3 Replies Latest reply: Nov 13, 2012 1:52 AM by gener7 RSS

    Scan and Enlarge

    grandpahenry Community Member

      I have a very nice Thanksgiving card 7.5 x 5 .5.  I would like to scan it and use it as my desktop wallpaper for the season.  I have 2 Dell u2711 monitors at a resolution of 2560 x 1440.  However, when I scan I get a terrible image when I attempt to set it as by background in Windows 7 Professional. 

      Can anyone give me some tips on how to do this.  I have Lr 4 and CS 5.

       

      Thanks in advance,

       

      Henry

        • 1. Re: Scan and Enlarge
          SteveG(AudioMasters) Community Member

          This is the Audition forum - we're not into graphics. I think you need to repost this somewhere where they are!

          • 2. Re: Scan and Enlarge
            Bob Howes Community Member

            Steve is right--this is an audio forum so we could do you some nice music to go with your wallpaper though!

             

            That said, the quality is going to depend on the resolution your scanner is capable of--and many aren't up to what you need.  Mine certainly isn't.  If it was me, I'd photograph the card with my 12 megapixel camera which is capable of more resolution than you want on your screen.  Working from something like that I'm sure I could get a good wallpaper image.

            • 3. Re: Scan and Enlarge
              gener7 Community Member

              Welcome to the Photoshop forum

               

              First off the Aspect ratio is 1.36 for the card and the monitor is 1.77. A bit awkward,but we can try.

               

              Scan the card at 600 or 1200 ppi. I hope it doesn't have any foil or other shiny stuff on it.

               

              Using Image > Image Size, set the approx width to 2560 px and resample down. It helps get rid of the waffle pattern caused by the print dots (moire).

              I don't know if your two monitors will extend the desktop, so it might have to be 5120 px across. Crop and straighten as needed.

               

              Save it as a jpeg to your desktop,then exit Photoshop.

               

              Right click on a blank spot on the Desktop, choose Personalization, then Desktop Background

               

              For Picture Location, choose Desktop. It will show up as a selection.

               

              Due to the differences in the card and the monitor's aspect ratio, you can try the different Picture Position settings (fill or center) for best fit.

               

              Save Changes and you should have it. I hope it works.