frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 3, 2016 18:57:44 GMT
I have undertaken a huge project. I'm scanning my most important photos over the last 40 years. Then picking the finals to be placed in a photobook of my creation. However, am off to a depressing start because many scans are coming out like these three. I have used two different HP scanners and my MacBook Pro. The issue happened with both scanners. I don't even really know how this could have happened. I check each photo after scanning and it looks fine. It's only when I bring it into Photoshop Elements that the problem on the right side (it's always on the right side) shows up. Some photos have the checkerboard transparent background instead of the photo and some photos have the colored pattern you see on the right side of the woman. I wait until the scan is totally done before opening the scanner. I'm already 250 scans into this. I really need help before going any farther. Would really appreciate hearing what might be wrong. Pat  |
|
|
|
Post by cats4jan on Aug 3, 2016 19:31:50 GMT
It looks to me like you are scanning in png format and when you bring it into elements, a background paper is showing through on the first photo and the transparent area is showing through on the other two photos. Somehow you have preset a size that is why you are getting transparency on the edges of the photos - because the photos are not the same size as the set size.
Look to your scanner settings to see if you have a fixed size and look to your settings to see if you have png chosen instead of jpg.
There is no down side to this happening, as pngs are very versatile when creating digital scrapbooks. However, if you are planning on just printing your photos to put into physical scrapbooks, then you should set your scanner differently otherwise you will have to digitally trim all your photos in PSE and that will be a big hassle.
If you are planning a digital scrapbook, pngs are fine - because when they are dragged onto a layout or if they are copy pasted onto a layout - the transparency will not show up unless there is nothing on your canvas. If you have anything on your canvas, whatever is layer one will show through.
However, it may be easier just to reset the parameters of the scanner to jpg and non-fixed size - no matter what your ultimate plans for your photos are.
EDIT
Another thought - is there a fixed size project you are bringing these photos in when you open them in PSE?
|
|
frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 3, 2016 23:57:34 GMT
Thank you so much for your reply. I should have given more complete information. Before starting this project I read an article by Liz Ness in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Adobe Photoshop Elements Techniques magazine. Titled "Give Old Prints New Life" it is excellent about explaining the scanning of old photos and digitizing tips. Per the information in the article, I scanned all my photos thus far at 300 dpi, used Color Mode and TIFF format. As part of the scanning process I first did an Overview scan. I made sure that the broken dotted line was completely around the outside border of each photo before doing the actual scan. I then checked it after scanning to be sure the entire image was okay. Here's the part that completely confuses me. I put each photo scanned (as a TIFF file) into a folder on the desktop. If I click on a photo in the file and open it in Preview, it opens exactly as the thumbnail shows, complete and exactly as I scanned it. However, when I open that same photo in Photoshop Elements 14, it looks like the ones I posted here. . . . . .something has gone wrong on the right side of the scanned photo and part of the picture is missing. But you don't see that until it is opened in PSE14. You mentioned about a fixed size project. Other than the TIFF format and the 300 dpi, there is no fixed size. Except for a few, all these 250 scanned photos are about 5.32" x 3.867". The other part I don't understand is that when I have Layers View open, photos usually show up as Background. These photos are coming in as Layer 0. I've done nothing to them to cause that. I just opened them up in Photoshop Elements. (see photo)  |
|
frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 4, 2016 0:04:59 GMT
Sorry, I forgot to say that I will be making a digital scrapbook. I think. If I understand the term digital scrapbook correctly, it will be a book just like any other hardcover book. Nothing gets pasted in.
|
|
|
|
Post by cats4jan on Aug 4, 2016 1:29:44 GMT
Usually, the whole book is created on the computer using software such as Elements- then uploaded to a printing website. The finished look of the pages is similar to a calendar - with a soft or hard cover (your choice)
|
|
|
|
Post by cats4jan on Aug 4, 2016 2:01:29 GMT
It's been a long time since I used a real scanner...
Your photo coming in as 'layer one' is not a problem - probably that is the way TIFF's come in to Elements. I don't use TIFF as a format, so I can't comment on that. Again - there is nothing wrong with a photo opening in Elements as 'layer one' -- that just means the layer is unlocked (unlike when it comes into Elements as "background" - which means it is locked)
What has me really confused is that your screenshot of the thumbnail of your 'layer one' shows that weird color blotch rectangle on the right (which looks like background paper to me).
Why your photo scans correctly - looks correct in the preview - but then comes into Elements looking like -- that is beyond my scope of knowledge.
