Oxford Duplication Centre

Specialist Glass Plate Negative Digitisation Services

Lantern slides first originated in the 17th century and consisted of hand-painted illustrations on glass that were projected with light to be used as a form of storytelling. It was not until 1849, ten years after the invention of photography that photographic lantern slides were introduced.

Our department can support clients with all glass plate negative scanning requirements.  With experienced digitisation technicians that are skilled in the preparation of  scanning lantern slides and glass plate negatives, we can ensure your archive of plates are converted into high quality images. Digitisation offers essential protection from constant handling of this fragile medium. Regardless of negative plates and sizes, we are able to convert and create stunning images in most formats, to include Archival TIFF/RAW or easy to use JPEG images.

Glass plates were far superior to film for research-quality imaging because they were extremely stable and less likely to bend or distort, especially in large-format frames for wide-field imaging. Early plates used the wet collodion process. The wet plate process was replaced late in the 19th century by gelatin dry plates.

Photographic materials require careful handling to ensure the process of digitisation does not degrade their condition. Glass plate negatives, films with a nitrate base, and many photographic materials are susceptible to fingerprints, scratches, and sensitive to heat.

Professional digitisation scanning services. Creating high resolution digital formats for long term preservation.  Working with museums, historical archival companies, corporations and private clients, we can cater for small units to bulk large orders in the many 1000's.