Using ScanWizard
flatbed scanners in 228

va140/icam101+ week 2

To scan in Photoshop choose:
File -- Import -- Scan Wizard

These two windows will come up.

If you get an alert box instead.....

On the right is the Preview window where you will be able to select exactly what part of the page you want to scan.

On the left is the Settings dialog box where you make your decisions about what kind of scan you want.

The Preview Window

When you've got something on the scanner, click the Preview button in this window.

This image of the Preview window has no image preview showing; the white area is the total available scan area. Note the marquee in the center. Use the Marquee tool (it's button is depressed here) to choose the area you actually want to scan. This marquee can be dragged and resized. You can zoom in with the Magnifier if you need to, but don't rely on this marquee for ultra-precise cropping.

The Settings Window

This is where you make decisions on what quality and size of scan you want.

Type: here's where you choose between color and greyscale (generally what you'll be doing in this class).

Resolution: Go ahead and use the dpi choice. The number you choose depends on the final use of the image - when in doubt scan at a higher resolution, because if you end up increasing it much in Photoshop it will look crummy (just look at these!). 72 is for on-screen use only. The printers do well with a 200 dpi image.

Input: The numbers in the box at the left shows the actual size of what you have selected with the marquee in the Preview Window.

Scaling: This is where you can increase or decrease the size of your scan. 100 is actual size, i.e. 100%.

Output: The numbers in the right are telling you what you'll end up with after you've scanned it. Pay attention to this. Again, when in doubt go bigger, especially if you think you'll be cropping the image. Also, be sure it's measuring in the increments you want (where it say's "inches" on the right).

Image Size: This tells you the file size that your scanned image will be. Resolution, output size, and whether it's color or greyscale contribute to this number.

Auto & Color Correction: These set standard parameters for scanning. They let the scanner decide what's appropriate, and that isn't always what you want.

The buttons along the bottom are for setting your own parameters for (from left to right) contrast / brightness, color, levels, curves, filters, and descreening and other tools. Contrast, levels, and curves are for doing pretty much the same thing. Curves and levels are tricky here, so I'd avoid them unless you know how to use them already. The toolbox icon has Descreening options - this is good for scanning from magazines and newspapers so you don't get the pattern of the halftone screen used for printing.

The drop down menu arrow in the bottom right corner will show you all those image adjustment tools, but without any preview windows.

After you've decided on you're settings and are ready to scan, just hit scan in the Preview Window. When it's done, it will give you the image in Photoshop that you will need to name and save. I suggest that you save intact versions of your scans when you are working, in case you need to start over (with a montage for instance).

You can also scan 3-D objects.
If you do, be careful with the scanner, put plastic-wrap on the glass to keep it clean, and don't get the scanner gunky.