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Question for Artisits
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:14 pm
by EvilBilly
I am looking for technical advice on how to scan/enhance/color hand-drawn pictures into the computer. Specifically software programs used, DPI settings for the scanner. I have scanned drawings into CorelDraw with limited success.
Re: Question for Artisits
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:30 pm
by Nightposter
Billy, are you Mac or Windoze
All my drawings are scanned on a Mac (OS 9.2) using an Agfa Snapscan 1236 ( yea it's old but it works) 
I either use Photoshop 6 if I really need to bash the work around, but usually I use a Mac only program that came with my scanner called "Adobe Photodeluxe" It's kinda like Photoshop lite, or Photoshop for dummies, because it's really easy.
I input at 400dpi, scaled to 150% and it gives me a raw image at about 25 meg to play with. after making all the changes ( contrast, saturation, adding a layer for my logo, etc )
I select "Photo size" reduce to 8x10 (keeping the aspect ratio locked together) and then select 100 dpi ( anything more than that, unless you are at deviantArt and want to sell prints - is a waste of file size. I usually end up with a master to save as a tiff for my archive at about 5meg, and a Jpg to post at about 500K ( If needed I further reduce the size in a photo resizer program )
ON the Pee Cee I use a HP scanjet, and either GIMP or Photoscape, using the same input settings. But I don't usually scan my art with those, as for some reason I end up with a blue cast in all my art after saving. Works fine for scanning pics tho.
Re: Question for Artisits
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:02 pm
by EvilBilly
NP: Thanks for all the info, this is really helpful! I run Windows on a PC, need to get Photoshop. Are your pictures colored by hand, or are you adding the color after the scan?
Re: Question for Artisits
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:19 pm
by Nightposter
I'm colored pencils on paper, "embellished" by the controls in photoshop.
I tried "painting by computer" and didn't like the results ( neither did my fans)
every once in awhile someone will ask me to post one of the drawings that I haven't finished, in 10 years only one person painted one of my works to the satisfaction of my fans -
and he printed out my sketch and hand inked it.
Here's one I finished last week...
enjoy