If you have old negatives or slides that you want to preserve digitally, you probably already know that just throwing them on your flatbed scanner won’t work. You need a bright light source that comes from behind the negative and the multi-function printer/scanner you use to print coupons is seriously lacking in that department. However, if you hack up a bit of silver cardboard and place it strategically over the film strip you want to scan, you can get your film negatives onto your computer.

The technique requires thick silver card stock, over which you print this pattern, before cutting and taping it into the shape you see in the photo above. You position it above the slide you want to save, and during the scanning process, the light from the flatbed bounces up into the wedge, and reflects back down behind the slide, giving you a basic backlight.

Once the slide or negative is scanned at an appropriate resolution, you can invert the colors, and then perform other corrections in order to remove dust or color errors.

The best part? You can tweak the design to fit whatever size film you have lying around. Even if you have a dedicated flatbed film scanner, it can still be difficult to scan negatives bigger than a standard roll of 120 medium format film.

While the results might not be quite the quality of a dedicated scanner, it’s a much cheaper option using materials you can easily and cheaply get, and a piece of hardware there’s a pretty good chance you already have lying around the house.

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Printing photographs onto wood is hardly a new idea—many professional printing services offer it, and it’s a unique alternative to more traditional printing mediums. But what if you want to do it at home? It’s easier than you’d think, and all it takes is just a few bits and pieces that you’re likely to have floating around anyway.

This tutorial from Steve Ramsey of Woodworking for Mere Mortals runs through the entire process in just two minutes. To do it, all you need to do is print on a piece left-over backing from self-adhesive labels. This provides a surface where the ink will sit, but not bond or dry. From there, it’s a simple matter of transferring the image over to the wood, and then fixing it in place.

As you might guess, there are some caveats. The resolution of the print is fairly low, and this process desaturates the colors substantially. Since there’s no white ink, white areas of the image will instead be the natural color of the unfinished wood—and since it’s a transfer, the final image is horizontally mirrored, unless you address that in editing before the print.

But for just a couple of bucks in parts, it’s a fun way to try something very different with your printing. Besides, you can use this technique to create some custom woodworking wedding gifts that will be appreciated by the couple.

[via PetaPixel, Lifehacker]

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Scanning your film using a DSLR isn’t exactly a new idea. For a long time, people have been rigging together DIY setups with a diffuse light behind a film, then taking a photo of it with their digital camera to record the image. It’s cheaper than a dedicated film scanner, but these methods require a substantial amount of time and effort. But the folks at Botsmedia in the Netherlands have figured out a way to automate the process for slide film, getting through a huge number of images in no time flat.

The process is explained pretty well in the video below, but it’s remarkably straight forward. A DSLR with a macro lens is focused on a modified slide projector, which has an automated advancer. Combine that with an intervalometer on the camera, and a photo is taken every time the slide rack advances. In just a manner of minutes, all the images are photographed, and ready for further editing if required.

Victor Kaijser Bots, who built the project, admits that he might have been able to get higher quality images with a dedicated scanning rig. But this way allowed him to scan 1500 images in one day—and if you’re just trying to digitize memories, and aren’t trying to get the best possible quality, that’s a pretty fantastic DIY project.

(via DIYPhotography)

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In addition to a new lens and flash, Nikon today also announced an affordable compact zoom camera, which brings a long lens for an eminently reasonable price. The new Nikon Coolpix L620 has a 14x 25-350mm equivalent lens, an 18.1-megapixel 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor, and a pricetag of just $250.

Unsurprisingly for a budget oriented camera like this, the technical specs of this camera are no great shakes. The lens has an aperture range of f/3.3-5.9, but at least the camera has an optical, lens based vibration reduction system, which should do something to counter the limited maximum aperture. The lens features 11 elements in 10 groups (2 ED lens elements), and the camera also packs a 3-inch, 460,000 dot LCD.

For power, the L620 relies on AA batteries, so your battery life will depend on what sort you use. Alkalines will get you just 150 shots, or 10 minutes of video recording, but if you use lithium that jumps to 660 shots or 1:25 of footage.

The video runs to a respectable maximum of 1920×1080 at 30fps, and ISO tops out at 3200. Unfortunately, there are no manual controls, so you’re stuck with program auto, and a plethora of scene modes.

If you need a pocket, and pocket-book, friendly travel zoom, the L620 will be available in September for $249, in either red or black.

Full press release below:

The New Nikon COOLPIX L620 is the Easy Way to Capture Great Photos and Videos, Even at a Distance

The Latest Addition to Nikon’s Comfort Long Zoom Camera Lineup Helps to Capture Life’s Special Moments with Little Fuss

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Today, Nikon Inc. introduced the new COOLPIX L620, an easy to handle compact camera with a versatile 14x optical zoom lens that makes it easy to shoot amazing images and Full HD video up close or from a distance. A great companion for the always on-the-go individual looking to capture special moments, the L620 offers user friendly features such as Scene Modes, Easy Auto Mode, Special Effects and Target Finding AF, as well as Full HD video recording at the touch of a button.

