I found a sketch that a friend of mine did a few years ago in one of my old notebooks and I’d like to digitize it, clean it up, and color it. I already scanned it and I have a copy of photoshop on this machine but I really have no idea where to start. I’ve done stuff like this before with MS Paint but I want this one to look really nice and I think I’ll need Photoshop for that.
Would anyone mind looking at it and letting me know what’s going to need to be done, how hard it will be, if it’s even possible, etc? I’d appreciate it.
Ok, to begin with, I will recommend to scan again at least 300 dpi and if possible, to scan the sample out of the wired notebook.
After getting a good scan, (try to get a good contrast to differentiate the blue lines of the note book from the lines of the artwork) I would recommend then to use the Select tool/Color range tool to select as much blue from the lines as possible, then you delete the blue and then increase the contrast (Image/Adjust/Levels) to get well defined back lines, you will have to delete any stray spots left. (This is the simple way, one could use layers, multiply the lines, replace colors, but that is getting too complex)
Then you will have to complete the gaps in the lines that the original creator left before colorizing.
Do you have a stylus?
(Of course, you could send me a better scan and I could give you later a clean line art version of the sketch)
Ahh, so what you’re saying is “you can’t possible do this, Cisco” ;).
How could I get a “better” scan? Rip it out of the notebook and scan at higher quality? I’d like to keep it in the notebook if possible because that’s the only way I’ve managed to not lose it these past few years, but if I need to rip it out I will.
There is no need to rip the page, one solution is to turn the rest of the pages to the back of the note book (this move is impossible on other sketchbooks) basically you are turning the note book inside out and then run the scanner, the important thing is that the image is as flat as possible to the scanner’s glass.
The increase in resolution is important because the artwork has faded a little; and to enhance, remove blue lines, and to close the open lines one needs a very detailed and bright scan.
You need to set the resolution befor you scan and be sure to scan at the physical size you want to print at as well.
(email the image to me as well)
As far as coloring it I would ‘make a new layer’. A transparent layer over the original and color on that layer. That way you can work on the coloring without disturbing the stuff beneath it.
I correct a lot of my pencil and ink drawings in Photoshop. (You can see some examples of them on my website, in my profile.) I have a whole system. The original scan never looks good enough, as-is. I’d be interested in seeing this work as well. (Email is in my profile.)
I will do it if I can figure it out. I know zero about Photoshop though. I was trying to make a banner last night and after about an hour of not being able to figure out how to manipulate text or change the background color I gave up.
Cool. Be forewarned though that it’s not a good drawing by any means. My friend drew it in about 10 seconds with no intent of it ever being scanned or messed with. It’s supposed to be a funny charicature of him and me. I’m just hoping that you’re not expecting high-art :D.
If you want some comic type colorists to possibly take a crack at it, you can post it at the colorist forum at www.digitalwebbing.com. Some are quite good and some really blow ass.
They may be willing to take a shot at it for practice.
For my part, I decided to at least do a clean up and to correct the lines as an exercise, even if others are working on it. (because of college and work, I will get it back to you in a couple of days)
).