Digital Scanning and Photography

Author Dan Gookin Pages 192 Disk N/A Level Beg/Int Published 08/02/2000 ISBN 9780735610125 ISBN-10 0-7356-1012-6 Price(USD) $12.99 To see this book's discounted price, select a reseller below.	More Information About the Book Table of Contents Sample Chapter Index Related Series Related Books About the Author Support: Book & CD Rate this book

Chapter 6: Modifying the Image

• Stuff covered here
• Some Scanning Tricks and Tips
• Running Your Scanning Program
• Changing the Image Size
• Changing the Orientation
• Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
• Applying Filters and Other Adjustments
• Other Things Worth Noting in the Scanning Program
• Photo Editing Tricks and Tips
• Getting Started
• Zooming
• Cropping
• Rotating
• Resizing
• Adding Text
• Creating Wallpaper
• Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
• Making the Cartoon Bubble
• Selecting Parts of the Image
• Copying and Cloning
• Touching-Up or Painting
• Other Things To Do
• Task List

6 Modifying the Image

Stuff covered here

• Using the scanning program
• Changing image size and orientation
• Adjusting the brightness and contrast and applying filters
• Using your imaging-editing software
• Cropping, rotating, and resizing the image
• Adding text to an image
• Using the clone tool
• Touching up and editing

Scanning is a lot more complex than using a photocopier, which is a good thing. Not every scan is merely a copy of an original. No, thanks to the power and versatility of your computer, you can improve upon the original. This can be done in two places: in the scanning program itself and in your imaging software.

This chapter covers modifying the images you scan. The techniques and examples show you how useful it can be to adjust, touch up, or improve your image before or after it’s scanned.

Some Scanning Tricks and Tips

Using your scanning program, you can:

• Change an image’s size
• Rotate or flip the image
• Change the contrast or brightness or adjust color levels
• Apply a filter

There are probably other tricks you can perform in the scanning program as well. The following sections go into detail on why and how you would accomplish these tricks. Note that not every scanning program is capable of these tricks. (Not to worry; nearly all the imaging or photo-editing programs available can easily handle these tasks.)

Running Your Scanning Program

Activate the Scanning Program

1. Run your imaging or photo-editing software.

Popular imaging programs are listed in Chapter 1. Most likely you have either Adobe PhotoDeluxe or Photoshop, though other applications can also work with a scanner.

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FYI:
You must run the imaging software before you can scan. Imaging software merely opens the door to the scanning program, which is where the actual scanning takes place. Refer to Chapter 4 for a review of how to operate your scanning program.

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2. Activate the scanning program.

You should be able to use a command on the File menu to do this, but in some programs you need to click a button on a toolbar. (See Chapter 4.)

3. Switch your scanning program to advanced mode.

If you’ve been using beginner mode to scan, you should switch to advanced mode now. Clicking an Advanced or More Options button should do the trick.

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TIP:
If your scanning program lacks an advanced mode, that’s fine. It probably has all the options you need, although be sure to check for optional menu items or pop-up buttons that may display more information.

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Now you’re ready to scan an image and work through the next few sections in this chapter. I’m assuming your scanning program is up on the screen and that you’re familiar with its basic operation, as covered earlier in this book.

Changing the Image Size

For example, suppose you’re scanning in a 5-by-3 photograph to post on your Web page. You don’t want the image to be that large on the Web page, although half that size would be OK. Within your scanning program, you can set the scale to 50 percent.

Change the Size of an Image

1. Place an image to be scanned in the scanner.
2. Click the Preview button to preview the image.

The image should appear in the scanning program, ready for action.

3. Reduce the image’s size by half (50 percent).

In the VistaScan program, this is done by selecting 50 percent from the drop-down list, as shown in Figure 6-1. Other scanning programs may have a drop-down list, slider, or text box in which you type the scale for reducing or enlarging the image.

Note that you may not see the image physically change size. Why? Because you’re looking at a preview of the image as it sits in your scanner. You’ll see only the smaller (or larger) image after it’s scanned and transferred into the imaging software.


Click to view graphic

Figure 6-1. Adjusting the image scale in the VistaScan scanning program.

