How to scan photography negatives, transparencies and prints
Perhaps you have a collection of old prints, negatives or transparencies that you'd love to have digitised or perhaps you shoot film and want to reduce the cost by learning how to scan your film yourself? Learn how to do both using different methods from flatbed/film scanners to a digital camera.
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Learn tips and tricks for scanning prints/artwork vs negatives/slides, plus the pros and cons of different methods of digitising. You’ll be shown different approaches and have the chance to practise scanning your own material, with guidance from your expert tutor.
What will we cover?
Using a flat-bed scanner to digitise prints, negatives and transparencies of sizes up to A4
Using film scanners to digitise negatives and transparencies in 35mm or 120 film size
Using a DSLR camera to digitize negatives, transparencies or prints
Scanning at optimum resolution for quality vs file size
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Digitise some of your negatives, transparencies and prints using different methods including using scanners or a DSLR camera
Understand which method of scanning is the best one for the purpose
Have the necessary skills to continue digitising at home
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
You should be reasonably computer literate. City Lit uses Macbooks and Epson scanners.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through presentations, demonstrations and practical work guided by a tutor. Please note we'll be working on Apple Mac computers and Epson scanners.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a selection of negatives (black and white or colour), slides and/or prints to the session which we will use to scan.
To take your scans home, it would be useful to bring a memory stick (or portable hard drive – please note PC-formatted hard drives can be read by Apple Mac computers, but not written to).
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The perfect next course might be Learn to Process Black and White Film. You’ll then have all the skills to dev and scan your own film photography, greatly reducing the cost of shooting film.
You might want to catalogue and perfect your scans with a course in Lightroom or Photoshop.
Dominic Harris's studio is based in South East London. In 2004 he won the British Journal of Photography portfolio award and in 2011 won the London Photography Association bronze prize for portraiture in the show 'Let's Face It' and the SPS Prize award for most innovative print at the Royal Western Academy 'Open Photography' show. He has exhibited widely and has work in collections in Europe and America as well as a body of work in the National Media Museum collection. He has been teaching photography at City Lit for 20 years, and has previously been Head of Department for Photography and Digital Arts, and Head of School for Visual Arts at City Lit. He was also a trustee of Tate Members from 2007-2016.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/how-to-scan-photography-negatives-transparencies-and-prints3030700How to scan photography negatives, transparencies and printshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/h/o/how_to_scan_photography_negatives_transparencies_and_prints-1-1080.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Photography/Courses/Art & design/Photography/Photography editing & printing22851132170217031228511321702<p>Perhaps you have a collection of old prints, negatives or transparencies that you'd love to have digitised or perhaps you shoot film and want to reduce the cost by learning how to scan your film yourself? Learn how to do both using different methods from flatbed/film scanners to a digital camera.</p>003030583How to scan photography negatives, transparencies and prints149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/h/o/how_to_scan_photography_negatives_transparencies_and_prints-1-1080_1.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-10-23T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allOct 2026Art & designVY348149149How to scan photography negatives, transparencies and prints149149149Dominic Harrishow-to-scan-photography-negatives-transparencies-and-prints/vy348-2627<p>Perhaps you have a collection of old prints, negatives or transparencies that you'd love to have digitised or perhaps you shoot film and want to reduce the cost by learning how to scan your film yourself? Learn how to do both using different methods from flatbed/film scanners to a digital camera.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-23 00:00:00<p>Learn tips and tricks for scanning prints/artwork vs negatives/slides, plus the pros and cons of different <em>methods</em> of digitising. You’ll be shown different approaches and have the chance to practise scanning your own material, with guidance from your expert tutor.