Processing scanned negatives?

[RikWriter]

Okay, I've never tried this before so please bear with me. I have a scanner with a Transparent Materials Adapter that lets me scan slides and negatives. I scanned a negative but how do I process it to make the colors reverse? I have Photoshop 6 and Elements. I've tried the Invert command, but that doesn't seem to be working. Any tips?

[Jesper]

Normal color negatives don't only have inverted colors, they also have an orange mask. Look at the edges of your film, you'll see that it's not transparent and colorless, but orange. So in addition to inverting the colors, you also need to compensate for the orange mask. I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly how to do that...

Doesn't the software that came with your scanner have a special mode for scanning negative film?

By the way, if you really want to start scanning film seriously, you'll get much better results with a special film scanner instead of with a desktop scanner with film adapter. Special film scanners can scan at much higher resolution.

[stopbath]

I have not done this, but if your scanner software does not have a "colour negative" button or setting, try to remove the orange first (colour correction) then reverse the colours. You could reverse the colours then colour correct too... that might work if the other messes up. You may need to adjust contrast and such too...

[RikWriter]

I figured out the problem. It had to do with a problem between the scanning software and Photoshop.
I don't intend to scan negatives that often, just had a few my wife wanted enlarged.

[scottbergerphoto]

Check out VueScan at www.hamrick.com. Arguably one of the best scanning programs available for film.
Regards,
Scott