Scanograph Directions

Terry W. Peterson
Las Cruces Chapter

We are going to build a composite picture of flower parts that is somewhat analogous to a botanical illustration. Directions below:

Broadly, the steps are to:

Scan the parts in separately
Select a background color for the composite picture
Create a 6x8 composite with just the background
Isolate each part from the scanned background to a background of your choice
Size each part to be easily visible on the composite
Orient each part to how it should be aligned in the composite picture
Collect and arrange each part on the composite
Add desired text, save and print the final picture

Scanning

Select a flower that is relatively flat, some foliage and a fruit. The reason for choosing a flat flower is that the scanners depth of field is about an eighth of an inch.
Arrange the flower and other parts on the scanner so that they are separated by an inch or so. Don't worry about their orientation or position with respect to each other. We'll take care of that later.
Open Adobe Photoshop and under menu 'file', select import and select the scanning device.
We want to scan each flower part in as a separate file and at a pixel density that is appropriate for the parts size. I use 300 ppi for parts several inches across and 600 ppi for small parts like seeds.
The scanner will automatically perform a preview scan and display an image of what it sees. When it has done this, set the pixel density and use the area selection process to outline the smallest rectangle that contains the part to be scanned.
When the part is outlined, select 'place image' from the scanner menu. The scanner will automatically scan the area you have selected and place the image as a separate file in the Photoshop work area.
When you have scanned all the images, save them as jpeg files at the maximum resolution.

Background

Open a new file 6x8 inches at 300 ppi. This will be the composite picture.
Make the background and foreground white. Most new files have this by default.
Select foreground from the photoshop menu and then use the eyedropper to set the foreground color. I prefer generally to choose one of the darker greens from a foliage part.
When the foreground color is set, choose the paintbucket and dump it on the 6x8 composite.

Isolation

The objective here, is to surround each plant part with the background color. I magnify the plant part until I can easily color any one pixel with the pencil. Then I outline the part using the pencil to about a 3 pixel border. I then use the airbrush to fill the remaining picture other than the flower part with the background color.

Sizing

Small parts such as seeds need to be magnified enough to easily see the details. First, se the crop function to make as small a rectangle as will contain the part. Then use the image size function to make the part bigger. Set the size in inches and set the ppi to 300. We want the part to be at the same resolution as the composite.

Orientation

Visualize the desired composite picture and use the rotate function to orient each part.

Collecting

Select the file of the largest part first. Use the select all function and then copy that selection using the edit menu.. Next, select the composite file and under the edit menu use paste to put the part on the composite. Next, use the move function to position the part as you have visualized it. Finally, under the 'layers' menu select 'flatten image' to fix the part and prepare the composite for receiving the next part. Continue until all parts are on the composite.

Text

Make another file just as you did the blank composite file to experiment with text fonts and sizes. Select the text function from the photoshop menu, write the text and drop it on the experimental file. When you're happy with the words, font, and size, use the select area, copy and paste functions to copy the text to the composite. Use the move function to position the text and perform the flatten image after each text addition. At this juncture, save the composite picture at the maximum resolution.

Printing

My printer is an HP895Cse which has a print resolution of 300 ppi. This is my basic reason for constructing the composite at 300 ppi. I always use HP ink cartridges and Jet Print Photo Professional Photo Paper. I put my prints in a frame behind glass and never put them in direct sun. In four years, I do not yet see any fading. Be sure and set the print quality to 'best' and the print paper to HP premium photo paper.