How to Scan Pinhole Images

  1. Wait until they’re really dry!  Damp images will mess up your print and the scanner glass
  2. Clean & dry the scanner glass if necessary
  3. Log in to the computer by the scanner
  4. Run Adobe PhotoShop Elements (under Start,  “ClassRoom Applications”)
  5. Place the print face down on the glass.  Cover it with a thick white sheet of paper .
  6. Under the File menu, choose Import, and choose “HP Scanjet twain”
  7. Wait form the scanner to warm up and do a preliminary scan.  DON’T REMOVE THE PRINT YET!
  8. Adjust the little box until it just frames your image
  9. [this step is usually not necessary]  Click Advanced and set the resolution higher (if overscanning a “dotty” magazine)  Adjust scanner brightness to play with contrast etc.  This sometimes really helps!
  10. Click Accept when you’re ready.  The real scan is done, and you end up with a document in PhotoShop
  11. Remove your print from the scanner now!
  12. In PhotoShop, immediately Save As.  Navigate to the appropriate folder (make the folder if you need to  e.g. G:/AWT3/Pinhole). Change the file type to JPEG.  Change the name to something meaningful (NOT your name!).  Set the quality to 8 – high.
  13. Log out and do the rest on another computer, so someone else can scan.
  14. In Photoshop, re-open the file.
  15. Crop to just the right size.
  16. Use the clone tool to clean up spots.
  17. Select using a circle (or other appropriate shape). Under the Select menu, choose Invert (Ctrl-Shift-I).  Then press delete to erase the background.  Choose Deselect (Ctrl-D) under the Select menu.
  18. Choose Image, Mode, Grayscale
  19. Choose Image, Adjustments, Invert.  Wow!  A positive image!
  20. Adjust the levels (Ctrl-L) to improve the image.  Be careful not to wash out the highlights or darken too much.
  21. Save As, again as a JPEG in the same folder.  This time, use the same filename with “positive” added  e.g. “Graveyard Positive.jpg”.

 

Example of Cleaning and Level Adjustment

This is a small detail showing a scan (still a negative) with little specks and streaks on it.

The clone tool was used to copy similar coloured areas over top of the specks, and very carefully to copy suitable bits over the streaks on the hat.  The midtones were darkened and highlights brightened a bit to achieve more contrast without losing detail.