# Anyone good with photoshop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 21, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923 "2004-11-21T05:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/1 "2004-11-21T05:39:51Z")
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. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/2 "2004-11-21T05:42:56Z")
Do you have a link where the image is? You can send it to me to take a look. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/3 "2004-11-21T05:48:05Z")
Check you email, Gigo :). ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/4 "2004-11-21T06:43:53Z")
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) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/5 "2004-11-21T06:50:20Z")
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. Thanks for your comments so far. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/6 "2004-11-21T07:11:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/7 "2004-11-21T17:40:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/8 "2004-11-21T18:05:28Z")
Can I see too? I’ve done some of [my own stuff](http://www.suzi-quzi.com/extra.html) like that (ignore the “Brat” section at the top 😉 ). ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/9 "2004-11-21T20:31:31Z")
Ok, I sent it but it’s 1.28mb so I hope your Hotmail accounts have been upgraded :). If not, let me know and we’ll figure out another way. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/10 "2004-11-21T23:50:05Z")
Coming through clear. Looks like a simple clean up and color. Were you looking to do this yourself, specifically? ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/11 "2004-11-22T00:06:47Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/12 "2004-11-22T00:30:24Z")
> [@harmless](#): > > Coming through clear. > Looks like a simple clean up and color. > Were you looking to do this yourself, specifically? 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. > [@yosemite](#): > > 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.) 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. Let me know if you still want to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/13 "2004-11-22T01:01:59Z")
I’ve just emailed you a couple of different ones. Let me know if it’s at all helpful or if anything can be changed. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/14 "2004-11-22T01:27:48Z")
Let me see it, Cisco! This is a Photoshop issue here, and I’m intrigued! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/15 "2004-11-22T02:15:01Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > Let me see it, Cisco! This is a Photoshop issue here, and I’m intrigued! Check your email :D. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/16 "2004-11-22T03:14:52Z")
What sort of coloring are you looking for? Do you want it to look like a Simpson’s cartoon? OR something different? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/17 "2004-11-22T03:27:02Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > What sort of coloring are you looking for? > > Do you want it to look like a Simpson’s cartoon? OR something different? Probably not wholly unlike a Simpson’s cartoon, yea. Anything would be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/18 "2004-11-22T03:30:02Z")
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](http://www.digitalwebbing.com). Some are quite good and some really blow ass. They may be willing to take a shot at it for practice. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/19 "2004-11-22T16:47:02Z")
How’s it coming? Do we get to sneak a peak at the finished product? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923/20 "2004-11-22T17:36:26Z")
Ok **Cisco** , I got the bigger scan. 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) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-good-with-photoshop/275923.md?page=2)