Processing old negatives - need help.

[watrwefitinfor]

Sorting through some old storage boxes I came across negatives of my children that I hadn't seen in many years. The "children" are now in their 50s, and I would like to have prints made for each of them. These are just snapshots, but they mean a lot to us.

Many of the original prints have been lost over the years, so scanning is out.

I was going to drop them off for processing, but the usual old places (drug stores, Wal-Mart, etc.) no longer accept odd shaped, loose negatives, only 35mm strips. Some of the people I spoke with didn't even know negatives came in other sizes and thought I was nuts! These are odd shaped, some from an old Kodak Brownie, but others are 1-1/2 x 2-1/2" - I don't even remember what camera I took them with.

I'm in a very rural area. The nearest city is over 60 miles away, and the only camera shop there closed about 20 years ago.

So what are my best options? I don't need highly professional, just reliable. Mailing is okay if the company is reliable. Inexpensive is just fine, I don't need personal attention, just plain old developing into 4x6 prints.

Thanks for any suggestions or information.

Wat

[Sherman A1]

1. I think

someone here mentioned Bay Photo in a thread awhile back for something else. They might be an option, locally here we have Creve Couer Camera that does this type of thing I believe. I would also check Adorama and B&H Photos, I know they sell equipment both new & used. I would suspect they also do processing. I have purchased equipment from them but never had any processing done. I can only suggest doing some internet searches and using your best judgement. Perhaps sending just a few of them to see how they do first might be the best option no matter who you choose, giving you a chance to test their service and not take a chance with all your negatives at once.

[watrwefitinfor]

10. Sending only a few

is a good idea. I saw Bay Photos in a web search but no way to tell how reliable they are that way.

Thanks.

Wat

[northoftheborder]

2. I've seen machines you can buy and use yourself to scan in negatives, slides,....

....to be changed into digital format to then change into something that you could print on your own printer or take to the neighborhood photo processor (or send via email to a processor). They are kind of expensive, but if you have a lot, it might be less expensive. Sorry, I don't have the exact product name, but I will be doing this as a big project of my own hopefully before too long.

[watrwefitinfor]

11. I, too, would get one of the machines - if I could afford it. :-)

Thanks for the thought.

I did buy a Microtek scanner some years back that came with a small holder/light attachment for 35mm film and slides. It was quite reasonably priced - no more than for a scanner alone. It also has software for calibrating the scanner light, and does a pretty good job with my old slides. I would recomment it to anyone for 35mm neg scanning. It's called "Light Lid".

But there's no way to get it to work with these larger negs.

Wat

[A Little Weird]

3. Film Rescue International

I found some old weird sized film and was able to send it off to Film Rescue International. They were able to develop it but only some of the pictures came out. The film was very degraded from time and not being stored properly. They were the only company I was able to find that was willing to attempt anything other than 35 mm processing so they might be worth checking out -
http://www.filmrescue.com/

[watrwefitinfor]

12. Thank you.

These old snapshots of the kids don't call for restoration - they are in pretty good shape. But I'll keep Film Rescue Int. in mind if nothing else pans out. Good to know they are there.

Wat

[NV Whino]

4. If you have Photoshop skills

You can scan them and then invert and they become positive prints to print out on your printer.

There are scanners specifically set up for scanning negs, or with a little experimentation, you could make your own light source.

Another option is to go to Kinkos and offer them a challenge. More than likely, they have the proper equipment.

If you want to go the traditional. Eg to print route, you might also check your local high school or community college to see if they have photo classes. If they do, I expect there is a student who wouldn't mind making a little extra money.

[watrwefitinfor]

13. My photoshopping skills are negligible.

I tried scanning on my Microtek which turns out excellent scans, and changing to Negative image (thus a positive) in Paint Shop Pro. But the image became totally washed out with few discernible features. It was disappointing because the negative wasn't all that dark. But the program won't clean the washed out image at all.

Making my own light source? Maybe I can find a diagram of how one would work and hold the neg. I'll look for one.

I like the idea of trying a print shop. Thanks!

Wat

[NV Whino]

15. Your light source needs to be above the slide

As the scanner scans from beneath the slide.

So, a small box around the slide with a light source on top might be a way to start. Scanner lid open, of course. Don't look directly into the scanner light. Remember different kinds of light (incandescent vs fluorescent) will alter the white balance. That can usually be corrected easily in a photo program.

[watrwefitinfor]

17. You seem so knowledgable, NV Whino.

This all seems like high tech to me.

