Film Scanning Basics with Negative Supply Capture - Fall 2025

Learn all about the basics of scanning film and build a foundational workflow for digitizing negatives for personal archive, online use, and print reproduction. In this session, participants will digitize film with PCNW's newest film capture system: the Negative Supply direct digital capture station. In addition to orientation on the Negative Supply station, this workshop will cover scanning workflow on Epson Perfection V700/V850 flatbed scanners and the Nikon Coolscan LS-9000 dedicated film scanner using the industry standard VueScan software.

Students will learn the basic workflows for digitally capturing their film images, including cleaning, loading film, digital capture, choosing between file formats, selecting bit depth and resolution, and basic negative inversion and color management in Adobe Lightroom Classic using Negative Lab Pro.

Students may bring a combination of film stocks and sizes including:

• 35mm, 120, 4x5 (other formats can be discussed if desired)
• Color, Black & White
• Positive (chromes/slides), Negative

TOPICS INCLUDE

• Negative Supply Digital Camera Capture
• Epson Perfection V700/V850 flatbed scanner
• Nikon Coolscan LS-9000 dedicated film scanner
• A basic introduction to Vuescan and Negative Lab Pro
• Wet mount scanning for flatbed and digital camera capture
• How to select a file format, bit depth, and resolution

This is an introductory level course with no prerequisite. The workshop will use the Mac OS interface for all programs. Working knowledge of Adobe Lightroom is recommended. This workshop fulfills the scanning orientation requirement for DIY scanner use at PCNW. After taking this workshop, participants will be able to make reservations for DIY scanning in our labs.

Image by PCNW Staff