Scan Your Garden: Introduction
0-AInstructor: Patri Feher
Description
Your ordinary flatbed scanner is a camera with a macro lens! It will allow you to make sensual “Georgia O’Keeffeesque” visions of living specimens at a resolution so high that the 1:1 life size image can be enlarged to fill an oversize canvas. Use your full color or monochrome digitized scan as a “photo realistic” composition or as the source image for an enhanced interpretation or as a study for impressionistic painting or a scientific botanical illustration.
This workshop focuses on capturing the most challenging three-dimensional subject matter- living botanical specimens. Scan them individually or as a “bouquet” in natural poses. While scanning a daisy is a no-brainer, try a German Iris, a Casablanca lily or a complex arrangement of multiple stems!
All of the technical “fundamentals” of buying and installing a scanner and setting up a scanning studio are covered immediately so that participants can begin creating eye-popping images right off the bat. We’ll “tour” some of the cyber galleries of the top floral scanographers that demonstrate the diversity of the medium that will inspire, challenge and awe you. (And, trust me, there are still plenty of new interpretations and live subject matter left to explore!)
The processing of scanned images involves: the posing and arrangement of flowers; the various background options; fine retouching; file saving/image management; color and value modifications. More advanced skills include selecting and layering individual specimens, adding decorative calligraphy and type. Tips for printing your proofs or final composition on plain or coated artist paper (watercolor paper, mulberry paper), fabric and canvas or using a service bureau.
All aspects of scanography can be accomplished with the image editor of your choice- Photoshop, PaintShopPro, etc. The scanning driver can be used as a “stand alone” program or Imported from Painter, PS, PSP or any other image editor. (I will be demonstrating on a PC with Photoshop CS with interpretations for Mac users, PSP and Painter artists when necessary.
After you experience this class you may want to continue exploring “Scanning en Plein Air” if you have a “portable” compact desktop computer or laptop. In this class we will set up our studio (with the help of a long extension cord!) in our garden, deck or patio to scan your garden in site or collect fresh flowers from the location. If you would like to explore more creative ideas, for example, scanning objects d’art, insects, self portraiture, “over-size” objects, and assembling a composition of “curiosities” tune into “My Scanner is a Camera”. Artists who need to scan their own artwork for printing or web display or use a large-format scanner to reproduce over-size artwork should consider “Scanning Two Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Fiber Artwork for Reproduction”.
1) potential students that are “thinking” they might want to enroll, but aren’t convinced it will benefit them because they have always had problems using scanners OR they don’t quite grasp the “multi-purpose” uses for artistic scanning.
2) participants that have enrolled and need to “test” the scanner or the scanner driver so that they are set up for the instructions.
3) participants that are having trouble installing the scanner.
4) participants who need to buy a scanner but feel the need to comparison shop.
Skill Level
Beginner
Software Requirements
- Adobe® Photoshop, CS3, CS4
- Paintshop
Hardware Requirements
- Recommendation Epson scanner
- Printer
Course Gallery
[Gallery not found]Before Class
Before class text.
Week One
Basic Studio Scanning
- Organizing your object scanning studio
- Installing your software and scanner
- Setting up your printer
- Testing your set-up
- Capturing a few garden specimens on a black background
- Fundamental Value/Color adjustments in scanner
- Basic retouching or dust gremlins with PS tools
Week Two
Capturing a realistic flower arrangement
- Methods to capture that often elusive velvety black background
- More retouching methods
- Precision value adjustments in scanner and in Photoshop
- Color Modifications, Color saturation recipe
- Alternative color backgrounds
- Proof printing your composition
Week Three
Creative techniques
- Black and White captures
- Color tints and sepia images
- Krazy Kolor
- Creating a professional image for printing
- Hi pass sharpening method
- More advanced retouching
- Advice on Giclee print making and other printing methods
- RGB vs CMYK
Week Four
Advanced creativity
- A tour of “X=treme” scanning methods
- Over-size scanning and stitching multiple scans together in Photoshop
- Taking a scanner outdoors and into the garden