As one answer in your Q&A area said "it is tricky to convert a scaned color negative to a positive due to the orange tint". Is there any info on how to go about this? or any software to do it for you? I want to use the HP6200C flat bed scanner.

-- John B Gillespie (tarmon100@aol.com), January 10, 1999

Answers

I don't know how similar the 6200 scanner is to the 6100, but there's a reputedly excellent scanning utility that supports the HP 6100 called SilverFast, marketed by LaserSoft, at www.lasersoftint.com. The pricing of SilverFast varies depending on the quality of the scanner you're connecting to, the version for the HP 6100 running $299. - Not cheap, but from what I've heard, probably worth it. Check out the LaserSoft web site, let us know how you like the package if you decide to get it. (I think they also have sample copies available for free download.)

-- Dave Etchells (web@imaging-resource.com), January 11, 1999.

I remember a construction article from an electronics magazine from a few years back that detailed how to build a unit to electronically convert a negative to a positive for viewing. The way they got rid of the orange brown tint was to use a blue filter(I'm pretty sure it was blue since that would be opposite orange on a color wheel, but it may have been an orange-brown filter?) of the appropriate shade. Checking with a knowledgeable old hand at a photosupply or developing shop might yield a part number and manufacturer for such a filter. You still have to convert the negative to a positive, but the filter will remove the orange tint. I think many graphics programs have a negative function to invert the colors once you've gotten rid of the orange tint. I mention this since it's a pretty cheap alternative if you're willing to do the legwork. Maybe Dave or someone else can confirm which color filter would remove the orange tint. I think the trick in this case is remembering that whatever shade you shift the image too, it will still have to be inverted after that to get the proper color positive. If anyone can confirm what I've detailed here with the appropriate filter I'd love to hear about it. I hope this low-tech, cheap solution works.

-- Gerald M. Payne (gmp@francorp.francomm.com), January 15, 1999.