Video Tutorial: How to Stack Slides Face Down (Bottom-Up Method)

Watch This Complete 4-Minute Tutorial

This detailed video shows the complete bottom-up stacking method from start to finish. You'll learn exactly how to place slides face down, stack them in order, flip the completed stack, and label everything properly for scanning.

This method ensures:

• Slide #1 gets scanned first
• All slides face the same direction
• Your digital folders match your physical organization
• Proper scanning orientation (no backwards images)

Tip: Right-click the video and select "unmute" to hear the detailed audio explanation.

The Bottom-Up Stacking Method: Step by Step

This is the most foolproof method for stacking slides in the correct scanning order. Follow these steps exactly as shown in the video:

Step 1: Identify the Logo Side
Make sure all your slides have the logo (Kodak, Kodachrome, Ektachrome, etc.) facing the same direction. The logo is the front, which should face the scanner.

Step 2: Place Slide #1 Face Down
Take your first slide and place it face down on the table—logo side down, touching the table. This feels backwards, but it's correct.

Step 3: Stack Remaining Slides On Top
Place slide #2 face down on top of slide #1. Then place slide #3 on top of that. Continue stacking all slides face down in order.

Step 4: Flip the Entire Stack
When you've stacked all slides face down, flip the entire stack over. Now slide #1 is on top (face up), which is exactly where it needs to be for scanning.

Step 5: Label and Secure
Label the stack with your chapter number. Secure with rubber bands (not too tight—you don't want to damage the slides).

Why This Method Works

The bottom-up stacking method might feel counterintuitive at first (why are we placing slides face down?), but it's the most reliable way to ensure proper scanning order.

The physics of it: When you stack slides face down and then flip the stack, gravity and geometry automatically put everything in the right order. Slide #1 ends up on top where it belongs, and all slides face the same direction.

Alternative methods exist (like stacking face up), but they're trickier and easier to mess up. The bottom-up method shown in this video is what we recommend because it's simple, consistent, and produces reliable results every time.

How We Scan Your Stacks

Understanding how we scan helps clarify why stacking order matters:

We scan from the top down. The slide on top of your stack gets scanned first and becomes the first image in that digital folder.

We scan the logo side. The side with the brand name (front) faces the scanner, just as it would face a projector screen.

Order is preserved perfectly. If you send us slides stacked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, your digital files will be numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in that exact order.

Multiple stacks become multiple folders. Each rubber-banded stack with a chapter label becomes its own folder on your disk or flash drive.

Labeling Your Stacks

Clear labeling is just as important as proper stacking. Here's how to label effectively:

Use sticky notes or index cards. Place a label on top of each stack showing the chapter number clearly.

Number sequentially. Stack 1, Stack 2, Stack 3, etc. We scan stacks in the order you number them.

Optional descriptions help. You can add brief notes like "Chapter 1 - Summer 1985" or "Chapter 2 - Christmas 1990" if you want those descriptions in your folder names.

Make labels secure. Ensure labels won't fall off during shipping. Tape them down if necessary.

Securing Stacks with Rubber Bands

Rubber bands keep your carefully organized stacks together during shipping and handling. Here's the right way to use them:

Use quality rubber bands. Fresh rubber bands that aren't dried out or brittle.

Not too tight. Secure the stack firmly, but don't compress slides so tightly that you risk damaging the mounts.

Two bands work well. One band lengthwise, one band widthwise creates a secure grid that won't slip.

Check before shipping. Give each stack a gentle shake to confirm slides are secure and won't come loose in transit.

What If I Stack Them Wrong?

Don't panic if you're worried you've made a mistake! Here's the reality:

We can fix orientation issues. If slides are facing the wrong direction, we can flip the digital images. It's not ideal, but it's fixable.

Order matters most. As long as your slides are in the sequence you want (even if they're facing backwards), we can work with that.

When in doubt, send photos. Take pictures of your stacks and email them to us. We'll confirm you've stacked correctly.

Call us with questions. Reach us at 1-800-844-1393. We're happy to walk you through the process on the phone.

More Slide Preparation Resources

We have a complete library of preparation videos and guides:

• All Preparation Videos
• How to Identify Slide Fronts and Backs
• Slide Storage Containers Guide
• Organizing Carousel Trays
• Using Household Boxes for Storage

Ready to Get Your Slides Scanned?

Once you've stacked your slides using the bottom-up method shown in this video, you're ready to send them for professional scanning.

Every slide receives expert attention: We scan at 4,000 PPI and apply professional Photoshop editing to each image. Your digital files will reveal details you never saw in the original slides.

Your organization is preserved: We respect the order you've carefully created. Your stacks become folders, your sequences remain intact, and everything stays exactly as you intended.

Trusted since 2002: We've scanned millions of slides with meticulous care and attention to detail.