Film scanner

A film scanner is a device used by individuals to scan photographic film into a personal computer. Unlike a flatbed scanner, which generally requires an intermediate step of printing the image from the exposed film onto paper, a film scanner provides several benefits: the photographer has direct control over cropping and aspect ratio from the original, unmolested image on film; and many film scanners have special software or hardware that removes scratches and film grain and improves color reproduction from film.

Drum scanners typically provide scanned files for high-end applications with resolution and sharpness superior to film scanners. However, drum scanners also are more expensive and laborious to use in comparison, so their market is limited to professional film scanning services instead of individual amateur and professional photographers.