For testing purposes, I can only suggest you scan as a jpg and see if you get the same results. That will tell you if TIFF has something to do with the problem.
Since you mention that the scanner does not have a fixed size, we can probably eliminate that as the problem.
Let's put aside the first example for now - I have no answer for that.
What about the scans with the checkerboard around them. I don't think the scanning has anything to do with that. I still wonder if what you are seeing is transparency around your photo caused by your Elements project being a fixed size??? Of course, just opening a photo into Elements brings it in at it's original size, so that doesn't make any sense either.
Can you post a screenshot of the layers panel for one of the photos with the checkerboard?
By tomorrow - I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can help you. Since my ideas seem to be wrong, I'm not sure I can suggest any more guesses as to what is happening.
EDIT - I saved one of my jpgs as a tif - then opened it in Elements and it came in as a 'background' layer not 'layer one' as you have been experiencing. Guess that's not the issue either.
|
|
|
|
Post by cats4jan on Aug 4, 2016 2:10:51 GMT
Putting the scanning problem aside for now - It sounds like you will be creating your first digital scrapbook. (Maybe for a Christmas present?) Realize there are printing sites that have pre-made scrapbooks where all you do is upload your photos and choose a theme - the software pops the photos into the scrapbook in the order you have them uploaded to their site. You can edit somewhat, and you can move photos, and you can add text, but mainly, the work is done for you. This may be something you want to look into as an option for creating your first scrapbook. If it is something you are interested in, here is one such site www.snapfish.com/photo-gift/photo-book?icid=home|2C|I|photo-book-tile|photo-book-1x||bks
|
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Aug 4, 2016 3:25:13 GMT
Hi frizzylee,
I have to admit I am baffled; I am not sure I know what is causing this problem. Therefore, I am going out on a limb here, take a few shots in the dark, and see what happens.
Before starting this project I read an article by Liz Ness in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Adobe Photoshop Elements Techniques magazine. Titled "Give Old Prints New Life" it is excellent about explaining the scanning of old photos and digitizing tips. Per the information in the article, I scanned all my photos thus far at 300 dpi, used Color Mode and TIFF format.
That’s the usual recommendation when scanning photos, especially if you are planning to print them, because TIFF is a lossless format. I would strongly recommend you do not adjust your scanner settings to scan in the JPEG format (which involves compression and loss of data).
- Is this the first time you encounter this problem?
- Have you upgraded your iOS, for example, to Yosemite? - Have you by any chance updated your graphics card? - Have you tried scanning from Preview and then sending the scan to Elements? (Preview>File>Import from Scanner)
- If you are scanning your photos directly into a folder on your desktop, how are you opening them in Elements (via the Organizer or via the Editor)? - Are you using the Divide Scanned Photo command? If so, are you placing the photos about 1 inch apart on the scanner bed and also placing a blank white sheet of paper on the back of your photos?
This should not be happening. Your scanned photos should open in Elements with a locked Background layer. The TIFF format is not to be blamed either. I am going to ask you to do a little test. I cannot do it myself because I cannot replicate this problem. All my scanned photos (TIFF) open in Elements with a Background layer.
Go to Layer>New>Background from Layer. This will change the regular layer (Layer 0) into a locked Background layer. What happens? Did the transparent area disappear or was it replaced with a white area?
Too many questions but . . . your answers will help with the direction this troubleshooting should take.
|
|
frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 4, 2016 18:28:23 GMT
This for cats4jan
Hi Janice
First of all, thank you greatly for taking time to help me think this through. And, yes, my book will be exactly as you describe a digital scrapbook. I am going to try scanning one of the photos as a jpg as you suggest. My guess it will turn out just as yours did when you tried it. I, too, am mystified by that weird color blotch rectangle on the right. . . . .really, really mystified! When I look at it enlarged and very carefully, it looks like another layer there. Bizarre. One other thing, I just realized is that I have been using two different scanners (EPSON-XP 850 Series and HP DESKJET 3050 J610). The same thing has happened with both. In fact, now I see some photos opening in PSE with the photo looking as it should but in the Layers window it shows it as Background, others are opening also with the photo looking as it should but in the Layers window it shows it as Layer 0. What a headache.
Actually, this is my 6th or 7th hardback book. I have been so pleased with a couple of the past books that I decided to take all my photo albums, scan the photos with high potential for use in my very own photobook, and select the finals from those. I rarely use templates for my books now, but rather use the blank page supplied by the AppleBooks program (or whatever its called. . . .I use it because it is easy and I like the printed results). I fill each blank page with a page I create in PSE so that it is totally customized. I've never run into this scan problem before. All I can say is, why does something always have to be a problem???
