DIY: How to convert your film negatives into digital positives

Step 1: 

I made a film holder of paper and glue paper on a clear glass. One can slide the film negatives from the side.

This project was inspired by www.youtube.com/watch?v=RejaetB-g-o

This is a cheap alternative to negative scanner which is expensive. 

Camera used: Olympus EPL-2

lens used: Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5 lens with +10 macro filter.

Software used for editing and conversion: Adobe Photoshop CS5

Step 2: 

Fit a dedicated macro lens on your camera. I don't have a macro lens so I used a macro +10 lens filter on the existing lens. Macro lens gives better sharpness and resolution but the macro filter is also workable.

Note: When taking pictures of the negatives, use "manual setting" for the lens. 

I used this setting while taking photo:

Camera in Aperture priority and Aperture set to 8

ISO- 200 (lesser the better for clarity. The minimum in Olympus is ISO 200)

Shutter speed: 10-30

Lens in manual focus.

Step 3: 

Open "Notepad" and maximize it. We need a bright and white background.

Step 4:

Set the glass negative holder in front of the computer screen. Make sure no extra reflection falls on the glass/ negatives or the camera lens. I realised that best is when done during the night time.

Step 5: 

Use something so that the glass is not so slanting. I used a hair clip but later *not shown in the photo* I kept a small box in between the glass and the screen so that the glass stood straight.

Step 6: Open the file in photoshop and crop out the sides especially the punched white portion.

After this use this short cuts: Ctrl + I and this way the negatives will be converted into positive. 

The photo may have a blue cast and simple use of " Ctrl+shift+L" will remove the blue cast. 

From here you can do what you want with the photo processing or leave at this stage and save the photo.

Photos developed with this method: