how to fix red slide scans using scan software
Are your slide or negative scans coming out red? Read this article to learn how to fix this...

How To Fix Red Silde, Negative, Or Photo Scans Using Scan Software

Learn how to use scan software, GIMP, or Photoshop to fix red scans -- with video

Are your slide or negative scans coming out red?

If you learn and use the tip I'm about to show you, you will get rid of this reddish colour.

Your scanner is going to pickup the most dominate colour from your slide or negative. And in most cases, red is the brightest and stands out more than any other colour. Other times it can be green, or blue -- but only when red isn't around.

You see, every image has THREE main colours: red, blue, green (RBG). And you can mix RBG to get ANY colour.

So, what happens is since red is the most dominate colour, it will mix in with other ones. And you're left with a scan that is tinged red.

And it doesn't matter if you have a simple home scanner, or some high-end one. These are the little problems that happen when you convert analog into digital. Scanner's aren't perfect.

How To Fix Reddish Scans Using Your Scanners Software

 
 

Remember how I told you about RBG? Well, your scanner software will have an option for you to adjust the RBG values.

Here's what I mean...

Startup your scanner's software, and look for the Adjustments (i.e. Digital ICE, Color Fix, Dust Removal, Histogram, etc.).

In Adjustments look for anything that has RBG Values, Colour Balance, or Image Adjustments, etc.

Once you find the Red value, move the slider bar LEFT -- away from toward the other colour.

Here's what mine looks like...

Fix Reddish Scans Using Your Scanner Software

A Better Way To Fix Reddish Slide, Negative Scans

Your scanner software is OK at fixing reddish scans. But there's nothing more frustrating than adjusting the Red values, scanning your slide, and then looking at your digital image and it's STILL red.

Here's how to avoid having to re-scan...

AVOID using your scanner software to fix your scan.

Instead, get a "natural" scan. What I mean is, don't press any of those Adjustment buttons (i.e. Digital ICE, Color Balance, etc.). Get a natural scan, then use software that is DESIGNED to fix digital images.

Check out GIMP. GIMP is great at fixing digital images, and it's FREE. You can download GIMP, here... https://www.gimp.org.

Or, use Photoshop. You can get a free trial, here... https://www.photoshop.com.

How To Use GIMP To Fix Reddish Slide, Negative Scans

 
 

Open your natural scan in GIMP. In the Menu click Color. Then click Color Balance to open a new screen.

In Adjustment Color Levels, move the slider left (away from Red toward Cyan).

Fix reddish scans in GIMP  

You can also do this trick for scans that are too blue or green. Is your scan too blue? Just move the Blue slider toward Yellow. And so on.

How To Use Photoshop To Fix Reddish Slide, Negative Scans

 
 

Open your natural scan in Photoshop. In the Menu click, Image -> Adjustments -> Color Balance.

Here's how to use the Color Balance tool: move the Red slider bar toward Cyan.

Fix reddish scans in Photoshop

Do These 3 Action Steps RIGHT NOW

Good job! You just learned how to fix reddish scans AND learned about RBG values.

But in my experience, knowing means nothing unless you put it into action.

So do this right now (if you haven't already):

  1. Decide on what software you would like to use to fix your scans: your scanner's software? Gimp? Photoshop?
  2. Open your scan in your software, and find the Color Balance screen.
  3. Move the Red slider bar toward Cyan to get rid of the reddish tinge.

Free Ebook: Tells You Secrets To Getting High Quality Slide, Negative, Photos Scans In Half The Time

Which of these scanning troubles do you want to overcome?

  • What's the best resolution / DPI to scan your slides, negatives, and photos -- so you don't lose details
  • Best method to digitize slides, negatives, photos using your regular flatbed or film scanner
  • How to clean your negatives, slides, and photos before you scan them -- so you don't scratch them
  • What side should you scan a slide or negative -- so they're not backwards or facing the wrong way
  • How to setup your scanner to get higher quality digital images -- 24bit JPEG? 48bit TIFF?
  • How to fix your digital images using Digital ICE, GIMP, or Photoshop and make them look new
  • How to improve your scan workflow so you can double your productivity and finish your project twice as fast
  • Understand the technical stuff of a digital image so you can make sideshow videos, reprints, and more!

Hey, my name is Konrad. I've been scanning professionally since 2005. I've helped multi-billion dollar companies, pro sports teams, pro photographers, artists, museums, book publishers, etc. I've scanned over 930,000 slides, negatives, photos.

The reason I'm telling you this is because no matter what challenge or frustration you're having, I know exactly what you're going through. So, to help you RIGHT NOW, I've put together a super simple scanning guide to get you started.

How to scan slides negatives photos into digital, free ebook download

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