Yes, there is a relationship between scaling and the image’s resolution. The scaling does affect resolution! For example, suppose you’re scanning in a 5-by-4 photograph you want to touch up and enlarge. So you’re scanning at 600 dpi (a good resolution for editing; see Chapter 5), but you’re also scaling the image to 200 percent. That creates a final image with a resolution of 1200 dpi. Yes, this will take longer to scan and edit, and it will create a very large file on your disk. There’s nothing wrong with enlarging the image this way, but keep in mind that it does affect the resolution.

At this point you could scan the image at 50 percent of its original size, but since this is a tutorial, you don’t have to.

4. Set the image scale back to 100 percent.

You can continue working with the same image in the preview window in the next section.

Scaling an image as it’s scanned is a nifty trick—a real time-saver if you’re absolutely sure you need an image enlarged or reduced by a certain percentage. This same trick can be done within the imaging software, though unlike scaling in the scanning program, scaling in the imaging software does not change the image’s resolution. That’s OK if you want to reduce the image size, but if you plan to enlarge an image, my advice is to do it in the scanning program.

Changing the Orientation

For this exercise, you can use the image already shown in your scanning program’s preview window, or you can place a new image into the scanner and preview it.

Change the Orientation of an Image

1. Click the multiuse button.



A palette with four different sets of controls is displayed: brightness/contrast, tones, colors, and orientation.

2. Click the orientation tab.



The palette displays nine orientation options, complete with image preview in each as shown in Figure 6-2. Note that some of the images are rotated 90, 180, or 270 degrees, others are flipped left-right or top-bottom, and others are flipped and rotated. There is also an option for inverting the image, that is reversing the colors. This option works best on monochrome images.


Click to view graphic

Figure 6-2. VistaScan’s optional palette contains controls for further adjusting the image.

3. Choose the orientation you desire.

The image in the preview window doesn’t change; however, the image appears in the new orientation after it’s scanned and has been loaded into the imaging software. You’ll confirm this when you finally scan in the image.

4. Click the multiuse button again to hide the palette.

This is optional, though you’ll need to do this in VistaScan if you plan on using any of the options that the palette is currently obscuring.

5. Make any additional changes to the resolution, color depth, size, and other settings as necessary before you scan.

At this point, you’re ready to click the Scan button. The image will appear in the imaging software in the orientation you selected. Or, if you like, you can continue working with the same image in the next section.

• Rotating the image is usually done in 90-degree increments, clockwise or counterclockwise.
• Flipping an image "horizontally" creates a mirror image left to right from the original. Flipping an image "vertically" creates a mirror image from top to bottom.
• Yes, rotating and flipping an image can be done in the imaging software as well. The bonus there is that imaging software has an Undo command, whereas if you screw up in the scanning program you’ll have to rescan. Also, imaging software usually lets you rotate the image in one-degree increments, which is more precise than the scanning program allows.

Adjusting Brightness and Contrast

Most scanning programs let you adjust an image’s brightness and contrast as well as color levels. However, these are things I recommend you do in your imaging software and not in the scanning program. While most scanning programs have this ability, and you can see the results in the preview window, it’s just better to scan in an image and mess with brightness, contrast, and color levels in the imaging program where you have more control and the Undo command.

If you’re curious, you can check out the brightness and contrast options in your scanning program. They’re usually labeled with the "contrasty sun" icon, as shown in the margin. In VistaScan, click the multiuse button (the same one used for changing the orientation), and then click the contrasty sun tab to play with or observe the various settings.

Applying Filters and Other Adjustments

There are many types of filters—including filters to sharpen the image and blur the image—but first among them is the descreen filter (sometimes referred to as an antimoiré filter or interference filter). This filter, which works only in the scanning program and not in your imaging software, is used to remove strange patterns that can appear when you scan some types of images. For example, some original images, such as magazine and newspaper images, are composed of hundreds of tiny dots (a "screen"). Unlike a photograph, which is a continuous tonal image (a fancy term for "no dots"), when you scan in a screened image it produces a moiré pattern (say mwa-RAY), such as the one shown on the left in Figure 6-3.

