35mm Negative Scanner
Most scanners are made to scan transparent pictures, which are called color positives. A 35mm negative scanner, on the other hand, is made to be able to scan color negative pictures. The reason a normal scanner cannot do negatives is that the resolution and scanning dpi are too low. A 35mm negative scanner must have a dpi of at least 2500 or more, whereas average scanners will be lower than that. The software of the scanner must also be made to handle a negative. This type of scanner is usually much more expensive than a person's average scanner, simply because it is more specialized.
A typical scanner is designed to scan transparencies, which are color positive pictures. A color negative picture is one that is on a film with reversed colors. They are designed to be printed on paper as a color positive picture. A 35mm negative scanner is made to handle negative images without it messing up on the computer or printer.
The 35mm negative scanner has a higher dots per inch, or dpi, than normal scanners. These are the amount of dots of color in the picture on the computer monitor. A higher dpi means the better quality picture the scan will be. Because color negative pictures are darker and have the colors reversed, the dpi must be higher in order to produce a clear image. Normal scanners have dpi in the range of 600 to 1200. A 35mm negative scanner, on the other hand, requires a 2500 dpi minimum, and it is usually higher.
Besides having a specialized scanner, the software must also be able to work with color negative photos. The program must be able to take a color negative photo and turn it into a color positive photo. The colors in a color negative are actually reversed when compared to a color positive. This is the main reason a specialized 35mm negative scanner must be used instead of the average scanner. They come with the necessary software to work with color negatives.
Your average, everyday scanner can only scan photos that are classified as color positive. The 35mm negative scanner is made to scan color negative photos, which are simply photos with the colors reversed. This is the kind of film that comes out of a camera first, which is then treated to become a color positive. The dpi rating of a negative scanner must be at least 2500 in order to handle a color negative. The software must also be made to convert a color negative into a color positive on the computer.