“The comfortable ergonomics and thoughtfully placed controls of the COOLPIX L620 make it easy to capture amazing memories from a baby’s first steps to a big hit at a little league baseball game,” said Bo Kajiwara, Vice President of Marketing, Planning and Customer Experience, Nikon Inc. “The COOLPIX L620 also includes many user-friendly features and controls to help consumers capture beautiful photos and videos with ease and confidence.”

The camera body of the COOLPIX L620 is designed specifically for users who seek simplicity with the added benefits and capabilities of a long zoom lens. The incredible 14x optical zoom-NIKKOR glass lens covers a focal length of 25mm to a distant 350mm (35mm equivalent), making the L620 ideal for taking on vacations as well as special moments that require shooting at a distance. For added stability, the integrated grip provides extra support when shooting or composing on the bright, high resolution HVGA 3.0-inch LCD monitor.

The new COOLPIX L620 boasts an 18.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, which assists in capturing detailed images with rich color and clarity. Even in low-light conditions, the camera can help the user to create sharper images with the assistance of lens-shift VR Image Stabilization and wide ISO range up to 3200 ISO. The L620 also features one-touch recording making it is simple to create fun videos and memories in Full HD 1080p video with stereo sound.

Capturing great still shots is effortless with Nikon’s easy-to-use Scene Modes or Easy Auto Mode which enable users to enhance their photos with options like Red Eye Fix and Face-Priority AF. Other special effects include Quick Retouch, Filter Effects and Skin Softening to create truly flattering portraits. For added convenience, the use of readily available AA-size batteries makes it easy for the user on the go.

Price and Availability

The Nikon COOLPIX L620 will be available in September 2013 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $249.95* and is available in either Black or Red. For more information about this COOLPIX camera or other Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

In order to give consumers a more effective way to understand the benefits of each COOLPIX camera and to help users determine the best camera to fit their lifestyle, Nikon has segmented the COOLPIX series into five categories: Advanced Performance, Fun & Innovative, Ultra-Slim Zoom, Comfort Long Zoom and Budget Friendly. For more information about this and other COOLPIX cameras, please visitwww.nikonusa.com.

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While GoPro may continue to dominate the action camera market, that hasn’t prevented Garmin from tacking a crack, with the newly announced Virb and Virb Elite. Garmin has thrown in a bucketload of features, wide-reaching connectivity, and a very good battery life, but we’ll see if it’s enough to unseat the champion.

The Virb is unusual in that it has a single, extremely large switch, which starts it recording, rather than having to fiddle with little buttons. It also has a long, three hour battery life, which should be enough for most of your extreme downhill sports for an afternoon.

Garmin hasn’t quite given us all the technical specifications for the Virb, so we don’t know just how tough it’s meant to be — but apparently it can last up to 30 minutes at depths of one meter, and is bump and drop resistant. In another curious move, the Virb uses a 1.4-inch Chroma display that relies on ambient light rather than its own illumination. Which is great for battery life, but not so handy in dim situations.

The Virb has baked in digital image stabilization and lens distortion correction, and records 1080p video and 16-megapixel stills to a microSD card. Both the Virb and Virb Elite can talk to a variety of Garmin’s other devices using its ANT+ connection system. So you can link it to your heart-rate, outside temperature, or more. An action cam that starts recording once your heart rate is at a certain point is a pretty wonderful idea.

The Elite model adds a number of built-in sensors as well, giving you an accelerometer, altimeter, GPS, and Wi-Fi connections. Apparently, there’s even a ski mode, which will automatically record when going downhill, but won’t when taking the chairlift back up.

Expect the Virb to ship next month for $299 for the base model, and $399 for the Elite.

Full press release follows:

Garmin® Enters the Action Camera Market with Compact, Waterproof, Easy-to-use HD Cameras, VIRB™ and VIRB Elite™

OLATHE, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced VIRB, its first true HD 1080p action camera series. From action sports to family vacations, VIRB combines a unique feature set that makes it easier than ever to capture life’s memories. VIRB features a rugged and waterproof (IPX-7) housing, so there is no extra case necessary to withstand the elements. The unique 1.4-inch Chroma™ color display makes setup and playback a breeze and uses minimal power so VIRB can record up to three hours of true HD (1080p) video on one charge. On-board video enhancement features such as digital image stabilization and lens distortion correction ensure that footage recorded with VIRB will look great, even before editing. VIRB can capture high quality still photos while the video camera is recording. VIRB Elite incorporates all these features, plus has built-in WiFi, data sensors and a high-sensitivity GPS. Both VIRB and VIRB Elite feature ANT+™ connectivity for remote control functionality with other Garmin products, and for data transfer with other fitness sensors.

