HMS Toolkit supports one-stop kit integration, and provides functions such as free app debugging on remote real devices. You can use HMS Toolkit to quickly run the sample code.
If you follow this tutorial please let me know in the comments, I’d love to know how you got on.The sample code shows how to quickly build barcode scanning functions into an app using the capabilities in HMS Core Scan Kit. Now you’ve got your hi-res digital master to make prints of forevermore, even if you sell the original! There are other file types with less compression, but I’ve found there is no visually noticeable data loss with this setting and it keeps file sizes manageable. I tend to go for File > Save As and then select jpg at Quality 12. Sometimes I hardly need to change anything, other times it makes a huge difference. How much you use these three tools depends on how true to life the pictures/scans you took are. Finally we use Image > Adjustments > Auto Color (and Fade). Then go to Image > Adjustments > Auto Contrast. If it looks “WHOA TOO MUCH!” you can fade the effect by going to Edit > Fade Auto Levels and select a percentage. First go to Image > Adjustments > Auto Levels. If you need to rotate your canvas with the transform tool (you shouldn’t have to if you followed the steps for straightening the artwork on the wall and leveling your tripod – it’s really worth doing!) do that before skewing. I then drag the corners out where necessary. To fix that, I use the Transform tool (Ctrl+T), and right click on the image and select Skew. This may mean that on some sides the background still shows. I use the Rectangular Marquee tool to select as close around the artwork as I can, without cutting any of it off. Editing in Photoshop is especially good for when you’ve photographed your art.įirst I want to straighten up my art piece and make sure it fills up the whole canvas. I use Photoshop CS2, but any programme that allows you to adjust these settings will do. The default loses a lot of detail by being too bright and the colours are washed out. The adjusted scan is much more true to the original artwork. On the left the default scanner settings, on the right with brightness & contrast adjusted. If you can, save these settings as a new profile so you can quickly access them next time. Adjust the brightness & contrast sliders and keep previewing until the preview matches the colours, detail & contrast of the original artwork. From the point of view of being able to adjust later in Photoshop, I prefer a scan that is slightly on the dark side over one that is too light.
Depending on your scanner you may need to adjust the brightness and contrast. You won’t be at the mercy of varying lighting conditions and a scanner will get great detail and every bit will be in focus.īefore scanning ensure the resolution is set to 300ppi. If your art is relatively flat and fits on your scanner it is preferable to use this method. Nothing is more annoying than loading the pictures onto your computer only to find that they are not in focus or not everything is in equal focus.
Using manual focus if your camera allows it is helpful. You are trying to achieve equal soft lighting on the whole painting, no direct harsh light or shadows. I have a window on the left side of the wall which throws light, so I use a simple soft box light pointing at the painting from the right. The more accurate you can be about this, the less you will have to ‘fix’ in Photoshop in terms of distorting the picture to make it fit. I also make sure my tripod is leveled and the camera is straight. I use a spirit level to ensure it is completely straight. I attach my artwork to the wall with Blu Tack or picture hanging strips. Using a tripod (or some other way to stabilise your camera) is essential. This amazing video by Tyler Stalman & Jason Eng created for Saatchi Online explains perfectly how to take good pictures of your art. Pretty much any digital camera will do as long as you make sure to set it to the highest quality & resolution. Most of my art is too big or awkward for my A4 scanner, so I photograph it with my Nikon Coolpix P7800. Don’t forget to Share, Tweet or Pin this article if you find it helpful! Photographing Your Art Below I walk you through the entire process I use to prepare my images to make high quality prints. I wanted to share some tips with you all about how I create scans/pictures of my art and edit them in Photoshop.