Click to view graphic

Figure 6-3. The image on the left has moiré patterns, while the image on the right is improved by using a descreen filter.

To reduce or remove the moiré pattern, you should select a descreen filter. In Figure 6-3, the image on the right was scanned that way.

The descreen filter in VistaScan is controlled using the Descreen drop-down list, as shown in Figure 6-4. Options are available for common screened image sources, or you can set your own descreen filter using the Custom option. So, for example, if you’re scanning a screened image from a newspaper (please review the sidebar "Important Information About Copyrights" in Chapter 4 if you are), you should select the Newspaper, or 85 lpi, descreen filter.

Click to view graphic

Figure 6-4. The VistaScan program with the Descreen filter drop-down list displayed.

Your scanning program may sport other filters as well, though I’m generally of the opinion that any modifications other than descreening should be done in the imaging software instead. For example, VistaScan contains filters for sharpening or blurring the image. Even so, most popular imaging or photo-editing applications contain better tools that let you refine what you sharpen or blur—as well as that highly valued Undo command.

Other Things Worth Noting in the Scanning Program

Your scanning program might also offer you the option of choosing the image source or scan method for your image. If your scanner has a separate transparency adapter (TA), for example, you may have to choose that source from the scanning program rather than using the glass. Ditto for scanners with automatic document or sheet feeders (ADF). There might also be options to set if you’re scanning a color negative. (Note that VistaScan refers to a transparency as a "transmissive" source.)

Finally, if your scanning program is so blessed, you may find an Auto Adjustment option. Selecting this option uses the scanner’s own smarts to make all the adjustments necessary for a great scan. You may still have to select resolution and color depth, but many of the other minor details will be automatically selected for you. Nifty, huh?

Photo Editing Tricks and Tips

The following sections cover many of the popular tricks you can pull with most imaging or photo-editing applications. For more information, you should refer to the on-line documentation or get a good book specific to your software. Try to find books that explain how to do things as opposed to books that merely describe what commands are available.

Getting Started

Set Up Your Imaging Software

1. Scan in a sample image.

This image can be anything. You just need something you can work with in the following exercises. A color photograph would work best.

2. Set up the scanning program as needed, and then click the Scan or OK button to transfer the image into the imaging software. Refer to the following table for specific instructions on how to set up your program:

Application	Method
PhotoDeluxe (Windows)	1. Click the Advanced button.
PhotoDeluxe (Macintosh)	1. Click On Your Own.
	2. Click the Modify button.
Photoshop LE	(There is nothing you need to do here; the program is always in "advanced" mode.)

3. Save the image in the native format.

The native format provides you with a backup copy on the hard drive should you utterly screw things up.

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TIP:
It’s always a good idea to initially save the image you’re editing when it’s first transferred into your imaging software. This way, you can restore or "revert" to the originally saved image—the ultimate form of undo.

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If you do screw up, close the altered image without saving; if your application asks you to save, click No or Don’t Save. Then reload the original by using the Open command on the File menu or by using either the Revert or Revert To Saved command on the File menu.

Zooming

Most imaging software uses a magnifying glass (not a lollypop) icon as the zoom tool (like the zoom tool in scanning programs discussed in Chapter 4). Choosing that tool changes the mouse pointer into a magnifying glass as well. Just as in scanning programs, the magnifying glass mouse pointer usually has a plus sign (+) in it for zooming in or a minus sign (–) for zooming out. Click the mouse to zoom in, and press the Alt or Option key, and click to zoom out. Additionally, some applications have pop-up or drop-down lists of various zoom percentages: 100 percent is "actual size"; 50 percent is half size; 200 percent is twice as large.

Zoom In on an Image

1. Load an image into your imaging software.
2. Display the image at its actual size (100-percent zoom).

Here are specific instructions, should you need them:

Application
PhotoDeluxe (Windows)	1. Choose 100% from the drop-down list at the top of the image’s window.
PhotoDeluxe (Macintosh)	1. Use the zoom-in and zoom-out icons as well as a text box for inputting the zoom value. They are found below the red Help and Undo buttons on the left side of the image.
Photoshop LE	1. On the View menu, click Actual Pixels.

