Photoshop Training - Start with the Scan

Not happy with the results you're getting from your scanner? Whether it's a high-end drum scanner, a large format scanner, or an inexpensive desktop scanner, getting the most out of Photoshop isn't an easy task. Professional Photoshop training is an important part of the process. And there's no better place to start that Photoshop training than with the scan.

The quality of the image you bring in from your scanner is essential. Start with a bad scan and you'll end up with mud. To that end, I'd like to share some scanning tips penned by Mike Paternoster--a true prepress wizard and buddy--for The Photoshop Plug-ins Book, back in 1997. It's great advice and still holds true today ...

Most professional-level image acquisition devices share basic similarities. Drum scanners, flatbed scanners, transparency scanners, and even digital cameras all provide some type of software to control color separations.

Taking advantage of these tools is a primary challenge for everyone from the highly skilled drum scanner operator through the greenest graphic designer. Have you ever looked at a wall of television sets in an electronic store, where every TV set produced slightly different color? Scanners are the same way. Before you can manipulate any scanner medium, you must first understand the scanner's personality.

Therefore, the next logical step is to scan (at the scanners default setting) a variety of originals--35mms, 4x5s, 8x10, high key, low key, anything that shows a assortment of color. Performing this task before doing any live production scanning can save time and money in scanning jobs multiple times to get it right. Of course, every scanner will have its own calibration method that should be adhered to also.

Evaluating these test scans to their originals will allow you to better understand how the scanner sees different subjects. Let's assume, for example, that all the images have a red cast and are heavy. Now you as the operator have some experience with the scanner and can anticipate this color cast prior to scanning.

Some scanners allow you to adjust overall brightness and cast. These scanners often allow you to save these settings. If this is the case, you can reduce the overall tone, take out a little red, and then save the adjustments so that they can be used as a standard starting point for every subsequent scan.

I'll be back with more valuable Photoshop tips next week ... :)