Source
r/Portland•
rhoner

Have a slide scanner? Care to help me make this Christmas awesome for my kick-ass Mom?

This time of year is really hard on my Mom, her side of the family is for the most part dead and gone and, to make matters worse, she lost most of her holiday memories in a fire a few years back. She's a kick ass lady and it pains me to see her try and mask her sadness this time of year.

Recently, I came into a huge cache of slides from my great Aunt when she passed and finally went through them all and, lo and behold, I found a single photograph of my grandparents from the mid seventies. I thought it would be next to no big deal to take said slide to a Kinko's or photo processing place and have prints made but NOOOO... it seems as if the humble slide scanner has gone the way of the dodo.

And I find this out with 5 days to go before Xmas.

So, redditors of Portland, do any of you have a slide scanner? I would be happy to bring you a tasty baked treat, bottle of beer, anything... care to make my (and my mom's) holiday?

Posted Dec 20, 2010, 10:29 PM UTC

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drawthrowaway•

Have you thought of maybe a slide projector? There are iddy biddy portable ones and rather large ones that need a bit of setting up (how good is her eye sight?).

I'm sure you can google but:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=slide+projector&x=0&y=0

Edit: also, who would downvote this thread?

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rhonerOPSE•

On short notice this seems like a pretty good idea, I even have an old projector somewhere. It will do til the physical print can be made... thanks for the idea!

As for downvotes... some people just don't like my mom.

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[deleted]•

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=portland+slide+scanning&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0&oq=portland+slide+s

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moktarinoBuckman•

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/sys/2122626411.html

Also, I see them at GoodWill now and again.

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rhonerOPSE•

Thanks... my poor ass can't really afford it but I should have looked before posting anyway.

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jibbycanoeRoseway•

I have an Epson V500 scanner here at work that will scan slides/negatives. I've never used it though and would have no idea how to convert the scan to a picture but I'd be willing to try.

hit me up and maybe we could connect sometime tonight. I live in NE out by Madison HS. I will likely be doing some last minute Christmas shopping tonight too so might be able to meet you somewhere else. I could scan the thing tomorrow at work and get you the image and slide back then. lmk

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rhonerOPSE•

You are the best... however... I have an Epson V500 in my office (hence my waiting til the last minute) and, in spite of what the specifications say, I can't get it to scan a slide or negative at all. Apparently this is a common problem? I'd hate to take up your time for nothing... thank you so, so much for the offer though.

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jibbycanoeRoseway•

oh, ok. I looked at the directions and it doesn't seem like it's that difficult but without actually trying I wouldn't know. I have the attachments that hold the slides and negatives... it seems odd that it wouldn't work considering that's one of the only reason to get a flat bed scanner these days. did you try setting Epson Scan to "professional mode?" there are a lot more options in there that apply to things beyond documents and photos.

well hopefully you can get it figured out. if I had any slides I would try it here and let you know but alas I haven't seen a slide for years..

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rhonerOPSE•

Oh yes, all modes have been tried. It scans fine but produces an all white image. I have hit the forums and it seems like a common problem but, so far, no one has stepped up with an answer. Lame. This is what I get for waiting til the last minute.

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jibbycanoeRoseway•

I found this http://forums.techguy.org/digital-photography-imaging/778282-solved-need-help-epson-v500.html

the scanner comes with two lids. the auto feeder one and one that actually has a light in it. without this light lid there is nothing to illuminate the slides from and thus might be the reason for the white image. make sure you have the right lid on and that it is plugged in. once you do that you should be able to select the proper options to scan the slide

I apologize if this is something you have already tried or already know, but figured I would put it out there in case.

good luck!

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