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Subject: A FEW NOTES FROM THE WORKSHOP LAST NIGHT

         When scanning on a flatbed scanner, keep in mind that the default setting

is usually 100%, meaning that if your image is 4" x 6" and you are scanning

an image at 300dpi, the image you end up with is 4" x 6" with a resolution of

300. If you want a larger image, you can either up the resolution OR up the

percent at which you're scanning. For example, if you keep your resolution at 300

dpi and you change the percentage to 200%, you are doubling the size of your

image to 8" x 12". If you change the percentage to 300%, you will have an

image size of 12" x 18" at 300dpi. To print on Epson printers you do not need more

that 240dpi, so you have plenty of latitude for some cropping with that

amount of information in your scan. You can do it the other way by changing the

resolution to say 600 dpi or 1200 dpi but then you have to change the resolution

to increase the size later in your editing program (Photoshop or Elements).

Last night we were working with the whole surface of the scanner, so the

resolution of 300 dpi at 100% was enough to make a large print from the scan. My

personal preference is to scan the image to the size I want it by changing the

percentage at which I scan it.

    Using extra lighting from above is kind of the reverse of what we did at

the tabletop workshop where we had light coming from below from a light box

and also from above from the lighting we were using. Adding movement to parts of

the image while scanning gives an additional creative option that I think

could be very rewarding. Also check to see what other settings your own scanner

has to control the quality of your scan. The main thing is to experiment. It

costs you nothing but time and a little electricity. If you don't like the

result, throw it out. It's not like you are spending money to buy and develop film.

   THE TWO COMMAND KEYS IN PHOTOSHOP THAT ARE DIFFERENT FOR PCS AND MAC ARE:

"COMMAND" FOR MAC IS "CONTROL" FOR A PC AND "OPTION" FOR A MAC IS "ALT" FOR A

PC.

    To go over how I make the white soft border....select the entire image

(Control/Command A). Go to your "Paths" dialogue box. Press and drag little

arrow in top right corner to "Make work Path". Select the size brush you wish to

use and make sure it is a soft brush, make sure the mode is "Normal" and the

Opacity is 100% and make sure the FOREGROUND color at the bottom of your tool

box is white. Go back to Paths and press little arrow in upper right and drag to

"Stroke Path". You can also do this on a new layer and then you can turn it

on and off to see if you like it better with or without the border. You can

also add other layers with other color borders and turn them on and off to see

which you like better.

   To get the dreamy look that I like to use for flowers and things, get your

image cropped,rotated, color adjusted etc. Make new snapshot (History

Palette, little arrow upper right, click and drag to New Snapshot). Make backround

copy (Layer Palette, click on backround layer and drag to icon that looks like a

piece of paper on the bottom of the layer palette).  Use Gaussian blur

filter. Cut back opacity of layer to where you like it. Copy this layer the same way

you did the previous layer. Change the MODE to Overlay. Adjust the

percentages of each layer until you like the effect. Flatten image. Click the small box

to the left of your New Snapshot to select the source of your history brush.

Select your history brush in the tool box, lower opacity of brush to 20% or 30%

and paint back in some of the sharpness of the original image where you want

it. Go over those areas as many times as you want to gain the sharpness you

want. If you don't have a history brush in Elements you can still do this by

making another copy of the BACKROUND layer and placing that layer on TOP of the

other three layers. Click on the original backround layer and link (click

little box to left of layer) the next two layers but NOT the top backround copy

layer. Go to little arrow upper right drag to Merge Linked. That will leave you

with two layers, with the top layer the original sharp layer. Make layer mask

(Layer> make layer mask>hide all). You now have a black layer mask which is

hiding your sharp layer. To add sharpness to certain areas, go to brush tool,

make opacity about 20% or 30%, make foreground color white and paint on image in

those areas where you want the sharpness. Increase opacity of brush or go over

areas several times to get more sharness. What you are actually doing is

painting on your mask with white to reveal the hidden (sharp) layer.