</p><p>Perhaps you have a collection of old prints, negatives or transparencies that you'd love to have digitised or perhaps you shoot film and want to reduce the cost by learning how to scan your film yourself? Learn how to do both using different methods from flatbed/film scanners to a digital camera.</p><ul><li>Using a flat-bed scanner to digitise prints, negatives and transparencies of sizes up to A4</li><li>Using film scanners to digitise negatives and transparencies in 35mm or 120 film size</li><li>Using a DSLR camera to digitize negatives, transparencies or prints</li><li>Scanning at optimum resolution for quality vs file size</li></ul><ul><li>Digitise some of your negatives, transparencies and prints using different methods including using scanners or a DSLR camera</li><li>Understand which method of scanning is the best one for the purpose</li><li>Have the necessary skills to continue digitising at home</li></ul><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You should be reasonably computer literate. City Lit uses Macbooks and Epson scanners.</p><p>You will be taught through presentations, demonstrations and practical work guided by a tutor. Please note we'll be working on Apple Mac computers and Epson scanners.</p><p>Please bring a selection of negatives (black and white or colour), slides and/or prints to the session which we will use to scan.</p><p>To take your scans home, it would be useful to bring a memory stick (or portable hard drive – please note PC-formatted hard drives can be read by Apple Mac computers, but not written to).</p><p>The perfect next course might be <strong>Learn to Process Black and White Film. </strong>You’ll then have all the skills to dev and scan your own film photography, greatly reducing the cost of shooting film.</p><p>You might want to catalogue and perfect your scans with a course in Lightroom or Photoshop.</p><p>Browse the City Lit website for inspiration!</p>PhotographyPhotography editing & printingvirtual149149149VY348NONEFri23/10/2610:00 - 17:0010:0017:001 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetDominic HarrisBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-10-23T00:00:00+00:00Oct 2026Art & design149149How to scan photography negatives, transparencies and printshow-to-scan-photography-negatives-transparencies-and-prints/vy348-2627<p>Perhaps you have a collection of old prints, negatives or transparencies that you'd love to have digitised or perhaps you shoot film and want to reduce the cost by learning how to scan your film yourself? Learn how to do both using different methods from flatbed/film scanners to a digital camera.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-23 00:00:00<p>Learn tips and tricks for scanning prints/artwork vs negatives/slides, plus the pros and cons of different <em>methods</em> of digitising. You’ll be shown different approaches and have the chance to practise scanning your own material, with guidance from your expert tutor.</p><p>Perhaps you have a collection of old prints, negatives or transparencies that you'd love to have digitised or perhaps you shoot film and want to reduce the cost by learning how to scan your film yourself? Learn how to do both using different methods from flatbed/film scanners to a digital camera.</p><ul><li>Using a flat-bed scanner to digitise prints, negatives and transparencies of sizes up to A4</li><li>Using film scanners to digitise negatives and transparencies in 35mm or 120 film size</li><li>Using a DSLR camera to digitize negatives, transparencies or prints</li><li>Scanning at optimum resolution for quality vs file size</li></ul><ul><li>Digitise some of your negatives, transparencies and prints using different methods including using scanners or a DSLR camera</li><li>Understand which method of scanning is the best one for the purpose</li><li>Have the necessary skills to continue digitising at home</li></ul><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You should be reasonably computer literate. City Lit uses Macbooks and Epson scanners.</p><p>You will be taught through presentations, demonstrations and practical work guided by a tutor. Please note we'll be working on Apple Mac computers and Epson scanners.</p><p>Please bring a selection of negatives (black and white or colour), slides and/or prints to the session which we will use to scan.</p><p>To take your scans home, it would be useful to bring a memory stick (or portable hard drive – please note PC-formatted hard drives can be read by Apple Mac computers, but not written to).</p><p>The perfect next course might be <strong>Learn to Process Black and White Film. </strong>You’ll then have all the skills to dev and scan your own film photography, greatly reducing the cost of shooting film.</p><p>You might want to catalogue and perfect your scans with a course in Lightroom or Photoshop.</p><p>Browse the City Lit website for inspiration!</p>PhotographyPhotography editing & printingconfigurable
