Converting Old Slides to DVD

Let’s face it, slides are obsolete. Nobody sits around and watches slide shows anymore. So get with the new millennium and convert all your old slides to dvd. Then you can display them on your computer, send them to friends and family, and just get them out of that old dusty box in the attic.

There are a few options for converting slides to digital:

1. Use a device

2. Rephotograph the slides

3. Scanning the slides

There are some devices on the market that were specifically created to convert slides to dvd. These devices can usually convert your negatives and your slides to a digital image format. You place the slides into a tray that aligns each properly and then press a button to instantly scan the image to a file on your computer. These devices usually connect to your computer with a usb cable. They also typically come with special software that facilitates the process. If you want to convert a lot of slides, these converters are a good way to do it; especially if you don’t have a good digital camera. They’re also very easy to use if you’re not a fan of technology.

If you already own a good digital camera and other accessories, like a light box, and graphics software, taking a picture of the slide is probably the easiest and cheapest method of putting your old slides on a dvd. Attach the camera to the tripod, put the slide on a light box and photograph it at as high a resolution as possible. You can then edit the image with your photo editor on your computer. This method is the best if you just want a decent copy of the slide as soon as possible. Some digital camera models even have a slide adapter that attaches to the front of the camera and allows you to take the best possible picture of the slide.

You can also get a slide attachment for your scanner that you can use to transfer large groups of slides to digital format quickly for archival purposes. This method does not offer the best image quality though. If you want to enlarge any of your images, this method is not the best way to reproduce your slides digitally. If you’re just sending them in email or uploading them to a web site and resolution doesn’t matter, than this method might be the best for you.

If you don’t mind spending the money, you can convert slides to DVD by hiring professionals and spare yourself the hassle! They’ll digitize your slides for you with pretty good quality for a reasonable price. Make sure you trust the photo lab though, especially if the slides are very old and impossible to reproduce if lost or damaged.