how to scan large transparencies from overhead projector

[ff]

Hi, I have several photographs printed on transparent sheets
(acetates?) intended for use on overhead projectors. However I have a
digital projector so would like to digitise them into a laptop. I
don't have access to the originals. They are a variety of sizes but
all smaller than a4. Two ideas so far,

Put them on a light box and photograph them. Probably not ideal though
so rather a last resort. Might work though?

Scan them. But how? Putting them on a scanner with a piece of white
paper behind them didn't seem to work. I understand many scanners come
with lights in the lid to shine down on transparencies. But I can't
work out if they would cover the whole photo or if they are restricted
to 35mm sizes for slides and film, which would obviously be no good to
me. Could anyone suggest any scanners which have a lid light and would
scan the entire photo? Ideally at the more consumer end of things, I'm
hoping around the £100 uk mark. (about $150).

Any other ideas welcome of course. Many thanks.

 

[tomm42]

Hi, I have several photographs printed on transparent sheets
(acetates?) intended for use on overhead projectors. However I have a
digital projector so would like to digitise them into a laptop. I
don't have access to the originals. They are a variety of sizes but
all smaller than a4. Two ideas so far,

Put them on a light box and photograph them. Probably not ideal though
so rather a last resort. Might work though?

Scan them. But how? Putting them on a scanner with a piece of white
paper behind them didn't seem to work. I understand many scanners come
with lights in the lid to shine down on transparencies. But I can't
work out if they would cover the whole photo or if they are restricted
to 35mm sizes for slides and film, which would obviously be no good to
me. Could anyone suggest any scanners which have a lid light and would
scan the entire photo? Ideally at the more consumer end of things, I'm
hoping around the £100 uk mark. (about $150).

Any other ideas welcome of course. Many thanks.

 

[tomm42]

Hi, I have several photographs printed on transparent sheets
(acetates?) intended for use on overhead projectors. However I have a
digital projector so would like to digitise them into a laptop. I
don't have access to the originals. They are a variety of sizes but
all smaller than a4. Two ideas so far,

Put them on a light box and photograph them. Probably not ideal though
so rather a last resort. Might work though?

Scan them. But how? Putting them on a scanner with a piece of white
paper behind them didn't seem to work. I understand many scanners come
with lights in the lid to shine down on transparencies. But I can't
work out if they would cover the whole photo or if they are restricted
to 35mm sizes for slides and film, which would obviously be no good to
me. Could anyone suggest any scanners which have a lid light and would
scan the entire photo? Ideally at the more consumer end of things, I'm
hoping around the £100 uk mark. (about $150).

Any other ideas welcome of course. Many thanks.

Either way should way should work, though this is a really bad original
if it is anything like the overhead photos I'm used to seeing. You
won't get a scanner with an 8.5x11 transie head for $150, more like
$500+. If you have a good light box you can use that, a DSLR with a
real macro lens is the best choice. Not having that, crank a P&S camera
to full zoom focal length (unless the one you have is a super zoom,
ideally you want a 35 equiv of 100-150mm). Make sure the camera is on a
steady platform (tripod) and photograph the transparency, don't hand
hold, you won't be steady enough. When you get your file just use
Photoshop to get it acceptable. Shrink the file to 8x10 x 100ppi and
you're ready to go.

Tom

 

[David J. Littleboy]

Put them on a light box and photograph them. Probably not ideal though
so rather a last resort. Might work though?

As Tom says, large scanners are expensive.

I've had good results photographing old photos with a dcam. For digital
projection resolution, it's probably the right idea. The only nasty is
getting a lightbox with even enough illumination; I'd expect any unevenness
to appear to be accentuated.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Hi, I have several photographs printed on transparent sheets
(acetates?) intended for use on overhead projectors. However I have a
digital projector so would like to digitise them into a laptop. I
don't have access to the originals. They are a variety of sizes but
all smaller than a4. Two ideas so far,

Any other ideas welcome of course. Many thanks.

Two thoughts:

Find a service bureau to do this one off job.

Find a way to copy them to paper and scan the paper. Try different
photocopiers and or papers behind perhaps?

 

[George E. Cawthon]

As Tom says, large scanners are expensive.

I've had good results photographing old photos with a dcam. For digital
projection resolution, it's probably the right idea. The only nasty is
getting a lightbox with even enough illumination; I'd expect any unevenness
to appear to be accentuated.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

I'm with you. Photographing works for anything
big. As for the light, one can't get any more
even than sunlight. Clear sky, straight at the
sun, results in parallel rays but may be too
contrasty. A sheet of ground glass, opal glass,
or even many plastics, will provide an even
light(using the sun) especially if the diffusion
material is slightly out of focus.

 

[Robert Feinman]

Hi, I have several photographs printed on transparent sheets
(acetates?) intended for use on overhead projectors. However I have a
digital projector so would like to digitise them into a laptop. I
don't have access to the originals. They are a variety of sizes but
all smaller than a4. Two ideas so far,

Put them on a light box and photograph them. Probably not ideal though
so rather a last resort. Might work though?

Scan them. But how? Putting them on a scanner with a piece of white
paper behind them didn't seem to work. I understand many scanners come
with lights in the lid to shine down on transparencies. But I can't
work out if they would cover the whole photo or if they are restricted
to 35mm sizes for slides and film, which would obviously be no good to
me. Could anyone suggest any scanners which have a lid light and would
scan the entire photo? Ideally at the more consumer end of things, I'm
hoping around the £100 uk mark. (about $150).

Any other ideas welcome of course. Many thanks.

Many flatbed scanners (especially Epson) have lights in the lid for
scanning transparencies. The models with this feature are in the $300+
range. Some will scan a full 8x11, but most scan about 5x7. So you
would have to scan it in sections and merge them together with an image
editor program.
Shooting with a digital camera at a distance to fill the frame and
with a good quality lens should be adequate if the type on the slide
is not too small. Save at high quality and see if it is satisfactory.
Otherwise I agree about finding a service to do it for you.

 

[ff]

Thank-you for the answers. Sorry I did not reply sooner. Short answer
is we decided just to take them to a professional copy shop and let
them deal with it.

Longer answer is you were right all the common scanners with
transparency adaptors only scan thin 35mm strips so would not have
worked. All the ones in our local shops anyway.

Thanks again. It was appreciated.