Photoshop CS includes the Crop and Straighten Photos feature. It enables you
to scan a number of images at once and automatically separate that single scan
into individual image files. However, sometimes you need to give it a little
help...
Crop and Straighten Photos identifies the individual pictures within the scan
and copies each to a separate file. If it identifies a crooked edge, it rotates
the image. Since the process of rotation resamples the image, it can degrade the
image quality somewhat. To avoid that automatic rotation, align your images
square to the scanner's glass before scanning. For smaller scanners, use the
four corners of the bed. When working with larger scanners or smaller images,
you can (carefully) use a plastic ruler or square to align the images. Do not
scratch the glass!
In the scanner's preview window you'll see what the Crop and Straighten
Photos feature will be using. Note in this example that the white of the
scanner's lid is visible between the photos.
The initial scan has clearly-delineated edges and a uniform white area
between the images - it should be excellent material for the Crop and Straighten
Photos command, which is found in the File> Automate menu. Unfortunately,
Crop and Straighten Photos had difficultly differentiating between the gray sky
in the upper-left snapshot and the white of the scanner lid.
To make the job easier for Crop and Straighten Photos, we need only put a
contrasting color behind the photos in the scan. Since the snapshot in the
lower-left has black along an edge, we'll need something other than black or
dark gray. Red or a bright yellow would be fine or, as you can see here, the
brown of a handy clipboard placed on top of the photos on the scanner's glass
gives excellent contrast.
After scanning, the Crop and Straighten Photos feature has no problem
properly identifying the edges of each of the four photographs.
Before scanning multiple prints for use with the Crop and Straighten Photos
feature, take a look at the edges in the images. Find a large sheet of colored
paper or other material (something that won't scratch the scanner's glass) and
place it between the photos and the scanner's lid to provide an
easy-to-recognize background for Crop and Straighten Photos.
Copyright © by BWScrapbooking All Right Reserved.
