How to Scan Slides

Written by James Cascione

Location: Williams 302, Anne Meltzer's Lab

Computer: Mac, with the Trinitron screen

Hardware: Polaroid Sprint Scan 35

Software: Adobe Photoshop LE

Note: Computer should already be on in the lab

1. Turn on both the Sprint Scan 35 and the Laser Graphics slide imager (switches located on the back of the machines).
2. Restart the computer in order for the devices to be recognized by the hard disk.
3. In the Apple menu, launch Adobe Photoshop.
4. In the File menu, select Acquire and then Sprint Scan 35
5. Place the slide, in a left to right orientation, upside down, into the top of the Sprint Scan. Push evenly and firmly until the slide is loaded.
6. Click on the Preview button.
7. Place cursor onto the box to change options. "Arrow" - resize box, "+" - create box, "Hand" - move box. Using these tools select the area of the picture you want to scan.
8. You can change effects of the picture before you scan it using the tools in the Image menu. Make sure you are scan using a high resolution, e.g. 506 dpi
9. Click on the Scan button.
10. Save the original scanned image before any further editing. Make sure when you name the picture to add ".jpeg".
11. Edit the picture using the Image menu tools and the Filter menu tools.
12. Resize your image after all editing is complete. Click on the Image Menu, then Image Size. For pictures that are being placed on a web page, the resolution should be changed to 72 dpi. For downloading purposes you want to keep the file size under 30K. Adjust the size of the picture until you reach the desired size, making sure the ratio of width to length is locked.

Note: For web pages that contain many pictures or large pictures, create thumbnails that are around 10K in size and link them to larger images on their own pages.