How to get a natural scan
Biggest benefit in getting a natural scan is your scan software won't ruin any details

How To Get Natural Scan And Avoid Your Scan Software Harming Your Digital Images

After reading this article, you're going to know...

  • That using your scanner software will ruin your scans
  • Fixing a "natural" scan will get you better results
  • How to setup your scanner and get a "natural" slide, negative, photos scan
  • The best software to use to fix your scans and make them look better than the original

If you use your scanner's software, you're going to run into 2 major problems...

Problem 1: Your Scanner Software Is Going To Remove Detail And Make Your Images Look Fuzzy

Do you see that "Digital ICE" button? Or the "Dust Removal" button? If you use any of those buttons, you're images are going to look less sharp. Here's what I mean...

digital ice slide negative photo scan removes detail

With the first image, I did a "natural" scan. The second, I've applied Digital ICE and Dust Removal.

Yes, Dust Removal fixed dust and scratches. But it also blunts the pixels. That's because your scanner will apply Dust Removal on the ENTIRE image. It won't discriminate if something is important detail, or if it's a speck of dust.

Problem 2: Your Scanner Software Will Give You Inconsistent / Unnatural Colours

Do you see those "Color Balance", "Histogram", "Color Fix" buttons. If you press them, your scanner is going to do the same thing: apply the fix on the ENTIRE image. And you'll get wonky colours, like this...

digital ice color fix slide negative photo scan

As you can see, the scanner over-saturated the colours. That's because the scanner doesn't know water is suppose to be blue, not purple. All the scanner "knows" is: "flat dull faded, colours... enhance, brighten!".

Do you see a pattern? Your scanner applies these fixes on the ENTIRE image. It doesn't discriminate. It doesn't know if something is important or a speck of dust. Or that water is suppose to be blue not purple.

But who does?

You! A human being.

Problem Solved: Use Software Designed To Fix Digital Images

Instead of Digital ICE, Dust Removal, Color Fix, etc., get a natural scan. Then use more powerful software to fix your digital images. This way you can focus on a problem, and not apply a fix on the entire image. Have a look...

dust fix slide negative photo scan photoshop gimp

In the example above, I manually removed the dust. I didn't touch the sign.

Or...

colour fix slide negative photo scan photoshop gimp

In the example above, I manually adjusted the colours so the water looks blue.

It's Better To Fix A Natural Scan Because YOU Have Control Not The Scanner

This is why I never let my scanner fix my digital images. I use my scanner to do what it does best: scan at high resolutions. I don't press any scan enhance buttons like Dust Removal. I get a natural scan. Then I fix the natural scan in Photoshop, GIMP, or Elements. And don't worry, I will show you exactly how I do this in these Advanced Scan Tips.

How To Get A Natural Slide, Negative, Photo Scan

There's only one step you need -- and it's very easy. Do not click on ANY scan enhancements.

Natural slide negative photo scan

Avoid using any Dust Removal, Digital ICE, etc.

Just setup your resolution, crop your images, and hit the scan button.

Why Get A Natural Slide Negative Photo Scan

Your scan is going to look ugly. But that's good! You want as much UNTOUCHED digital data as possible. Then you can use software designed to fix digital images to repair your scans.

And that's next -- I'll show you, step-by-step how to use Photoshop, GIMP, and/or Lightroom to fix your scans.


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

Your free ebook is up for grabs. Just click the button below and start downloading...