a bit time consuming though
2006-07-26 12:54:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You can use a light box and a magnifier to look over negatives. If you don't want to spend much, you can rig up a light box with a sheet of clear plastic sitting over a couple of boxes. Put some kind of a light under the plastic and you're in business. I used to use a glass-topped coffee table. Any photo store should have inexpensive magnifiers, which also are called loupes. You could use any decent magnifying glass if you're only doing a few. If you'll be doing it for a while, a loupe is a good investment. If you want a light box, look at bargain tables in photo shops and at flea markets. The world is going digital in a hurry, so people are dumping film gear.
It takes a little practice to tell whether the image is sharp and whether it will print well, but it's not rocket science.
I wouldn't bother with contact sheets. The cost enough in most places that you might as well have a set of 3 1/2 x 5 prints made and look at those, which is easier anyway.
2006-07-26 12:30:59 · answer #2 · answered by dbaldu 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Photographers commonly use a light box for viewing negatives. You can take the negative to any film developer and request that only a specific frame gets printed. There are usually numbers on the negative so you can identify the slide you want printed.
2006-07-26 05:10:26 · answer #3 · answered by pknutson_sws 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are not developing the pictures by yourself, ask your shop to only develop the film. Then you can look at the negatives with a light box or a viewer or hold them up to a light source and choose only the shots you want printed. It might save you some money and you can also instruct your photo shop as to enlargements or cropping.
2006-07-26 06:49:11 · answer #4 · answered by tenweekjtf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES. You can purchase a negative viewer, it is bell shaped and the bell portion is clear plastic attached to a black magnifier. the viewer sets on top of the negative and if you place the neg on a light table, on a tv or hold it up to a light source you can see your image. Just keep in mind that what you see is a negative image, meaning that your neg will show green when it prints as red or black when it prints as white. the viewers cost maybe 5 dollars and can be purchased at any photo shop. you probobly couldn't find one at a store like wal-mart though.
2006-07-26 05:12:29 · answer #5 · answered by madriljds 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You can make a contact sheet and look at them with a magnifier (loupe). After a while, you can train your eye to see what's a good negative before it's printed.
Alternatively, you can get a film scanner and scan them onto your computer.
2006-07-26 05:12:24 · answer #6 · answered by Terisu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