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Scanning Tips
Layout Image Size
When uploading images to the Internet, or attaching them to e-mails, you will want to be sure that they are web-friendly files. This will allow you to send them faster through e-mail, and it will allow other people to download and view your images faster, without sacrificing quality and viewing size. To make web-friendly images of your scrapbook layouts, follow this criteria:
- Scan your layouts between 72 dpi and 150 dpi.
- Resize a 12 x 12 layout to about 500 pixels by 500 pixels.
- Resize an 8 ½ x 11 layout to about 400 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.
- Resize two 12 x 12 layouts stitched together to about 700 pixels wide by 350 pixels high.
- Resize two 8 ½ x 11 layouts stitched together to about 700 pixels wide by 450 pixels high.
- Save your images as .jpg files.
- Keep your file-size under 100K.
How do I scan at 72 dpi?
Every scanning software program is different, but most will have a section called “resolution”. This is the dpi (dots per inch). Choose 72 dpi before you scan your image. How do I re-size an image?
To re-size your images, open it in your photo-editing program. Find the toolbar, button, or tab that is labeled "image". You should then be able to find an option for image size, re-size, or photo size. By clicking on this option, you should see a box or menu that shows the proportions of your image in pixels and in inches. If you change one dimension (width), the other dimension (height) should be changed accordingly automatically. Follow the above suggestions for your image size for optimum viewing and file size. How do I save my image as the right file size?
Most programs will allow you to adjust the "quality" of the scan. For instance, in Paint Shop Pro, when you choose “Save as…” and choose .jpg as the file-type, there is a button called “Options” on the side of the box. When you click on that button, you are asked how much you want to compress your image. The JPG quality setting does affect your image quality. However, choosing to compress by 15-25 shows little to no difference in your image, yet cuts considerably back on the file size of your image. How do I scan 12 x 12 layouts with an 8 ½ x 14 scanner?To scan 12 x 12 layouts on an 8 ½ x 14 scanner, you’ll need to do two scans, one of each half of the layout. Combining the two images to make one layout is called “stitching.” Most scanners come with software that has this feature, or the software can be purchased separately. There are many different programs that have stitching capabilities. Some common ones are:
- Microsoft Picture It! 2000
- Adobe Photo Deluxe
- Photoshop Elements
- Paint Shop Pro
- Ulead Cool 360
The steps are often very similar with the various programs, so you should experiment and practice with the program that you have or choose to buy and ask around at the scrapjazz jazzclub message boards to see what other scrapbookers like using. The basic steps for stitching a layout are:
- Scan each side of your layout.
- Create a new canvas with enough room for both images.
- Copy the first side and paste onto the blank canvas.
- Copy the second side and paste onto blank canvas, next to the first side.
- Move the two images around and line them up as best you can. You may want to zoom in on the seam to get a perfect match.
- Crop out any extra space that you have so that only the layout is showing.
- Save your “stitched” image.
OR - Scan the first side of your layout.
- Scan the second side of your layout.
- Change the canvas size of the first side to a square, (the same width as the height of your image) so that the image of the first side is on the left with a blank space next to it.
- Copy the second side and paste into the blank space next to first side.
- Move the second image around and line it up with the first side as best as you can. You may want to zoom in on the seam to get a perfect match.
- Crop out any extra space that you have so that only the layout is showing.
- Save your “stitched” image.
As you scan each side, make sure that you lay them on your scanner bed as straight as you can. There is usually a straight edge on the scanner that you can match it up to. This will help keep your two sides straight and help them match up more smoothly. If it’s an available option, turn off automatic color balancing (or whatever your scanner driver calls it). If you leave it on, automatic color balancing will adjust the color balance different for each half of your layout if you have different colors on each side. Then, when you stitch them together, they will be mismatched and you may have to adjust the brightness and contrast of one side in order to make the colors match. You can also put two sides of a two-page layout together this way. Scan each page of the layout and then “stitch” the two together, side by side. Putting the two pages together is a great way to post your layouts on the scrapjazz site. This way, people can see the two pages together, as they would be seen in your album. Other Tips for Scanning Layouts - After resizing your image, sharpen it using your photo editing software. This reduces the “blurriness” that you get when resizing images.
- If you have something on your layout, like a charm, that flaps around, and doesn't want to stay in place for the scan - use sticky dots to adhere it temporarily to get it where it needs to be so that the scan looks perfect.
- If you have a “lumpy” layout and want to reduce shadows, scan your image in a dark room to help reduce the amount of light that let in underneath the cover.
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