“Action cameras are growing rapidly in popularity, and VIRB has some game-changing key features—like a color display, extended battery life, optional GPS and compatibility with existing Garmin products—that set it apart from other cameras on the market,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Our customers already embrace an active lifestyle, whether they’re hikers, mountain bikers, skiers, trail runners, boaters, or pilots, so a Garmin action camera is a compelling option to them. With GPS and enhanced wireless capabilities in VIRB Elite, users can capture not only what they were doing, but also where they were and how they did it—and then share it with their friends and family.”

VIRB has a sleek, aerodynamic design that makes it fun and simple to record HD video- just move the slider forward to record. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery can record up to three hours of HD (1080p) video with one charge, and can be easily changed on the go. The WideVü lens captures all the action, and the high-resolution Chroma display makes it easy to change menu settings, set-up and playback shots, but has reflective technology so it doesn’t drain the battery. The 1.4-inch screen uses ambient light (instead of a battery-draining backlight) to illuminate the screen and make it easy to see in bright sunlight.

VIRB is durable enough to capture even the most extreme activities right out of the box. With the rugged external housing, VIRB has an IPX-7 waterproof rating (can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes), so it can record activities like skiing and kayaking without additional protection or fear of damage. An optional dive case is available for deep-sea adventures, as well as a wide variety of other rugged mounts to secure VIRB to handlebars, helmets, surfboards and more. VIRB easily snaps into the mounts, and the teeth linkages tightly secure VIRB in place to prevent drooping and sagging in high vibration environments. There is even an available industry standard mounting adapter, making it easy for existing action camera users to get started with VIRB.

Users don’t have to be professional cinematographers to get great footage with VIRB. Video enhancement features ensure quality footage, even before the editing process begins. The digital image stabilization technology corrects camera shakiness for smoother footage, and the lens distortion correction feature gives users the option to automatically remove the fish-eye look that is common with action cameras. In addition to high quality video, VIRB can take 16 megapixel stills with photo burst and time lapse options. VIRB can even take stills while recording video. VIRB also has a micro HDMI output for convenient video playback and a microSD slot that can hold up to 64GB card (64GB microSD card can hold over seven hours of 1080p video).

VIRB Elite incorporates all these features, as well as high-sensitivity GPS, accelerometer, altimeter and WiFi. WiFi capabilities allow users to connect to the free mobile applications for iPhone and Android. VIRB Elite comes equipped with specific activity profiles so users can track location, speed, elevation, heart rate (monitor sold separately) and more while recording. This data can be reviewed right on the device, or can be embedded into their video during the editing process.

Additionally, in Ski Mode, the VIRB Elite is able to recognize the difference between going down the mountain and going up the ski lift. In this setting, VIRB Elite automatically turns on and starts recording when going down the mountain, and then goes into standby mode once on the ski lift. This mode saves battery and memory space, and keeps the user from forgetting to record when going down the mountain. This allows VIRB Elite to record all the action while users focus on their activity.

VIRB allows many current Garmin customers to take advantage of the Garmin ecosystem. In addition to the optional accessory remote (available Q1 2014), the Edge® 810, fēnix™, quatix™, Oregon® 600 series, and many more can control VIRB allowing users to start and stop recording and take stills right on the device through ANT+ wireless communication (for the full list of device compatibility, visit garmin.com/virb). Also through ANT+, users are able to control several connected VIRB devices. Just move the slider forward to record on the master device, and all the other connected VIRB devices will record as well. VIRB Elite is compatible with other sensors with ANT+ connectivity such as the heart rate monitor, cadence sensor and tempe**™ **temperature sensor. This data can then be embedded into the video during the editing process, or viewed on the display of VIRB Elite.

To complement VIRB Elite, Garmin is launching a mobile application for preview, playback and remote functionality, along with a free desktop software application to edit and upload VIRB and VIRB Elite videos. With this software, users can easily edit their footage and embed sensor data in the video, then share with family and friends or upload to social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

VIRB and VIRB Elite will be widely available for purchase in September 2013. VIRB MRP is $299.99, and VIRB Elite MRP is $399.99. VIRB is the latest solution from Garmin’s outdoor segment, which focuses on developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ outdoor experiences. Whether it’s golfing, hiking, hunting or geocaching, Garmin outdoor devices are becoming essential tools for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. For more information about Garmin’s other outdoor products and services, go to garmin.com/outdoors, garmin.blogs.com and twitter.com/garmin.

