Pro Techniques

Use Your Scanner As A Camera; Expand Your Digital Image Capture Options Page 2

6. Scan Live
If your model can hold still, you can scan hands and other body parts. I asked my wife to put on lots of bright rings and a bracelet for good measure. For a backdrop, we selected a colorful scarf. It took at least four 8.5x11”, one minute scans on the V500 at 300dpi until we got the right position without movement. In CS3, I used a levels adjustment layer to adjust color and contrast.

7. Move During The Scan
Our first hand scans were marred because of slight movement. After looking at them closely, I thought, why not exaggerate that for a special effect? This time, I asked my wife to move her hand left or right at intervals during the scan. First, I let the scan light move over the tips of her fingers, then I asked her to move an inch sideways and hold there. After a few more seconds, I had her move her hand back laterally in the other direction, and so on until the scan was completed.

8. Combine Two Scans
On the V500, I separately scanned an electronic circuit board and a telephone handset at 600dpi. Next, I used the Magic Wand tool to select and remove the black background from the handset. Then with both photos open in CS3, I dragged the handset on top of the circuit board.

9. Show Two Sides At Once
Scanners are especially great for small natural objects. I scanned this nautilus shell twice, exterior and interior, at 600dpi on the Epson V500, then combined the two scans into one photograph.