Use Photomyne to scan old 35mm slides

While organizing for a recent move, I came across a large binder in one of the many boxes left to us by my wife's parents.  The sturdy binder contained pages of 35mm slides, and each page was a plastic holder with clear pockets designed specifically for the storage of slides. 

Each page held 20 slides, and there were about 22 pages - more than 400 slides!

I considered sending them out to a commercial company to digitize, but the cost was prohibitive. 

I decided to use the Photomyne app, the Photomyne light tablet, and the Photomyne cellphone arm to scan each one individually.  I would take out one slide, orient it, position it, and then use the handy voice command of "Go!" to have Photomyne automatically scan and repair/improve the slide. As usual, Photomyne did a great job, but... it was taking forever!

So I wondered what would happen if I just held my cell phone and scanned right through the plastic holder pockets....?

It worked great! There were only a few challenges:

• I had to figure out a way to brace my arm and reduce any shake of the phone while scanning, and

• Some of the slides were put in backwards, so I had to flip the sheet over.  I eventually started to check the sheet before I scanned, removed and re-oriented the slides that were backwards, re-inserted them, and then scanned more quickly.

By the way, in post-processing of the slides, you can also flip them 180 degrees if necessary. However, it is easier when you have the physical slide in your hand because you can see the front/back sides. 

I shot each slide individually, and some of them I triaged and decided not to scan.

Bottom line.... I scanned over 400 slides in less than an hour! And quality-wise, I could not tell any difference between the slides I scanned in the plastic sleeves vs. the ones I took out individually and scanned.

I then used the Photomyne desktop app to download and load them into the Mylio photo system. (Check out my YouTube Channel for that video).

PS: Try to find a table that does not require you to bend over.  I had to switch to a higher table!

Mike