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In Boyers, Pennsylvania, there sits what used to be a limestone quarry. Dug 220 feet below the surface, a strictly temperature controlled environment holds one of the greatest photo collections known to humanity: Corbis Images’ Bettman Archive. Comprised of more than 11 million images, stored in the underground facility known as the Film Preservation Facility. Now a documentary takes you inside the archive, showing off what this deep, cold, and stable place does.

The Bettman Archive started as a collection of 15,000 images that Otto Bettmann brought with him when he fled Nazi Germany. For decades, his growing collection was stored in Manhattan, but in 2002 Corbis Images took an unprecedented step in preservation, moving it to the Iron Mountain storage facility.

The temperature of the storage facility there is gradually being lowered it -4°F, and is uniquely seismically stable. At that low temperature, the images and filmstock will degrade hundreds of times more slowly than it would otherwise, preserving the medium for future use. Simultaneously, Corbis is scanning and digitizing images as it goes, for more immediate needs.

This documentary is part of the The Invisible Photograph series, the same Carnegie Museum of Art production that recently unveiled the missing digital Warhol work. This video shows just how incredible this attempt to store these images is, and hopefully it will mean that they’ll be preserved for the forseeable future.

[via Gizmodo]

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The zoom lens is one of the last advantages compact cameras cling to over their compact camera ounterparts. A cheapo compact will still get you a decent zoom, while a smartphone will be limited to a fixed focal length. Even Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Zoom had a fixed lens. But now they have announced the Samsung Galaxy K, and will bring the world of zooms and the world of smartphones together.

Since it isn’t planned to come to the USA, we don’t know how much it’ll cost. But according to early reports, it’ll have a 20.7-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, a maximum aperture of f/3.1, and a zoom range of 24-240mm equivalent. On the smartphone side of the equation, there’s 4.8-inch, 720p Super AMOLED display, six-core processor (quad-core 1.3GHz, dual-core 1.7GHz), 2GB of RAM, 8GB of onboard storage.

Alongside full manual controls, Samsung has also packed this model with interesting shooting modes, like Pro Suggest, which gives you five different scene mode choices for any possible shooting situation; or Selfie Alarm, where you specify where in the frame you want your face to go, and when your head moves into the right area, it’ll rapidly fire off three shots.

It remains to be seen if Samsung will bring the Galaxy K to other markets (or something else similar)—but if you’re going to carry around a gadget in your pockets, it only makes sense to have it do double duties as much as possible.

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Alien Skin Software has now announced that Exposure 6 will be launching in June, further refining the analog-replicating plugin set. Alongside interface and speed tweaks, Alien Skin has also added in the ability to replicate bokeh, giving you the look and feel of wide open aperture even if you were shooting on the sunniest day imaginable.

Exposure 6 features an updated imaging processing engine, which should allow for files to be opened and edited faster than they were before. The interface has been tweaked and streamlined, including a new basic control panel. Users can also create and share their own borders, textures, and lighting effects.

Alien Skin has also teamed up wtih photographers Parker J Pfister and Jeff Ascough to tweak a number of other parts of the program:

Exposure 6 will launch in June for $149. Owners of any previous version of Exposure will get upgrade pricing of $69, and if you picked up Exposure 5 in March 2014 or later, you’ll get the new edition for free. You can see more examples of images edited with the plugin on the Alien Skin blog.

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In 1985, Amiga contacted pop-artist Andy Warhol to experiment with the Amiga 1000 as part of an advertising campaign around the new, and then cutting edge, computer. Warhol produced a series of images on the Amiga, some of which were drawn freehand, others were edits of existing files, but almost all were lost to the mists of time (and obsolete storage mediums)—but now the images have been restored, and will broadcast as part of a documentary series.

Artist Cory Arcangel learned of Warhol’s Amiga work through a YouTube video of Warhol painting Debbie Harry with the computer. While that image in particular remains in the Warhol archives, the rest of his Amiga work was committed to the floppy disks of the Amiga 1000—a format that’s so far removed from modern computers as to be almost totally obsolete.

However, Arcangel was able to gain the help of curator Tina Kukielski of Carnegie Museum of Art. They enlisted the help of the Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Club, which has an incredible archive of old hardware to work from. With the assistance of the the Hillman Photography Initiative at CMOA, they were able to recover these images which would otherwise have been lost.

Keep in mind, this was around five years before Adobe Photoshop would first be released, and the concept of being able to digitally manipulate an image was still groundbreaking. Being able to copy and paste within a photo, or dramatically change the color with the paintbucket was a massive change from how things would have been done before.

You can read more about the initiative through a press release from the Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art. The story of recovering these images will be shown as an episode in the The Invisible Photograph documentary series.

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