3. Zoom in until you can see the individual dots that make up the image.

The dots aren’t "pixels" but rather individual color elements that compose the picture. The amount you need to zoom depends on the image’s resolution, though most imaging programs only let you zoom in 1600 percent.

Application
PhotoDeluxe (Windows)	1. Press Ctrl+Plus Sign (+) several times until you see the large color blocks that compose the image.
PhotoDeluxe (Macintosh)	1. Click the "plus sign" button several times until you see the large color blocks.
Photoshop LE	1. Choose the Zoom tool from the toolbox.
	2. Click the mouse on the image until you can see the large color blocks.

4. Zoom out until the entire image fits on the screen.

This may be unnecessary if your image already fits on the screen. But some images scanned at higher resolutions will require you to zoom out until they fit on the screen. (You may need to load a higher-resolution image or scan a new image at a higher resolution to best see how this works.)

Application
PhotoDeluxe (Windows)	1. Press Ctrl+Minus Sign (–) several times until the entire image appears on the screen.
PhotoDeluxe (Macintosh)	1. Click the "minus sign" button until the entire image appears in the window.
Photoshop LE	1. On the View menu, click Fit On Screen.

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TIP:
In Photoshop LE, you can display two views of the same image, which allows you to use the Zoom command to its full ability. On the View menu, click New View. Then use one of the windows to display the image in its actual size, and use the other window to zoom in and edit. That way, you can preview your edits as you make them to see how good they look.

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Cropping

Cropping is typically done with a cropping tool, such as the one shown in the margin. This tool is dragged over an image to select the part you want to keep. Some programs, however, merely let you select a portion of the image and then choose a Crop command from a menu or use a toolbar to assist with cropping. The following table lists cropping techniques for the three popular photo-editing applications covered in this book.

Application
PhotoDeluxe (Windows	1. Click the Size tab.
and Macintosh)	2. Click the Trim button
	3. Drag the mouse over the image, selecting the part you want to keep.
	4. Click inside the part you want to keep to crop the image.
Photoshop LE	1. Choose the Rectangular Marquee tool from the toolbox.
	2. Drag the mouse over the image, selecting the part you want to keep.
	3. On the Image menu, click Crop to crop the image.

Note that cropping does change the image’s size; the result is a smaller image. But cropping itself is not the same as resizing an image.

Here are some cropping tips:

• You can only crop a rectangular area of the image. Though you may be able to select odd shapes, you cannot crop to them. (Refer to the section, "Selecting Parts of the Image" later in this chapter for more information.)
• It might help to zoom into your image as you’re cropping. This helps you to crop as neatly as you can.
• Remember that the Undo command can restore your image if you crop badly.

Rotating

Application
PhotoDeluxe (Windows)	1. Click the Orientation tab.
	2. Click one of the four buttons to rotate or flip the image. To rotate 180 degrees, click the Rotate Left or Rotate Right button twice.
	3. To rotate by specific degrees, choose Free Rotate on the Orientation menu, and then use the mouse to drag the image clockwise or counterclockwise.
PhotoDeluxe (Macintosh)	1. Click the Orientation tab.
	2. Click one of the four buttons to rotate or flip the image. To rotate 180 degrees, click the Rotate Left or Rotate Right button twice.
	3. To rotate by specific degrees, click the Free Rotate button, and then use the mouse to rotate the image to your liking.
Photoshop LE	1. On the Image menu, point to Rotate Canvas and choose the proper rotation amount or choose the flip command.
	2. To rotate by specific degrees, point to Rotate Canvas on the Image menu, click Arbitrary,and type the amount to rotate the image clockwise or counterclockwise.

Note that rotating the image in increments other than 90 degrees keeps the image in a rectangle. Figure 6-5 shows an image being rotated 45 degrees. See how the background or canvas remains the same size; only the image itself is rotated. To eliminate the excess background, either crop the image or enlarge the canvas before rotating to display the entire rotated image. (See the next section on resizing for more information.)

Click to view graphic

Figure 6-5. Rotating an image in other than 90-degree increments results in strange cropping.