3D stereo slide scanning services
If you have stereo slides, they were all the rage in the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, so it’s likely your stereo slides (or 3D stereo slides, or stereo realist slides) are at least 50 years old. That’s a very long time to leave this special format languishing in a box waiting to be discovered again. If you’re thinking you’ll never find a place to do stereo slide scanning, you’ve found one! Not many places in the country will digitize a stereo slide, but we handle all photo formats and would be honored to work with you on your stereo slide scanning project.
Stereo slides are one of the coolest formats we work on with our slide scanning services. To get technical for a moment, you may have been calling them 3D stereo slides, because the two side-by-side images create the illusion of depth for your brain. This technique is called stereoscopy, and it is very neat, but not the same as presenting an image in three dimensions. Your stereo slides are called stereograms and they are meant to be viewed exclusively through a stereoscope. The first stereoscope was actually invented in 1838, before photography was even available, so they used drawings instead.
So how did you end up with stereo slides in your collection? In 1958, it cost $129 to buy a Stereo Realist camera for stereo photography, and you needed this camera or one made by a competitor to create these images. The process was much more elaborate than just snapping a photo. In addition to the particular way the camera needed to be operated, the slides also had to be specially mounted for viewing. It was an entirely new format of slide, so there are whole lines of accessories and supplies that are just for stereo slides and can’t be used for regular slides, although the cameras themselves were designed to use Kodachrome slide film.
Everything you need to know
about stereo slide scanning
Common questions about stereo slide conversion to digital
Which image do I keep?
There are two images on your stereo slide mount, but they are not EXACTLY the same. Because they are meant to create the illusion of depth, the photos are produced by taking a snap from the perspective of both your right and left eye. The difference between the two is so miniscule, they appear to be completely identical, even though they are not. These perspectives are important when viewing them in a stereoscope, but when digitizing stereo slides, it doesn’t matter which you choose, they will look the same when digital.
Does each photo on my stereo slide count as one scan?
Stereo slides are a specialty format so they are priced differently than our regular slide scanning. Our expertly trained technicians have special mounts and processes for cleaning, optimizing and getting the most out of your stereo slides.
How do I view and sort my stereo slides?
You don’t need a stereoscope to view your stereo slides or other stereograms. The transparencies are created from slide film, so you can easily use a lightbox to view the images. The stereoscope is great to have if you want the full, illusionary effect, but it’s not necessary!
Stereo slide scanning – From Our Blog
How many stereo slides do I have?
This post was written for 35mm slides, but you can apply the tips to stereo slides as well. They are the same width!
Read more about counting stereo slides…
Glossary of photo terms
Your stereo slides may be special, but they’re still photos! This is our guide to photo terms you may hear during your project.
Read more about photo terms…
Understanding stereo slides
A client donated a full Stereo Realist camera set to us! Check out our post about the camera and more details about stereo slides.
Read more about stereo slides…
“My project was to convert 3D Stereo Slides of my parents wedding from 1953 into photos without destroying the slides. They were old, had scratches, required restoration AND needed to be turned around within 10 days…I had them back in plenty of time and the photos were wonderful – received a CD as well for the rest of the family. I highly recommend them for their service, level of professionalism and knowledge. They care about preserving these memories and were truly interested in my project and knew the importance it held for our family. Their office is easy to find, has parking and has a very comfortable environment to meet with them to discuss your needs. My parents were thrilled to see their wedding photos in an album for the first time in 60 years!
I will happily recommend them to everyone!”
– Carolyn G.
Belmont, MA
Visit one of our Northeast locations:
MassachusettsHEADQUARTERS - Newton
Ashburnham
Beverly, MA
Back Bay & South End
Braintree
Burlington
Cambridge/Somerville
Dartmouth
Falmouth
Great Barrington
Natick
Northborough
Northampton
Worcester
or work with us from the comfort of your own home.
You can also ship directly to us!
- Consulations from the privacy of your own home
- Perfect for large or complex projects with multiple formats
- Our certified consultants travel across the Northeast
- Free, no obligations estimate
- Speak with our certified consultants over the phone
- Ship to our headquarters in Newton, MA
Standard & custom pricing for scanning stereo realist slides
We’ll scan your vintage stereo slides to DVD, USB or digital and maintain your organization, including your captions!
- 2000 DPI on professional scanners
- Ordered, titled and numbered
- 3 level human eye quality control
- Dust removal, cleaning & orientation
- 2000 DPI on professional scanners
- Glass & metal stereo slides welcome
- Dust removal via cloth, brush & compressed air
- Ordered, titled & numbered
- Handling fee starts at $0.40/photo
- 4 scanning methods: 300-600 dpi
- Returned as is or in organized photo boxes
- Sleeved, sticky albums & more
- Unique photo projects
- Photo books
- Slideshows
- Work one-on-one with our talented designers
Have a large photo scanning project?
Book your consultation online now to save 15%
- Extra USB: Ask your consultant
- Stereo slides behind glass, or metal: Ask your consultant
- Captions in file name or metadata: $0.99/ea
- Add advanced foldering: $0.15/image
- Advanced organizing (keyword search, etc): $95/hour
- Private website: first 180 days free, then $80/year
WE ORGANIZE AND DIGITIZE ALL OF YOUR MEMORIES
