Scanning the PicturesFor this project a flatbed scanner will be connected to the computer. A good scanner will cost anywhere from $80 to several hundred dollars. We will also use image-editing software and a computer-based video-editing program that will be used to convert the newly created home movie into both a master tape and a DVD.
For this project Kristin Berg, a graphics designer, will work with photos belonging to her dad, retired college professor Kjell Johansen. Many of the photos being archived were handed down to him by relatives; some of the photos date back more than a century.
Steps:1. Use a lint-free cloth, available at camera stores, to clean the glass top of the scanner. Moisten the cloth with a mild glass cleaner, but avoid cleaners containing ammonia or rubbing alcohol.
2. Select the photos to be scanned. Glossy and semigloss photos work best because they have a clear surface. Avoid matte finishes if possible, since the scanner will probably pick up the indentations in the pictures. Handle the photos carefully to ensure they don't pick up fingerprints or dust.
3. If the pictures have a straight edge, use the top or bottom edge of the scanner glass for proper alignment. Double-check as the lid is closing to make sure the pictures don't shift on the glass.
4. Do a preview of the image. Most scanners have a preview feature in the control panel. This button is also used to warm up the scanner.
5. The scanner wants to load everything it sees, which is an area much larger than the actual picture, so trim away the excess around the photo, using the mouse to click and drag the new borders into place. Cropping also helps to save computer memory that would otherwise be wasted scanning the dead space around the photo.
6. After setting the borders for the scan, set the resolution for the scan and decide how to scan the image into the computer. Here, Berg chooses a feature named True Color, which tells the scanner to load images into the computer exactly as they appear to the human eye. This option gives greater flexibility to use filters and effects in the image-editing software.7. The scanner will also permit the pictures to be manually adjusted for contrast and tint, just as a television picture can be adjusted. The scanner won't always pick up all the contrast in the photo, so this feature is a helpful option to create the best-looking image.
8. Save the scans in the TIFF format, which is the Tagged Image File Format. This format is extremely flexible because virtually all computer editing programs can open these files, and most application programs can import the files.9. As soon as the save feature is activated and the scan is named, it takes only a few minutes to load the picture. Then it can be opened in the photo-editing software, which can correct flaws in the images.
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