Slidebilder

Slidebilder is a term used to refer to images designed for projection on a screen from a slide projector or for display in slide-based presentation formats. Traditionally, slidebilder describe photographic transparencies mounted in a frame, most commonly 35 mm diapositive, which are viewed by projecting light through the image onto a screen. The term is used in German-speaking contexts and is closely related to the English word “slides” or “diapositive.”

Historically, slidebilder emerged with the development of color film and portable page-sized projectors in the mid-20th century. They enabled educators, business presenters, and photographers to show sequential images during lectures or demonstrations without relying on bulky printouts. The slide format offered advantages such as rapid image changing, compact storage, and the ability to reuse slides in different contexts.

With the advent of digital technology, many slide collections have been digitized, and presentation software can display images that once existed only as physical slides. Digital slides, stored as JPEG, PNG, or TIFF files, can be organized in slide decks and projected using modern projectors or displayed on screens. Despite this shift, slidebilder still hold cultural and archival value, particularly in museums, photography archives, and education where original transparencies are part of historical records or aesthetic practice.

Preservation of physical slidebilder involves controlling light exposure, humidity, and temperature to prevent fading or emulsion degradation. Digitization and proper metadata enable improved access, searchability, and long-term preservation.

See also: diapositives, slide projector, digital slides, presentation software.