How to Convert Film Negatives to Digital: 7 Easy Methods

Here's how to convert film negatives to digital! In the days before digital photography, film negatives were the standard way to capture and store images. These negatives could then be further processed into prints by professional photographers.

✍🏻 Written by Dr. Laura Whitman from MemoryCherish

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However, all your images are stored as digital files nowadays that you can instantly print on a computer or transport using a thumb drive, thanks to modern digital cameras.

Do you have a box of old film negatives lying around? Maybe some family photos? If so, you’re in luck! Converting negatives to digital photos is easier than you think, and there are a few ways that you can use it. This post will discuss seven easy ways to convert negatives to digital formats.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of converting negatives to digital files, let’s first take a step back and answer the question: what are film negatives?

What Are Film Negatives?

Film negatives are strips or single frames of undeveloped photographic film. A typical negative appears in a black and white film.

When it becomes developed, the dark parts of the strip turn white, and the light parts turn black. The parts with other complex colors have multiple layers that appear primarily red.

convert film negatives to digital

In other words, they are the “negative” image of what will be printed or developed. When exposed to light, these negatives produce positive images on paper.

In the past, this was the standard format for storing old photos and most people would often need to have them developed into prints by a photographer.

How Are Negatives Processed?

Film negatives are processed and printed in a dark room using trays of chemicals.

The processing is done through a series of baths in chemicals.

  1. The first bath “fixes” the image by making it insensitive to light.
  2. The second bath “stops” the action of the first chemical and prevents further changes from taking place.
  3. The next three baths gradually wash away excess silver halide crystals, revealing a latent image on the film base. The last bath “clears” the film, making it transparent again.

After processing, negatives are usually stored in archival sleeves or negative pages.

Why Digitize Negatives?

One of the most significant developments in the history of photography is the universal transition from film negatives to digital cameras.

Here are three compelling reasons why you should make digital copies of your negatives:

Make Copies Of Your Photo.

Unlike negatives, digital images can be backed up to make several copies and stored in a thumb drive. This ensures that your priceless memories are safe and always ready for digital download.

However, if you lose the physical strip of your negatives, you lose them forever.

Risk Of Natural Degradation

Another reason to have them digitized is to avoid the risk of degradation of your film strips. Film negatives tend to deteriorate and lose their quality over time, no matter how well you store them.

Print Them Easily

If you want to print any of the images on your negatives, it’s going to be a lot easier (and cheaper) to convert them to digital images first. It is also a lot more convenient than taking them to a dark room and waiting hours for them to be processed.

Fortunately, you can always have them digitized at any time and we will show you how!

How To Convert Film Negatives To Digital Photos?

So now that we’ve gone over a few reasons why you should convert negatives to digital, let’s get into how to do it. There are a few different ways of the digitizing process. Some of these require specialized equipment, while some others use devices you may already have.

Digital Camera

If you have a digital camera, this is probably the easiest way to turn negatives into digital photos. Just take your negative and place it in front of the lens on your camera. Make sure that the emulsion side is facing the lens (this is the shiny side).

If you’re using a Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera, you might need to remove the lens in order to place the negative directly on the sensor making sure that the film is completely flat against the sensor.

It’s also a good idea to block out unnecessary light using cardboard to prevent having too much light around the strip.

Flatbed Scanner

Using a flatbed scanner is another easy way to scan negatives and convert them to digital pictures. Just place your negative on the scanner bed and scan it like you would a regular photo.

Many flatbed scanners will have a film scanner option specifically for scanning film, so make sure to select that if you see it. Otherwise, just choose the highest quality setting possible.

convert film negatives to digital

You might need to convert the file to a positive image after scanning, but most software will have an option for that.

Drum Scanner

This is a high-quality option for scanning negatives, but it’s also the most expensive. If you have the budget for it, a drum scanner will give you the best results.

They are ideal for scanning photos that will be printed at a very large size. If you’re only scanning to save the negative and prints at home, drum scanners aren’t worth the expense.

To use one, just place your negative on the rotating drum and let it scan. Again, you might need to convert the file to a positive image after scanning.

Slide Scanner

Slide scanners are specialized tools for scanning slides and you can find them online and in some stores.

If you have a lot of slides to convert, a slide scanner might be the right option as they automatically scan strips at six frames at a time. They work just like regular scanners, but they have a light source built-in so that your slide is lit from behind as it’s being scanned. This prevents the slide scanner from picking up any glare from the surface of the slide.

