photograph film negatives

Hi,

I have a bunch of negatives from the pre-digital days, and I was wondering if it's possible to use my camera to photograph the color negative, and then "reverse" everything in post (I have LR3, CS5) to make a "positive". Thanks.

A film scanner is the correct tool for the job.

You can outsource it to a company that will do it for you, which is way easier. Google will find the companies.

1. Yes.
2. Give it a try.
Am.

ameerat42 wrote in post #13032588
1. Yes.
2. Give it a try.
Am.

How can I do the "negative" to "positive" conversion.

I can only tell you for Photoshop...
Start with Image-Adjustments-Invert
Am.

ameerat42 wrote in post #13032588
1. Yes.
2. Give it a try.
Am.

I'm curious -- have you done this, photograph actual negatives? If so what method did you employ?

The Canon Canoscan 9000 comes with both 35 mm slide and 35mm film strips and 120(6x6) film carriers. A necessity for predigital camera gear, assuming one does such "work"

Scanner.

crn3371 wrote in post #13033179
Scanner.

Yes, it definitely can be done with a scanner, and you can get a dedicated film/transparency scanner it's the best way for a consumer to go --and, in fact, some scanning software has a built-in negative converter, to get you off to a good start.

But, I was curious about the question of the OP, and especially about the "Yes!" response -- I'd like to know if anyone has actually succeeded in photographing negatives, and if so how! Otherwise the OP is best just to go the scanning route.

chantu wrote in post #13032600
How can I do the "negative" to "positive" conversion.

Use the curves tool and invert the points. In other words: / should look like \.

tonylong wrote in post #13033324
But, I was curious about the question of the OP, and especially about the "Yes!" response -- I'd like to know if anyone has actually succeeded in photographing negatives, and if so how! Otherwise the OP is best just to go the scanning route.

I've done it. See here: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1081676.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=AgOTk4ApEYs

TheBurningCrown wrote in post #13033334
Use the curves tool and invert the points. In other words: / should look like \.

I've done it. See here: https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​t=1081676.

OK, so what was your method in actually photographing them? It looks like maybe you held them up against a light background and just took a pic? My concerns would be with curve in the negatives but it looks like yours came out pretty well. I can imagine someone setting up a light table for this type of thing.

Well, as goofy as DigitalRevTv is, I'd say that YouTube video linked to by Hypnotizedd had some pretty nifty DIY stuff on this! I'd say that if you watch it you will have enough ideas to be well on your way!

tonylong wrote in post #13033416
OK, so what was your method in actually photographing them?

If you read the post I do go into detail on that.

Curvature of the negative could be an issue, though mine are old enough to be pretty flat. Regardless, sandwiching them in acrylic is always an option.