Scanning physical work onto a computer using a flatbed scanner is a great way to easily ‘transfer’ your work into a digital format. It usually involves placing something flat (drawing, print, photo) onto a bed of a scanner. This process flattens the work, which is usually good for 2D illustrations and other materials. Scanning can also be an interesting tool to try things such as collage. 

It is important to keep in mind, scanning can sometimes create a lot of visual ‘noise’ which makes parts of the scanned image slightly fuzzy. However, this can be fixed and removed when the work is digitised through programs such as photoshop or pixelmator. 

You can scan physical objects as well, however, that’s more for artsy experimental files … watch the clip on how the scanner works to see why.

Scanners are the best way to capture assets because despite advances in digital camera (and cell phones) technology, if new, they produce files that are consistent and of high resolution.

Each scanner has different settings but there are a few SOPs (standard operating procedures) that you should aim to follow:

• Ensure your work is as clean and ‘perfect’ as possible - you don’t want to scan data such as smudges and unnecessary lines that could have been rubbed off beforehand!

• Check your line weight - is it so light the scanner won’t even see it?

• Clean the scanner bed before and after use

• Check the file format the scanner is set to capture - you want the format that won’t compromise your work later on

• Check the resolution - it should be as high as possible and no lower than 300ppi

• Check the density setting - if your lines are light you may want to adjust the density

• Check ‘document type’ setting - you may want to adjust to ‘photo’ as opposed to ‘text’

• Check the scanned image before moving on! It needs to be the best scan possible BEFORE you hit the editing phase. Sometimes you have to ignore the ‘rules’ and experiment to make sure the scan is the best possible for your project