Again, my thanks.
Pat
|
|
frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 4, 2016 18:55:36 GMT
Hello Sepiana
Good to hear from you. Really appreciate your taking the time. Here are answers to your questions.
Is this the first time you encounter this problem?
|
|
frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 4, 2016 19:18:51 GMT
Sorry. I hit the wrong button.
Is this the first time you encounter this problem?
Yes.
Have you upgraded your iOS, for example, to Yosemite?
I am running OSX El Capitan v. 10.11.6 on both my MacBook Pro and on my iMac. Most of the scans have been done using MacBook Pro.
Have you by any chance updated your graphics card?
I would say no because (how embarrassing for me) I don't even know where it is. Maybe it's updating itself automatically? I don't know.
Have you tried scanning from Preview and then sending the scan to Elements? (Preview>File>Import from Scanner)
No. I select the scanner, load my photo to be scanned onto the glass surface of the scanner and be sure the settings are correct, give the photo a name. Then I select Overview (the photo), make sure the dotted line border around the photo is correct, then do final Scan. It is sent to a folder on the Desktop where I look to be sure the thumbnail, the name and number are correct.
Are you scanning your photos directly to a folder on your desktop, how are you opening them in Elements (via the Organizer or via the Editor)?
I am opening them via the Editor from a folder on the Desktop.
Are you using the Divide Scanned Photo command? If so, are you placing the photos about 1 inch apart on the scanner bed and also placing a blank white sheet of paper on the back of your photos?
No, I am not using the Divide Scanned Photo command.
I did go to Layer > New > Background from Layer and opened one of the photos where the right side shows as transparent.
The transparent area was replaced with a white area.
One piece of information I will add is that the right side of some of the photos is not transparent. In my first post here is a photo of me and note the right side is full of striped colors. They look to me as if those colors came from the photo. Further when I look at that photo very closely I can almost see two layers there.
I hope this helps.
Pat
|
|
frizzylee
Junior Forum Member
Posts: 170
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
|
Post by frizzylee on Aug 4, 2016 19:38:31 GMT
Sepiana I am going to add two images here. One (two women) is perfectly fine the way it scanned. The other (hot air balloon)shows the problem. These were scanned using the same equipment within a day or so of each other. I have to wonder if I was doing something different to cause this. It seems to be a random problem as I look at photos here and there in the scanned photos folder.   |
|
|
|
Post by cats4jan on Aug 4, 2016 19:51:37 GMT
I would say your scanner is malfunctioning because the artifacts seem to be coming from the photo - they seem to be pulled pixels from your photo.
However, I think you mentioned using two different scanners and it happening with both scanners -- is that correct?
Are you using the software from the scanners themselves
or are you using generic Apple software from your Mac and laptop?
Apple does not work and play well with others. I'm starting to think your problem lies within the Apple IOS. It looks as if the scan starts working and then something interferes before the scan is complete.
You are seeing it in PSE because PSE might be reading the scan better than a simple preview and thus, seeing an imbedded problem the preview can't see.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sepiana on Aug 4, 2016 20:16:38 GMT
frizzylee,
I got your answers. I will get back to you as soon as possible. I just need to do some more checking based on your answers.
But, for starters, . . .
I don't see the problem being with the scanners. You said you used two scanners and got the same results. What are the odds of both scanners malfunctioning at the same time?
I am not ready to point the finger at Apple/Mac either, at least not yet. You said:
I put each photo scanned (as a TIFF file) into a folder on the desktop. If I click on a photo in the file and open it in Preview, it opens exactly as the thumbnail shows, complete and exactly as I scanned it. However, when I open that same photo in Photoshop Elements 14, it looks like the ones I posted here. . . . . .something has gone wrong on the right side of the scanned photo and part of the picture is missing. But you don't see that until it is opened in PSE14.
I am no expert here but to me it looks like the culprit could be Elements. If it were your iOS, wouldn't this problem be present when you look at your scanned photos outside Elements? And here is something else that's raising a red flag. You said this had not happened before and you had not upgraded your iOS. That seems to leave one variable to be considered -- Elements.
|
|
|
|
Post by ritage on Aug 4, 2016 20:55:42 GMT
Golly, this reads like one of The Boys' Own Detective Stories. Can't wait to find out Whatdoneit.  Rita |
|
