Use the Right Scanner

• Check that you have a scanner that has a special attachment or gate to accommodate slides. Regular document scanners are not designed for slides to be laid flat against the platen glass. Since slides are transparent, light needs to be able to shine through the slide, not just reflect off one side like a document or photo. Most photo scanners are equipped for 35mm slides, but check with the owner's manual before starting.
  
  

Use the Right Software

• Check that you have the proper photo-editing software installed on your computer. This software usually comes packaged with the scanner itself, but you may have to download the program from the scanner manufacturer's home page. Some of these scanner programs have limited editing abilities, however. If you need special features like "red eye" removal for example, you may need a separate, more powerful photo-editing program like Adobe Photoshop.
  
  

Keep it Clean

• Make sure the photo elements and the scanner are clean and dust-free, so that the scanned images are clear. Use a lint-free and static-free cloth along with non-abrasive, photo-safe cleaning solution to clean these surfaces. You can also use a can of compressed air to blow dust off of the slide.
  
  

Use a High DPI

• Set the scanner to a high resolution (or dots per inch, DPI) to capture as much information as it can. Since the image area of a slide is so small, the resulting scan will have to be enlarged quite a bit. A higher resolution scan will maintain the image details of the slide. Keep in mind that larger resolution scans mean much larger file sizes, so make sure you have ample storage space on your computer's hard drive. If these files are going to be sent as an email attachment, you may need to shrink the file size with the photo editor before sending.
  
  

Editing the Slides

• Using the scanner's photo-editing software or Photoshop, you will have to crop the scanned image from its white cardboard frame. You may also need to straighten the image and brighten faded colors. Other flaws like "red eye" and dust marks may also need correcting. Note that scanning multiple slides at once means you will need to spend more time editing the scans down into individual picture files.