Preparing artwork for scanning

If you have existing artwork, you can scan it in CorelDRAW Graphics with a WIA-compatible (Windows Image Acquisition) scanner using the scanning function. It is important to scan your artwork properly if you intend to use one of the automatic digitizing techniques – the scanned image quality will affect the quality of the final embroidered design.

With embroidery design, less is more. You don’t need every detail in an image to create a design. You use the ‘structure’ of the image rather than the fine details of texture and color. To simplify artwork, you can cover it with tracing paper and draw only the essential shapes and lines which will be filled with stitches. When scanning, take away the original artwork and put white paper behind the tracing paper. Shiny surfaces, such as glossy photographs, may not scan well. Cover them with tracing paper. If the artwork has very light colors, highlight outlines with a fine black felt-tip pen.

Note: For a full description of how to scan images into CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite, refer to the electronic User Guide available via the MS Windows® Start > Programs group. Alternatively, use the online help available from the Help menu.

Scanning resolution

Most scanners require you to enter scanning resolution information. Resolution determines the number of dots per inch (DPI) used to create an image. Generally speaking, the smaller the source image and/or more detail it contains, the higher the resolution needs to be. Use the following table as a guide.

Type of artwork

Scanning resolution

Business cards, letter heads

150 - 300 dpi

Hand sketches

150 - 300 dpi

Photos and images

150 - 300 dpi

Commercial art, line drawing

72 - 150 dpi

Sharpening

Some scanning software lets you apply what is called ‘sharpening’ as you scan. Sharpening compensates for the slight blurring in a scanned image by looking for any differences between colors. Sharpening accentuates these differences which makes the image edges more defined. It does not increase image details but makes them more obvious. In general, use sharpening with well-defined outlines. Don’t use it with non-outlined images.

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Color mode

Most scanners also require you to enter color mode information. First decide whether your image is line art (black and white drawing), sketch, color picture, or black and white or color photograph, then choose an appropriate mode. Black and white mode produces the smallest files. Color photograph and grayscale modes generate 256 color images and produce similar sized files. ‘RGB’, ‘True Color’ or ‘millions of colors’ modes generate 16.7 million colors and produce the biggest files. Use the table below to decide which mode is suitable for use with your image.

Source image

Example

Description

Recommended color mode *

No. of colors in scanned image

Line art

LineArt.png 

Two colors – usually black and white

Black/white drawing

Line art

2

2

Drawing/sketch

Drawing.png 

Sketch or drawing with shades of gray

Grayscale

Line art

256

2

Black & white photograph

PhotoB&W.png 

Shades of gray

Black/white photo

Grayscale

256

256

Color photograph

PhotoMillionsColors.png 

Many colors

Color RGB

Color photo

16 million

256

Color picture

ColorPicture1.png 

Two colors or more

Color RGB

Millions of colors

Color drawing

16 million

16 million

2 - 256

* Different scanning software uses different terms for the equivalent mode.

Tips...

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