Scanning Pictures Tutorial

When using our various 3D and animation services, we deal in negative film based 3D cameras which require no scanning or digital input. Just send us the film negative for printing. See “2 Lens 3D Cameras” page.

We deal with flat prints, slide film, digital files etc. which all need to be digitalized at the appropriate resolution and quality for us to make into film negative for the actual printing. See “Digital 3D” page.

For flat photos or prints, ideally these will be scanned as RGB colour files (even black and white) at 300 DPI (pixels per inch) of the final print size. For instance a 4” x 6” final print will be scanned at 1200 x 1800 pixels. A good flat bed scanner can accomplish this.

For 35mm film, or non 3D negative film, ideally these will be scanned at 2400 DPI(pixels per inch) in RGB mode using a high end flatbed scanner with transparency adapter or dedicated 35mm film scanner.

For digital 3D cameras or computer generated 3D or animation pictures, these are already digitalized and can be sized at approximately 2500 x 2500 pixels. After scanning and/or digitizing these various types of images, they are ready to be prepared for using our services.

Flat non 3D pictures are sent as 300 DPI to finished print size RGB mode as a low compression(10-12) JPG or TIF file to us. (See “Sending us Pictures”) for converting into 3D images.

All other digitized images that are 3D or animated are prepared and inserted into the appropriate template (See ”Digital 3D or Animation Templates”) Boxes following our tutorial. Once prepared you send the file to us. See ”Sending us Pictures.”

If you are unable to prepare your files for our templates we can do that work for you for $25 per hour. A good quality 3D or animation photo should take no longer than one hour to prepare and put into a template. Instead of using our services, we recommend that you get someone to do it for you locally, if you don’t feel comfortable yourself. That can give you more control over cropping and window placement etc. than if we do it.

Note: The quality of your 3D or animation print is very dependent on the quality of the original image and scan quality.

We also do not repair pictures. There are local services that can do that for you.

We also do not like to receive your valuable original photos unless special arrangement has been made.