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Scanning Film and Slides Using the Nikon Super COOLSCAN 9000

Instructions

Slide Scanning Station

Welcome to the Fine Arts Library. This tutorial covers using the Nikon Super COOLSCAN 9000 scanning station. The COOLSCAN 9000 can batch scan up to five 35mm slides, 35mm film negatives, and medium format film.

Items Necessary to Use This Station

  • A workstation with a Nikon Super COOLSCAN 9000 scanner
  • Storage for your images (CD-R, flash drive, Webspace, etc.)
  • The slides or negatives you are going to scan
  • The scanner trays for the Nikon 9000 (available at equipment checkout desk)

Loading Your Slides or Negatives

Scanner Trays

Make sure the scanner is on and plugged in (the green light on the front should be lit). Select the appropriate tray for your media.

If you are loading slides, load them starting on the left side of the tray, with the front of the image facing upward. If you are loading negatives, position the film with the shiny side up and load the bottom section of the tray first. Once you have loaded the appropriate tray, insert it into the scanner. Push in firmly but do not force--the tray will feed itself in and the scanner will start up.

Scanning Your Slides or Negatives

VueScan Software

Open the VueScan software. If the VueScan icon is not on the desktop, click on the "START" menu. Open the "VUESCAN" folder and choose the VueScan icon.

A gray window will open with a preview of your image. You may choose the "GUIDE ME" option, or you may set your preferences yourself. The resolution of the image will need to be higher the larger you want your image to turn out.

VueScan Mode Selection

Using the drop-down menu under "MODE", select "35MM SLIDE" for slides, "COLOR NEGATIVE" for color negatives, or "B/W NEGATIVE" for black and white negatives.

Saving the image to the desktop and titling it

Click on the "OUTPUT" tab, then choose to save your image to the desktop, and give the image a title.

To preview the scan, select the green "PREVIEW" button. If you are happy with the previewed image, click on the "SCAN" button to save your images to the desktop.

These are high resolution but tiny images, and you'll need to make some changes.

Open Photoshop by clicking on the blue "PS" icon on the dock. Or go to the "FINDER" and select "APPLICATIONS". Choose the "ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS4" folder. Click on the blue Photoshop icon.

Once you've opened Photoshop, go to "FILE" and select "OPEN." To open your image, click on "DESKTOP" and choose the image from the list of items.

Selecting Image Size From the Image Menu

Because you scanned a small slide, the computer reads it as a tiny image with a high resolution. So you need to change the dimensions.

Under "IMAGE," go to "IMAGE SIZE." A new window will appear.

Adjusting Document Size

The average photo size is 5x7. We'll adjust the measurements under "DOCUMENT SIZE" so that the long side is 7 inches or the shorter side is 5 inches. The other side will automatically adjust to retain the original proportions.

You may need to change the image resolution. If you are printing or need higher quality, a good resolution is 300 pixels per inch. If you are uploading the image online, 72 pixels per inch is sufficient.

To save your image, go to "FILE," "SAVE AS" and choose JPEG under "FORMAT." If you want to edit it further, save it as a TIFF or Photoshop file. Be sure to rename the file if you want to save your original scan. Click "SAVE" (leave the default JPEG options).

At this point, the file is still on the computer's Desktop. You need to save it elsewhere. You can use your email account, personal Webspace, a flash drive or an online photo storage service such as Flickr or Photobucket.

When you have finished scanning, make sure to remove the cartridge from the scanner by pressing the "EJECT" button on the scanner. Remove your media from the trays and return the trays to the equipment desk.