Drum scanning transparencies
A transparency is a finished positive, so the scan has something exact to live up to. That makes it the most demanding film for a scanner, and the most rewarding.
Why slide film is a different job from a negative.
A negative has to be inverted and interpreted before anyone sees a picture. A transparency needs neither. Lay it on a lightbox and you are looking at the colour the photographer approved, which gives the scan a direct reference to be judged against.
It also sets a hard test. Slide film can hold very deep shadows next to bright highlights, and shadows are where lesser scanners tend to give up, turning detail into flat black or speckled noise. A drum scanner reads the film point by point through a focused light, and that is where it earns its fee.
Jobs that justify it
- Night, interior and low-key images with detail in the dark areas
- Sheet film from studio or architectural shoots
- Library or archive transparencies due to be printed large
- Any image where the print will be judged beside the original
Unsure whether your job needs it? Compare the options in drum scan or flatbed scan.
Where your format sits on the price list
We charge by the size of the original. As a rough guide, common film formats fit inside these list sizes. Tell us the format when you order and we will confirm the band.
| Format | Approximate film size | Fits inside | Price per scan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35mm | 24mm x 36mm | A7 | £12.00 |
| 120 roll film, 6x6 | 56mm x 56mm | A7 | £12.00 |
| 120 roll film, 6x7 | 56mm x 70mm | A7 | £12.00 |
| 5in x 4in sheet | 102mm x 127mm | A6 | £15.00 |
| 10in x 8in sheet | 203mm x 254mm | A4 | £25.00 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Anything larger than A3 can still be scanned at up to 8,000 dpi. Phone us for a price. For the wider picture, start with our drum scanning service page.
Match the film, or correct it?
This is the briefing question people forget. Older transparencies can drift towards a colour cast as their dyes age. You have two honest options:
- Match. The scan records the film as it looks today, which suits archives and condition records.
- Correct. Colour is adjusted to what the scene probably looked like, which usually suits a print for the wall.
Tell us which you want. If an exhibition depends on it, ask about proofing against the transparency itself.
Sending your film
Mounted slides usually need to come out of their mounts for a drum scan, so say whether yours sit in card, plastic or glass. Keep sheet film in its sleeves and do not wipe it. If you hold both an original and a duplicate, send the original: a duplicate is a copy, and has already lost some of what was there. Our guide for photographers covers what comes next.
From a small film to a large wall.
Your questions.
Can you scan a transparency that has faded?
Yes, and much can often be brought back with colour work, but detail that has truly gone cannot be recovered. Send us the film details and we will tell you what to expect.
Will I get the slide back in its original mount?
Talk to us about this before sending, particularly if the mount carries handwritten notes you want to keep. We will agree how it should be handled.
Do you scan large transparencies from old advertising or museum archives?
Yes, transparencies of all common sizes can be drum scanned. For originals above A3, phone us with the dimensions for a price.