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Learn more about the Center
Top: Filmstrip Negative holder.
Bottom: Photo Slide holder.
Cleaning Photo Materials
Dust, Lint and Smudge free images provide clean and clear viewing material for scanning. Before loading your negatives or slides into their designated holders, give them some love by cleaning them up!
Surface Wear Protection
Above scan has noticeable surface wear and does have a large fingerprint in the middle of on the negative (thankfully not seen when scanned).
Before handling any of your photographs, don a pair of provided nitrile gloves. Our fingers contain oils that are harmful to film surfaces and can cause irreversible damage if handled incorrectly. Don't stack negatives to minimize scratching.
Dust & Lint Removal
Above photo slide has numerous fibers and dust particles that are on the surface of image.
Use the provided soft haired Camel brush to dust off any debris from your negatives or slides. Once magnified and scanned in high resolution, all those small pieces of dust will be seen big time!
Determining Photograph Side with Emulsion
Above are examples of the emulsion side of photo slides. There are degrees of clarity when determining which is the correct side to view through.
Emulsion is the dull, matte side of the photo slide or negative that suspends the light sensitive materials that make up photographic images. Viewing through the emulsion side of the photograph will be like looking into a mirror--the orientation and anything within the image is backwards.
How to Tell:
1. Most photo slides will have the manufacturer information on the emulsion side.
2. The paper /plastic containers of photo slides may say "This Side Towards Screen" indicating the emulsion side.
3. Simply angling the slide or negative in the light like the above examples can be an easy way to tell which side is the emulsion base. Look for a dull, blemished surface and you will have the emulsion side.
4. For the few photo negatives or slides that have none of the above and are difficult to visually make out the emulsion properties, you'll just have to guess by what the image contains. If words are backwards, for instance, then that side is the emulsion.
Left Photo: Viewing Side; table's numerical contents are legible, and the underneath text is mirrored correctly. Right Photo: Emulsion Side; Contents are mirrored and illegible.
Correct Method for Loading Materials
Photo Slides
1. Locate the Photo Slide holder near the scanner.
2. With the emulsion side down, place the photo slide into the track and slide it in the direction the holder indicates underneath the plastic lip. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LIFT THE LIP OR FORCE IT. YOU WILL BREAK IT. There is a plastic spring hidden underneath this lip that will secure the slide in place.
3. Push with your fingertip to engage the slide with this plastic spring and slot the photo slide into the holder.
Negatives
1. Locate the Photo Negative holder near the scanner.
2. Open the holder. With the emulsion side down, place the photo negatives in between the raised notches.
3. Snap the holder back closed and the photo negative is ready for viewing.
