Get tips for fixing common scanning problems
Many of us digital scrapbookers have been trying to scan old photos and turn them into digital versions of the same photos.
Many of us want to take a photo that isn’t digital, and scan it and turn it into a digital photo so we can use the new digital version in our digital scrapbooking projects, or save them and make a backup on a CD, and even share the digital photo with family and friends via email.
However, scanning isn’t always as simple as pushing a button, so here are some tips to help fix some of the common scanning problems that you might encounter.
5 Tips for Fixing Common Scanning Problems:
Tip 1: Marks on the Photo. Sometimes the photo contains marks on the surface after scanning the original, even when the original photo didn’t have marks on it.
This might be caused by dust or scratches on the glass plate of the of the scanner. To solve this type of problem try cleaning the glass plate of the scanner before you scan the photo.
If you still have marks after this, then try retouching the photo in Photoshop or Elements after the scanning.
Tip 2: The Image is too Dark. The photo looks too dark compared to the original photo. There is no detail in the shadow parts of the image. This might be caused by scanning with the wrong exposure or brightness settings. To fix this try re-scanning the image with the brightness or exposure settings with the slider towards the light end of the scale. If your image still needs some help after that consider making some changes after scanning in Photoshop or Elements. Buy training on how to Removing Shadows and how to Lightening Digital Photos in Photoshop Elements.
Tip 3: Picture is too Bright, White or Faded. The image is too bright or faded out with white
compared to the original photo. Again, this might be caused by scanning with the wrong exposure or brightness settings.
To fix this try re-scanning the image with the brightness or exposure settings with the slider towards the dark end of the scale.
If your image still needs some help after that consider making some changes after scanning in Photoshop or Elements.
Tip 4: Color Photo after scanning is Black and White. After you have scanned a color photo the end result is black and white, and not color.
This might be caused by the scanner software having the scan in black and white option on.
To fix this try re-scanning the image with the scan in color option on, or color photo option on.
Remember to scan it like the original and save it, then if you wish to make a copy in black and white you can do it in Photoshop or Elements where you have more control over the photo and also so you don’t ruin your original color photo. If you want training in Photoshop Elements to turn color images to black and white then get the Converting Colored Photos into Black and White Photos using Photoshop Elements Training.
Tip 5: The scanned image is fuzzy when printed. After you scan your photo and try to print it the printed image is fuzzy.
This might be caused because of using to low a resolution when scanning the photo. To get the best quality (resolution) scan at a higher resolution.
To fix this, try re-scanning the image with a higher scan quality setting (higher resolution). See this article for more help with scanning resolution ~ Setting the Scanning Resolution in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
Hopefully some of these tips will help you as you are scanning your precious photos!
Also, if you need help scanning you might want to read these additional articles for more help:
Article: How to Scan a Photo into Photoshop Elements or Photoshop
Article: Setting the Scanning Resolution in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
Article: Getting Old Photos Changed to Digital Photos
Article: How to Scan Multiple Images and Divide Them in Photoshop Elements
Then, after you have scanned your photos – take some time to photo edit them in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, organize them, and make a CD back-up of all the photos you just scanned!
Oh yes, ….don’t forget to scrap all those old photos you just scanned too!
Enjoy!
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See these Photoshop Elements and Photo Editing Tutorials to help you edit your digital photos after you have scanned them:
- Removing Demon-Looking Red-Eye using Elements
- Achieving Pearly Whites: Whitening Teeth
- Removing Blemishes and Moles using Elements
- Adjusting Skin Tones and Digi Tanning in Elements
- Removing Wrinkles in Photos using Elements
- Airbrushing Digital Photos in Photoshop Elements
- Removing Pet Green-Eye using Elements
- Removing Shadows and Lightening Photos
- Converting Colored Photos to Black and White
- Photo Editing Design Series 1 Artistic Edges using Elements
- Artistic Photo-Edge with Cookie Cutter Tool in Elements
- Artistic Photo-Edge by adding Layer Mask in Elements
- Artistic Photo-Edge by using the Brush Tool in Elements
- Digital Makeovers for Baby Series 1 using Elements
See the training you can get to help you organize in Photoshop Elements:
How to “Get Organized in the Organizer: A Simple Start in Photoshop Elements, Lesson 1” is a great Intermediate 3-part tutorial set that will teach you all about the basics of using the Organizer! This Simple Start Lesson Set teaches you easy and simple ways to begin organizing with the Organizer in Photoshop Elements!
Now that you know how to use Photoshop Elements in the Editor Mode, there’s no doubt that you have plenty of photos and edited photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, and digital scrapbooking projects! After a while, all your photos, supplies, and projects can become a nightmare to sort through and find. So what do you do, you ask? You can easily clean up the digital mess using Photoshop Elements’ Organizer!
That’s where Organizer training comes in! Learn the basics about the Organizer and how to use it. Learn simple, but helpful, steps to get your photos, supplies, and projects neat and tidy within the Organizer with this 3-part tutorial training!
How to “Get Organized in the Organizer Using Organizing Features in Elements, Lesson 2″ is a great Intermediate 4-part tutorial set that will teach additional tips and organizing features within the Organizer!
Lesson 2 takes your digital organizing to the next level, by pushing past the basics of the Organizer! Make your digital photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, and digital scrapbooking projects neat, tidy, and incredibly easy to find with more secrets revealed about the Organizer!
Get this coordinating all-about-the-Organizer training and learn how to do more advanced organization within the Organizer, like add keyword tags or create albums and categories to bring some much needed order to all of your many digital things! While other companies may focus their Organizer training specifically on photos (and only photos!), Digital Scrapbooks and More reviews organizing both digital photos and digital supplies – for the best of both worlds!
Continue your organizing training with How to: “Get Organized in the Organizer Using Organizing Advanced Features in Elements, Lesson 3.” This 4-part tutorial set will teach you all about advanced Organizer secrets!
Lesson 3 is a great fit for anyone interested in advanced organizing techniques within the Organizer. Learn how to rate your favorite photos, or even find your photos with actual faces! Find out how you can easily compare similar photos side by side to decide which ones are better with additional Organizer tools. Advanced organization within the Organizer can make your digital photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, and digital scrapbooking projects incredibly easy to find and use!
Get this coordinating all-about-the-Organizer training and “go to the next level” in your organization skills using the Organizer! Learn how you can use the Organizer to help you make much-needed back up copies of your most-treasured photos in case of an emergency or computer-crash, or learn how to make a back up copy of your favorite supplies to use on a newly purchased computer or separate laptop.
Learn Digital Scrapbooking
Why not learn about all about digital scrapbooking? Take the whole Getting Started Series Lesson 1-6 for Elements and Lesson 1-5 for Photoshop!
The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements 8 is the ultimate training! CD-set includes: 
tutorial videos, training guides for ALL Lessons (1-6) and lots of freebies too!
Get good training for Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking using either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements!
See the Photo Edit Training too, or Intermediate and Advanced Digital Scrapbook training as well!
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