scanning slides

hi,
does anyone know a good way of scanning slides (transparencies?) without it just coming out all black, or really dark? i tried backing up with white paper, but no difference.

thanks

I've never actually done it before, but you probably just need a scanner that has a slide/negative attachment. It is a light source that you put over the slide so that it will show up when you try to scan it.

Deker would be correct.

If I'm lazy and dont wanna drag out the slide scan attachment, I'll sometimes put a white piece of paper behind a slide and scan that way. Then just try to ramp up the curves adjustment once the scan is done. Usually works as a quickie solution.

Do you leave the lid open when you do that? Maybe you could put a white piece of paper over the slide, then shine a light on it...

Good suggestion Dek. I don't do that myself, but a lamp or flashlight shining over a slide should work a lot better. Much less curves adjustment anyway.

thanks for that. using the torch or leaving the lid open nakes just gives me whiteness, but i can actually get an image using a few sheets of paper behind the slide with the lid open. the curves thing helps too, tho i havent used it before. i think i might try doing it black and white, cos the colours keep coming up really skewed toward toward blue or red.

thanks

If the colors are getting skewed towards blue/red whatever, you can also do a channel curves adjustment. Go back to your curves, but on top, in the little "channel" checkbox, you can select individual color channels. Too much blue, just select the blue channel and adjust its curve. You get the idea.