1. Turn on the Nikon Slide Scanner, attached to Machine 1.
2. Insert the slide into the scanner
   • Handle the slide by the mount only. DO NOT touch the film itself!
   • Make sure the emulsion side (the duller, matte finish) faces upwards.
   • Insert narrow side first to make sure that the full slide area is scanned.
   • Don't force the slide deep into the slot. The program will load the slide itself.
3. Launch the Coolscan Control Program with the icon on the Desktop.
   You'll see a couple of messages (Preparing the Nikon Scanner Program) and (Opening the SCSI Scanner), and then the Main Scan dialog box will appear.
4. Select the film type and orientation. Slides are Color Positive films.
5. Perform a PREVIEW scan
6. Select the size (dimensions) of the scan
7. Select the final resolution of the scan, based on ultimate output. For use on screens, 72 dpi is sufficient, although you might consider a higher resolution if you want more pixels to manipulate in Photoshop. More information in Assignment Five. You may then LOCK the file size.
8. Select the area of the scan. Drag the corners of the crop rectangle with the mouse to adjust the final size.
9. Adjust the FOCUS, if necessary. (See User's Guide, p. 25 and pp. 95-98)
   • Clicking on the FOCUS button will cause the Focus Level Meter to appear. Manually adjust the Focus Wheel on the scanner itself so that the meter maintains the highest possible value.
   • Or use the Visual Focus Method. Click on the Tool Box dialog box and make sure that the SCANNING FOCUS box is checked. Then, click on the FOCUS button to activate a zoom focus operation.
   • Can't focus? In Photoshop, you can apply an Unsharp Mask that, contrary to its name, will sharpen the image. But unfortunately, neither the use of the focus wheel nor Photoshop tricks can sharpen film that is unfocused to begin with. If problems persist, consider shooting another slide.
10. Perform a final scan, by clicking the SCAN button.
11. Name the file, saving it as a PICT file in your personal folder.
12. Eject the slide, either by clicking the EJECT button or pulliing down EJECT from the menu.
13. Don't forget to turn off the scanner and put the computer to sleep when you're finished. Th-th-th'aaat's all, folks!

Return to Assignment Four

Return to Hulmer Project Page

Return to Amelia Carr's Home Page

Last Updated March 3, 1997