Scanning and Editing Traditional 2D Art
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- My standard process for scanning and prepping illustrations for posting, printing and delivery to clients. There are lots of ways to do this, but this is the process that works for me and that I'm currently using. You can easily achieve the same results with a different scanner and/or image editor. :)
Tools used:
Epson Perfection V370 Flatbed Scanner
Macbook Pro
Pixelmator 3.4.1
Music:
"Carefree" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons...
More:
www.kendyllhillegas.com
Instagram @kendylln
Tumblr @kendyllhillegas
Twitter @kendyllhillegas
Facebook @kendyllmadeit
This was soooo helpful! I paint with watercolor and it's so hard to make it look as nice as the original illustration.
There's a trick I learned to remove the watercolor paper texture from the painting. It's very simple. You scan it normally (make sure it's aligned to the scanner bed), then rotate the paper 180 degrees and scan it again. On photoshop, put the second image on top of the first one, check if they are perfectly aligned (there's a tool on photoshop that does it with a single click - it's called auto align... you can do it manually but it will take forever trust me) then change the transparency from the top layer to 50% or whatever you feel looks better for your image :) It works like magic!
So glad to hear that it was helpful! And thank you for the info about the double-scanning trick! I'll have to try that soon. :)
i tried it but idk why it didn't work for me. i tried every method, the paper texture was still there :(
Hi, how is the tool in Photoshop called? The commend kinda ends without saying the name :)
@@e_nigma_ "auto aligned" is the tool!
Has your insta changed ?
Thank you, Kendyll. I am "Old School" in my artwork and not extremely tech-savvy. So, thank you. This was a great help.
Glad it was helpful, Roberta! I was the same way, (100% traditional media) and scanning my work was my biggest anxiety at the beginning!💗
Awesome and would like to see more including how you use all that stuff in detail. Would love to see more in-depth actual time videos too. Can't believe you have all those supplies and equipment plus a bed etc. in that room - just wonderful. I love seeing folks art and craft studios - it's like looking through a top chef's spices and cooking supply pantry - you just can't resist. Yes on the portfolio - seeing how you have progressed through different interests, styles and levels of experience let us newbies know there might be hope for us yet. And it makes us feel better knowing we aren't the only ones who might skip about experimenting and learning with each trial. As Katie J. stated you are delightful and pleasant to listen to with a natural upbeat attitude. Keep up the great work and your paintings/drawings are lovely.
PS: I hope this doesn't post twice. I posted it I thought....but when I did the add below I didn't see so I posted again.
The best video I’ve seen especially on cleanup of the drawings! 🤩 Thanks a bunch for sharing! 🥰👍🏽🎉
Thank you so much, Peggy!! When I was first getting started I was desperate for something like this, so I decided to make it and see if it helped others. Glad to hear it resonated.🙏🤓
Kendyll firstly I want to say how beautiful your artwork is and how much I appreciate the time and energy you give to making tutorials like this:) Thank you so much! After watching this tutorial I bought an Epson Perfection V370 and I am very pleased with it. I have also downloaded a free trail of Pixelmator to see if I can handle using it. It was quite a learning curve as it was not as simple for me to use as you made it look but I worked it out in the end:) I have told my followers on Instagram about you and what I learned showing comparisons of my artwork before and after scanning and editing. I am so grateful for what you share:)
TYVM will definitely look into that program.
Intuitive and impressive scan with your Smartphone in one app for high productivity is our goal
Hi Kendyll, your video is a revelation, thank you sooooo much for posting it! You have posted information that I have been scouring the net for months to find and finding nothing, just getting more confused...THANK YOU!
Hi Stephanie! I'm so happy to hear that this video was helpful for you! I was in the same boat a few years ago (scouring the Internet for impossible to find info) and it was super frustrating, so I'm really glad to know that it's helped you avoid that same exasperation. Best of luck to you, and keep in touch!
Finding a sub for Photoshop is a sanity saver. Thank you!!!
I’ve tried may times to clean up a scanned image and end up wanting to throw my computer across a room. Can’t wait to give Pixelmator a try.
