A digital slide scanning apparatus comprising: a stage comprising a support surface configured to support a slide during scanning, the slide having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface; a reference edge attached to the stage, wherein a facing side surface of the reference edge extends above the support surface, such that, when a slide is on the support surface, the facing side surface of the reference edge faces the first side surface of the slide; a movable opposing edge attached to the stage, wherein a facing side surface of the movable opposing edge extends above the support surface, such that, when a slide is on the support surface, the facing side surface of the movable opposing edge faces the second side surface of the slide, and wherein the movable opposing edge is configured to move toward the reference edge and away from the reference edge ; and at least one processor configured to, when a slide is being loaded from a slot in a slide rack, comprising a plurality of slots configured to hold slides, onto the support surface of the stage , control the movable opposing edge to remain away from the second side surface of the slide, so as not to apply any pressure from the movable opposing edge to the second side surface of the slide, when the slide is being scanned, control the movable opposing edge to contact the second side surface of the slide, so as to apply a first amount of pressure from the movable opposing edge to the second side surface of the slide, and, when the slide is being unloaded from the support surface of the stage into a slot in the slide rack by pushing and/or pulling the slide off the support surface , controlling the movable opposing edge to contact the second side surface of the slide, so as to apply a second amount of pressure, less than the first amount of pressure, from the movable opposing edge to the second side surface of the slide while the slide is being pushed and/or pulled off the support surface . a stage comprising a support surface configured to support a slide during scanning, the slide having a first side surface and a second side surface opposite the first side surface; a reference edge attached to the stage, wherein a facing side surface of the reference edge extends above the support surface, such that, when a slide is on the support surface, the facing side surface of the reference edge faces the first side surface of the slide; a movable opposing edge attached to the stage, wherein a facing side surface of the movable opposing edge extends above the support surface, such that, when a slide is on the support surface, the facing side surface of the movable opposing edge faces the second side surface of the slide, and wherein the movable opposing edge is configured to move toward the reference edge and away from the reference edge ; and when a slide is being loaded from a slot in a slide rack, comprising a plurality of slots configured to hold slides, onto the support surface of the stage , control the movable opposing edge to remain away from the second side surface of the slide, so as not to apply any pressure from the movable opposing edge to the second side surface of the slide, when the slide is being scanned, control the movable opposing edge to contact the second side surface of the slide, so as to apply a first amount of pressure from the movable opposing edge to the second side surface of the slide, and, when the slide is being unloaded from the support surface of the stage into a slot in the slide rack by pushing and/or pulling the slide off the support surface , controlling the movable opposing edge to contact the second side surface of the slide, so as to apply a second amount of pressure, less than the first amount of pressure, from the movable opposing edge to the second side surface of the slide while the slide is being pushed and/or pulled off the support surface . <EOS>