gcf@cci632.cci.com (Greg Fairbrother) (06/17/91)
I am trying to get a good scan of some portrait photographs which have a matte surface which is very bumpy. I am using a Howtek scanner with RIO software. The images are what you would find available in a Sears or Kmart photo studios. The scanned images do not look very good as they have this effect created from this matte surface. I was wondering if anyone knows of a DOS software package, a different scanner, or a technique which would give us better scanned images. I cannot get these pictures in a different surface texture as I am stuck with this bumpy matte surface. thanks. Greg Fairbrother gcf@cci.com
simon@sco.COM (Simon Tooke) (06/21/91)
From: gcf@cci632.cci.com (Greg Fairbrother): >I am trying to get a good scan of some portrait photographs which have a >matte surface which is very bumpy. I am using a Howtek scanner with >RIO software. The images are what you would find available in a Sears >or Kmart photo studios. The scanned images do not look very good as >they have this effect created from this matte surface. One technique photographers use when making copies of "flat" images (such as paintings or old pictures) is to polarize the light illuminating the subject (in your case, the original photograph. If you can polarize the light used by the scanner into the proper orientation, "bumpy" reflections can be minimized. Even just a sheet of polaroid material over the scanner may help. Of course, I could be wrong... -simon -- =============================================================================== Simon Tooke SCO Canada, Inc. (416) 922-1937 130 Bloor St. West. Suite 1001, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ...!scocan!simon ...!uunet!scocan!simon
gray@hawkmoon.MN.ORG (Bill Gray) (06/21/91)
gcf@cci632.cci.com (Greg Fairbrother) writes: >I am trying to get a good scan of some portrait photographs which have a >matte surface which is very bumpy. . . >The scanned images do not look very good as >they have this effect created from this matte surface. >I was wondering if anyone knows of a . . . >technique which would give us better scanned images. >I cannot get these pictures in a different surface texture as I am >stuck with this bumpy matte surface. Hmmm. What I know about scanning would fit in a thimble with enough room left over for a 747. Portraits, now, are another story. The finish that is causing you grief is a lacquer spray applied after the print is finished. *IT CAN BE STRIPPED!* To remove the lacquer, use lacquer thinner. >>> Lacquer thinner is **extremely** flammable! <<< That doesn't mean it has an evil nature. I've used it for years and never had trouble. But I don't let a flame within a country mile of it, either. If you choose to strip the lacquer, you will eventually get down to the bare print emulsion. This does not harm if you handle it carefully. Once you have scanned the print, you can re-lacquer it. The spray is available in photo stores that cater to professionals and wannabes. I prefer the MacDonald's brand. There are various textures available from pebble to glossy. I do recommend a lacquer over the print when you are finished. A last word of caution: better studios do printfinishing on the print to smooth out wrinkles and complement negative retouching. They also spot to hide dust spots on the print. Most spotting is done with brushes and dyes; this will be unaffected by removing the lacquer. Some printfinishing is done with colored pencils, however. Since the print emulsion doesn't have enough "tooth" to take the pencil, the areas are sprayed with a special retouching lacquer. The pencilling is done, then the final lacquer is applied. You will strip the pencilling when you remove the lacquer. As I said, I know zip about scanning. But can you not get another, smaller, unlacquered copy of the print in question and scan it? Proofs and wallet sized prints are seldom lacquered, and even less often pencilled. Good luck. Bill gray@hawkmoon.mn.org