The slide scanner I have is a set up something like that. A small box enclosing a light (I can't tell exactly which type of light it is, it seems entombed within the box with no openings), with a place on the bottom of the light filter to attach a mounted slide or 35mm film strip. The slides I'm writing about are much too large for it, only a fraction of each large neg would print.

My mind just won't wrap around how I could manage a diy for a larger neg.

I think I'll try digmypics.com first, then if the other ideas don't pan out maybe see if my son would consider working on a light box. But that would sort of spoil the surprise of the lost photos.

Thanks for the construction ideas.

Wat

[Stevenmarc]

5. An important question

Just how many negatives are we talking about will determine the answer, is it a couple of dozen or a couple a hundred?

If it's a few that aren't going to need a ton of diddling with then a service like this one is good:

http://www.digmypics.com/default.aspx?g=photo%20scanning%20services

If they need a lot of restoration Film Rescue International is a good choice

However if you are getting into a large amount of negatives then it's cheaper to do it yourself, even if you need to buy a scanner, a good price/quality choice is the Epson Perfection V600 at around $199

And while I'm at it, why are you making prints, either put them online or send them on a disk or flash drive that way the person can print what they want at whatever size they want without you paying for a stack of prints that they will stick in a drawer, put the money into a scanner.

[ManiacJoe]

7. Another vote for DigMyPics.com

I have not used them yet, but I am looking to send them some stuff in the future.

[watrwefitinfor]

14. Excellent questions.

Thank you.

digmypics.com sounds like a good place to check out. There are dozens, not hundreds. Not worth the price of a new scanner while this old one is working well.

Once I get the negs processed into prints I will scan the prints and send to all the children. I've been doing that with the old family pics (prints and slides) for several years. At Christmas I send each of them the DVDs with all the old copies I scanned that year. So they won't have to fight over who gets the old photos when I'm dead and gone, I tell them.

I just hate the idea of leaving out this batch - a few of them are too precious.

Wat

[Stevenmarc]

21. The service will send you the files

There is no need to go through the extra step of printing and scanning, just copy the files and and send them on your DVD like you always do

[CC]

6. You've gotten some good advice

already though I will second the check your local community college. I live in a rural area but our local CC has one of the best Visual Arts programs in the state. Our college also offers a course for adults that allows them to use their lab equipment. That includes scanners, computers, photoshop and lab instructors to help you work them all. If you have a lot of negatives to scan that might be you most cost effective route plus you get to learn some basics at the same time. It would be the same place and equipment most students would have access to. If time is a problem then contact them and see if a student is willing and allowed to do it. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing and how it works out if you don't mind.

[watrwefitinfor]

16. Indeed I have received good advice!

Thanks to both you and Stevenmarc for the idea about community/tech colleges. There are three small ones within in a 30 mile radius though I'm not sure any of them has a visual arts program. I will definitely check into them if digmypics.com doesn't work out.

Wat

[alfredo]

8. I took apart a scanner's slide scanner light, attached the opaque glass to the slide.negative holder

then put it over a CRT desk lamp. I used a tripod, a manual lens, extension tubes, and a glass of beer.

The scanner was toast before I dismantled it.

[watrwefitinfor]

18. One question: Did it work?

Okay, two questions: Was the glass of beer for scanning purposes or to get you through the ordeal?

Please see my post 17. And many thanks for the encouragement and the smile.

Wat

[alfredo]

20. The beer steadied my hand. Did it work? See below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103622081

BTW, that was. CFL, not. CRT. Spellcheck can be such a jerk.

[watrwefitinfor]

9. Wow. There is bound to be a solution for me in all these suggestions!

Thanks to you all for such great ideas. And for all the typing and details. Some are more practical for me than others (I durst not try to dismantle my scanner), but surely something will work.

I'll be looking into some of your ideas and will let you know how it works out. May take awhile - I'm pretty slow.

Thanks again. You are all terrififc.

Wat

[hunter]

19. Least expensive way to copy an old large format negative for the internet --

Take a picture of it!

https://craftcollective.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/diy-diaper-scanner

I've built a couple of contraptions like this from tape and cardboard.

Irfanview will convert the negative image from your camera into a positive.

http://www.irfanview.com

(I use GIMP which is an image processing program similar to photoshop.)

[jmowreader]

22. You want "printing" not "developing"

Try these guys...http://www.pandalab.com or http://www.dwaynesphoto.com