Accentuate the positive?

December 27, 2017 2:29 PM

I have 12 old roll film (I think) negatives, each approx 3 1/2 ins x 2 1/4 ins. Can I scan them using my Canon 3-in-1 printer and then convert them to positives? Irfanview does not seem to do this. Need help please.
posted by lungtaworld to Technology (5 answers total)

Best answer: It should, though. Have you tried the 'Negative (Invert image)' menu entry in the Image menu, as shown here?

(I can't try it out because I don't use Windows anymore. But I used to loooove Irfan.)
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:48 PM on December 27, 2017

And yes, a flatbed scanner can do this; it's not the most convenient way, but it's certainly possible. A slide scanner is just a scanner with a smaller form factor and trays that slides / negatives fit in. Other than that, it's the same thing, pretty much.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:50 PM on December 27, 2017

Best answer: I use Windows (and Linux) and just verified that on Windows Irfanview version 4.42 64 bit does invert images using the keyboard combination Ctrl-Shift-N (for Negative) as Too-Ticky pointed out above. From the drop down menu it is Image - Negative - All Channels.

I also highly recommend Irfanview to everyone I know (FWIW), and own a Canon MX870 3-in-1 printer. On the other hand, I have never scanned roll film on a flat bed scanner of any kind.
posted by forthright at 4:07 PM on December 27, 2017

Are they black and white or color negatives? Scanning color negatives is a whole lot more complicated.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 4:08 PM on December 27, 2017

Response by poster: I have just checked my Irfanview 4-40 64 and indeed it has the same commands on the menu.
They are black & white negatives from before color film was in common use.
Very many thanks to you all!
posted by lungtaworld at 6:20 PM on December 27, 2017