I have found that scanning something done in light pencil with the scanner set to grayscale as dark as possible, then adjusting the curves in photoshop helps. I don't do the contrast until later on as you are trying to capture something already light in tone.
Alternatively I have done it old school, and used a photocopier set at the darkest settings. You'll wind up with an overall dark image, but the pencil lines will still be there.
Then it can be adjusted in photoshop with adjusting the brightness, contrast, and curves.
Good luck,
Susan E. Cooper, Senior Exhibit Designer/Graphic Artist
Michigan History Museum
702 West Kalamazoo Street
P.0. Box 30740
Lansing, MI 48909-8240
[log in to unmask]
Home cell 517-672-1290
Fax 517-241-4738
The Michigan History Center fosters curiosity, enjoyment and inspiration rooted in Michigan’s stories.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2021 10:56:54 -0500
From: John Cross <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Help with scanning very light documents
You may need to consult with your county's archives if they have scanning services or your state's archives and possibly bring the documents to them for scanning using their equipment.
On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 4:40 PM Marybeth S Tomka < [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Afternoon all,
> I am working with a colleague in trying to find the best solution to
> our scanning woes. We have some very light pencil hand writing that
> will not scan well. We, actually she has tried all the scanners in
> our building up to a 1200dpi setting with high contrast as well as
> playing with the scanned document in Adobe and in Photoshop to try and
> darken the text. Is there a solution out there that has worked. Our
> next step is to photograph it from above using a tripod. I remember
> years ago putting a yellow filter on mimeographed text to get it to go darker, but this is pencil.
> Any help would be appreciated!
>
> Marybeth
>
> Marybeth S. F. Tomka, M.A., PS Cert CM, RPA Head of Collections TARL
> The University of Texas at Austin
> 1 University Station R7500
> Austin, Texas 78712
> 512-475-6853 direct line
> 512-232-6563 fax
> 512-471-5960 TARL main phone
>
************************************************
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