Phone or Tablet Camera

If you don’t have a scanner, you can also convert negatives to digital pictures using your phone or tablet camera. You simply have to use your phone or tablet’s camera app to take a picture of the negative. You may need to experiment with different lighting conditions to get the best results. If your phone or tablet has a flash, you can try using it to see if that gives you a better image.

You can then transfer the picture to your computer and edit it with photo editing software like Photoshop or GIMP, as you would any other digital photo.

Digital Converter Box

Another way to convert old slides to digital is to use a digital converter box. These boxes are designed to convert analog media (like those from VHS tapes) into digital ones.

To use a digital converter box, you’ll first need to scan your negative film using a scanner. Once the film has been scanned, you can then connect the converter box to your computer, convert the file into a digital photo, and save it on your thumb drive.

Photography Shop

This is possibly the most reliable method as they would have most scanners and use the best option for you. You should use photography shops if you want your strips carefully converted and don’t want to risk ruining them.

convert film negatives to digital

Tips To Convert Negatives Perfectly

If you scan your negative slides and store them digitally, you won’t have to worry about them getting lost or damaged. However, if you don’t do it correctly, the film may be permanently damaged.

Here are three helpful hints to help you ensure your film is carefully digitized and you get the finest scanned images!

1. Clean Your Negatives & Scanner

Keep your workspace clean and free of dust. Any dust particles on the scanner will show up in your scans.

2. Carefully Handle Slides

Be careful when handling your slides. Don’t touch the surface of the film as this can leave fingerprints or scratches.

3. Scan At A High Resolution

Scan in color and at a high resolution to get the best quality image possible. This will give you more options when editing or printing your photos. You can check out our article about the best resolution you should use for your pictures here.

What If My Negatives Are Damaged?

Unfortunately, it is hard to take good care of film negatives. The odds are that if you have some old negatives, they will most likely lose some quality when you scan and convert them to positive images.

Due to exposure to light or the natural degradation of the chemicals that hold the negatives together, they might lose some detail and value.

That is where we come in place! We are MemoryCherish, the #1 photograph restoration company nationwide. With a little description, we can restore your original memories and bring your pictures back to life, exactly how you imagined them.

Get Your Negatives Restored Today!

Discover the beauty of your old memories and get your negative photos restored today! Bring those moments back to life with our easy and convenient restoration service.

How Do We Fix Your Picture?

Our restoration artists will closely examine your blurred image, remove stains, mold, blur, refine and add more detail and color to each photo. We won’t stop until your photographs are in the best condition. We can handle any damage on any photograph!

Our commitment to producing stellar quality restoration has even landed us on news reports by ABC, NBC, and FOX news.

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What Do I Need To Do?

After separating your stuck photographs from each other, you need to make them clean and ready for restoration. You can check out how to clean your old pictures here.

Next, you need to carefully scan this photograph. Then, you upload it here and pick your restoration options.

You place your order, and that’s it.

How Long Does It Take?

We would restore and send a digital copy of your sharpened image back to you by email within 24 hours. If there is anything you would like us to change on your restored image, revisions are allowed on every restoration, completely free!

We also offer free nationwide delivery of restored images in prints!

Can I Contact Someone For More Information?

Our customer support is available 24/7 to answer any further questions. Just click on the chat button on this page, or you can send us an email at: support@memorycherish.com.

In A Nutshell…

In the past, you had to either hire a professional photographer to print your film negatives or have your own dedicated dark room. The evolution of photography from analog media to digital photos has revolutionized the art of storing and printing pictures.

Converting your old negatives to digital format is a great way to preserve them for future generations and have high-quality images to share. Not only will you be able to see your photos as they were meant to be seen, but you’ll also have peace of mind knowing that they’re safe from damage and deterioration and always ready for digital download.

If you want to take advantage of this service, we can help. Our team of experts is experienced in converting film negatives to digital and will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your memories are preserved in the best possible way.

Get Your Negatives Restored Today!

Discover the beauty of your old memories and get your negative photos restored today! Bring those moments back to life with our easy and convenient restoration service.

About The Author
Dr. Laura Whitman | MemoryCherish
Dr. Laura Whitman | MemoryCherish

Dr. Laura Whitman is the Head of Education at MemoryCherish, the #1 photo restoration company in the world.

With a PhD in Art History and a specialization in photographic preservation, she brings an unrivaled breadth of knowledge to her role.
Over her 19-year tenure in the field, Dr. Whitman has become a respected authority on topics ranging from photo restoration techniques to historical context and genealogy.

Her work has been recognized by major media outlets such as ABC, NBC, and FOX News, and she has been trusted with collaborations by Adobe. As an educator, she has developed numerous 'how-to' guides and tutorials, making photo restoration accessible to millions.

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