Getting Your Pix Onscreen

Scanning creates digital images from negatives, transparencies, or prints. When images are scanned, their tones and colors are
converted into numbers that the software can edit. A scanner captures
samples of brightness and color in a regular grid pattern. The more
samples the scanner takes, the more detailed the scanned image is.
Image quality depends on the quality of the scan. Just as you can’t get
a good darkroom print from a poor negative, you can’t get a good
image from a bad scan, or even a good scan from a bad negative or
print. Scans made from poorly exposed or badly scratched film require
extra time to edit and rarely produce acceptable results.The scanning process is much easier if you know
beforehand how the image will be used. A
proper scan is the best starting point for editing
a print or negative, if you’re still using film cameras.
If the final result is to be realistic, the scan
should produce an image as close to realism as
possible. If the final result is to be a colorful
departure from reality, the scan should be as
close to the intended colors as possible.
Before you scan an image, you also need to
know how it will be presented. Will the final
image be viewed on a Web site or printed in a
publication? Will it be exhibited as a fine print, and if so, how large will it be? A
digital image has no real physical size until you print it or show it on a monitor.
Potentially, it might be printed or displayed in many sizes, but if you select the
wrong settings, you might end up with a sub-par image. Your scanning decisions
must be based on both the physical size you want and the characteristics of the
printer or display device.
Working with Scan Software
Scanning software is simplified image-editing software . To get a good
scan, you might need to adjust the size, brightness, contrast, and overall color balance
of a negative or print before you actually scan it. Fortunately, these basic
adjustments are available in good scanning software.
Two types of scanning software come with scanners:
■ Normal. Like ordinary software, you open the scan software, wait for it to
find the scanner, scan the image, and save the image as a file for editing.
■ Plug-in. Many scanners include plug-in software that works in conjunction
with another program. You must open your favorite image-editing software
(Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, iPhoto, and so on), choose File, Import, and
then select the scanner’s plug-in software from a list. Once chosen, the scanner
plug-in will hide the image-editing software and display its own interface
and controls. When scanning is complete, the plug-in software will exit,
return to your image-editing program, and display the new scan, ready for
editing.
Scanning is not difficult. The best approach is to practice scanning different types of
prints, different size prints, and negatives (if possible).