How to scan large artworks with a small scanner

I get lots of questions and emails from other artists wanting to know how I do things. I have learned a few things from other artists and media management pros over the years that have saved me a lot of time and money that I can share with you! One of the biggest misconceptions is that artists who paint in large format (anything larger than their 9x12 scanner) have these large flatbed scanners to accommodate their larger artworks. They don't! Some use cameras, but you have to have some serious skills to reproduce artwork using a really nice camera. The thing is that you can use your current scanner to reproduce large artworks using any Adobe Photoshop Elements Program. Do not buy a bigger scanner. You don't need one! I learned this invaluable trick from a media guy over a year ago and I learned that you can scan ANY size image with a normal 8x11/9x12 scanner. Here's how:

Scan the artwork in "pieces" or multiple files. I will use 11x14 as an example, but you can scan in three or four pieces for larger works, just repeat the steps. An 11x14 is only 2 files. Scan one half, then the other (no need to be super picky, they will be overlapping anyhow, but make sure they are straight and that you are scanning a good overlap area). Scan in 300jpg or tiff. I prefer to work in tiff files for printing purposes, but jpg for web stuff...you can scan in tiff which is a larger file size and gets more detail, but you can later convert it down to a jpg for web purposes...another article). I am assuming you have Photoshop. If you don't, get the latest version of Adobe Photoshop Elements, it should cost you no more than $100. $50 on sale. Open the files in Photoshop. Create a "new" file in the dimensions that you desire (11x14 in a 300 jpg or tiff to match the scanned files) or larger, then crop afterwards if you need to. Move the 2 files, one by one, using the move tool onto the new "canvas". You will be overlapping them to "stitch" them together. Line them up as best you can using the nudge tool, and zoom in really close to make sure it fits perfectly along the stitch line.

Once you have it lined up, you can adjust the layers to get rid of any brightness differences. I always have to select one of the layers and go into Enhance----Adjust Lighting----Brightness/Contrast and then take the brightness and go to the left (to go darker) or up (to go lighter). Look at the image while you do it and you should see the line diminish greatly. If you don't, then go the other way, or go more in the same direction until it looks right.

The line will still be there. In order to get rid of it, you will need to erase it. This is actually quite easy because the files are overlapped. Select the eraser tool and go with a diffused (soft edges) eraser, about 100 pixels will work. Then select whichever layer is on top, and erase the line all the way down. If your brightness levels are right, there should be no evidence of the line or the eraser marks. Zoom in and take a look. Does everything line up? Do you see any swirl marks where you erased? If so, no need to go back a step. Just select one of the layers and adjust the brightness again until the color matches perfectly. If you need to crop the image now, go ahead and crop it to an 11x14 size and then save the finished file as it is. I usually go with the title, followed by the dpi, like runawayprincess300jpg (because sometimes I scan in larger file sizes). If you need to make other color adjustments, like I do, you must save the file before you start messing with the files' colors. That way, if you make too many mistakes or adjustments you don't like, you won't have to go back and stitch the file together again, you can work from the completed raw file. Never "save over" the raw scan file names. When you save things in Photoshop hit "save as" and title it something different like "runawayprincessadjustment1" or something like that. If you just select "save" it will save your recent changes OVER the original file and you will never get the original file back!

If you have more questions, you may contact me at hannah_disney@yahoo.com.

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