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Scanning or Photographing a Layout For The Web

Scanning a 12 x 12 Layout

I use Paint Shop Pro to scan my layouts. You can get a shareware copy of Paint Shop Pro at the Jasc web site - www.jasc.com to try. After 30 days it will stop working unless you pay for it :-)

To scan your layout:

• Put your layout in your scanner lined up against one side.
• Open the Paint Shop Pro program.
• Turn on your scanner.
• Click on "File".
• Click on "Import".
• Click on "TWAIN".
• Click on "Acquire".

My scanner starts to scan the the layout at this point (yours may bring up a box with choices).

• Save the scanned image as a .jpg file, in a folder on your hard drive (I called this file "source")
• Line up the other side of the layout & scan it (if your scanner is 8.5 x 11 you'll have to do 4 scans to get the whole layout). Save this image to source as well.

Resolution: I scan my layouts with a high resolution (200 - 300 pixels/inch) & save them in my source file. Then I reduce them to put them online or email them to someone. That way I can use the scans for printing if I decide to. images2 should be 72 pixels/inch for websites.

Finishing:

• Open the images2 that you scanned in the Paint Shop Pro program (if you've closed them!).
• Working with one of the images2 - click "Image" and then "Resize". The Resizing window will pop open (yours may be slightly different than mine).
• Click in the circle beside "Actual/Print Size".
• Change "Resolution" to 72.
• At the top change the pixel width to 300 - 400 (the height will automatically adjust). This is the size I like layouts for my website.
• Click OK - the image will shrink. If you'd like it bigger to work with click on the magnifying glass (one of the icons down the left of your screen). Now click on the image to make it larger.
• Repeat with the 2nd image. RESIZE IT TO THE SAME HEIGHT!!
• Click on "Selections" then "Select all" (to select the 2nd image).
• Click on "Edit" then "copy".
• Open a new image that is the same height and about 1.5 times as wide as your images2
• Click "edit" then "paste" then "as new selection" to put the 2nd scan in your new image.
• Click on the 5th icon on the left side for the tool that moves your selection around. Position the scan where you want it.
• Click on the first image. Click on the 6th icon down the left side of Paint Shop pro for the selection tool. Use it to select most of your first image - you want to cut off a little of the side that will be 'merging' with your other image so there isn't a black line. Click on the top left corner of what you want to copy. Hold the mouse button down and move the cursor to the bottom right corner of the image. Release. Click "Edit" then "Copy". Now paste the 1st image beside the 2nd image. Use the 5th tool down again to move the image around until they are lined up correctly.
• Trim any excess off the image with the Selection tool.

Saving the Image:

• I save finished images2 to a file called "images2".
• Click "File"
• Click "Export"
• Click "Jpeg file"
• Click "Use Wizard"
• Move the Better Image Quality bar close to the top (about 1/4 down)
• Click "Next"
• Click "Finish". Be sure to wait until the pixel size appears (or it saves the image uncompressed)
• Fill in the image name & save.

Watch the image in the Wizard when it is compressing - you will be able to see how much quality you lose. If it's too much compress it less.

Your two images2 may not fit together well and you'll have to rescan one or both of them. The color may be a bit different on each scan - you may be able to correct that by working with the color tools in Paint Shop Pro or rescanning. The more you work with Paint Shop Pro the better you'll get at creating great pictures for the web!

Photographing Layouts:

Lay your layout on the floor. Stand over it - even on a chair. Zoom in until the layout fills the frame. Take the picture. Take pictures with page protectors off to eliminate glare.

To get a good picture it is important to have the camera straight with the picture so one edge is not larger than the other. A brightly lit room or outside gives you the best light.

Submission Guidelines:

DO NOT SEND US HUGE FILES - they will be deleted. We are rural and have a dial-up commection. We cannot download huge files.

Send 1 picture per email.

12 x 12 Layouts should be saved about 300 x 300 to a maximum of 400 x 400 at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch. Double page layouts to a maximum of 300 x 600.

ALL images2 MUST BE COMPRESSED !!!!!!!!

NOTE:

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