Omg, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!💕💕💕
I'm a watercolor artist and I'm always struggling with photoshop! I always have the digital noise printing out on my prints, this is such a lifesaver!!
Thank you for letting me know that, Amber! I had the same issue myself and couldn't find a good video tutorial, so I'm super happy it was helpful!!💕
I'm not an illustrator, far from it, but I enjoyed learning more about the process behind scanning and processing! Interesting video! :D
+Esther DB So cool, thanks! Glad to hear that it's interesting for non-illustrators too. :)
Thank you for this video! Love all your work. Hope to see more videos soon!x
Thank you ! I have ever just started a online pattern surface design course and I am looking for a suitable scanner and I came across your channel, I am glad I did because your channel fun to watch and very informative.(just in case ppl are interested it's by a company called ' make it in design ' ...even if you don't do a course they have lots of freebie information and a free online magazine called Moyo)
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your channel! First, your illustrations are extraordinary! Second, thanks for this video. I'm stumbling my way through taking my watercolors to the next level and this scanning information is invaluable!!
+Liz Lux Thanks so much, Liz! I'm very happy to hear that. 💕
All your videos are so helpful Kendyll..i am just starting off to nurture my illustration skills and your videos answers most of my major doubts.. thankyou & looking forward for more of you vlogs & illustration tips
Thanks so much, Nitika! That makes me so very happy to hear. More videos to come.
This was absolutely wonderful Kendyll! Thank you so much for letting us know the printer and programs you use. So grateful for how you went through your scanning process step by step. Thank you so much!💕, Kate
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I've been considering purchasing this scanner and now I'm definitely going to!
this is a very effective tutorial and advice. i been searching for the best scanner for quite a long time now and i ended up seeing this video. thank you soo much. 💛
Thank you, Tony! That's great to hear. :)
Ooooo, this is super helpful, thank you! I also appreciate the Adobe alternative and the demonstration on how to use it. And beautiful paintings, too!
I'm glad you showed us the process. I thought I was the stupid one with an eraser.
Your work is beautiful and the process was incredibly informative. Thanks.
This was so helpful. Thank you Kendyll. Your work is beautiful!
Thank you, Emma! I'm so happy to hear that it was helpful for you. Appreciate the kind words as well!
Thank you so much for this video - I got both Pixelmator and the same scanner. I'm really happy with it . This was very helpful.
That makes me so happy to hear! I'm still using both in all of my work and continue to be happy with them. :) Really glad the video was helpful.
yea I bought the V370. I rather wanted the V600 but that was so expensive and since I saw this video I am conviced that it will work perfect. I just started so I wil keep on watching your video's :)
Thank you so much for taking your time to do this video, it really helped me!
That makes me very happy to hear! Thanks for letting me know that it helped you!
Great video! Really cool illustrations. But most of all, cute kitty!
Very helpful video... and very lovely artwork.. :-)
+Hoda Moustapha Glad to hear it! Thank you! :)
Thank you so much for sharing! I really wanted to find an editing software that is user-friendly and you demonstrated beautifully not only what tools to use but how-to's as well. So, to thank you, I subscribed!!
Thanks so much for sharing your process! I will check out this scanner.
What a nice video!..I've been looking for a scanner even though this isn't a review it helped me pick out a scanner finally!..
Awesome! I'm glad to hear it. It's a great scanner -- served me well for the last couple of years and still going strong!💪⭐️
Kendyll Hillegas :D...I hope mine will too!
Thank you for sharing this awesome video!
Thank you sooooooooooooooooooo much. It was really helpful and easy to understand.
Thanks this was really helpful on a technical level and also nice to see such lovely art work
+michael lennon Oh good! I'm very glad to hear that. Thanks so much! :)
Great video! Much appreciated
Very helpful and informative video! It was very clear and easy to understand, thank you! P.s. Your cat is so cute!
Really great video thank you. I'm just starting to scan my own stuff and looking to learn as much as I can. Great video :) Liked and Subscribed
That's great to hear! Thank you, Dale!
I shouldn't be surprised that the music is titled "carefree". (I'd love to hear the story behind that one day) I just feel like everything is fun and possible when I watch your videos! Aside, I was wondering if you knew how to make patterns by hand? The thought came in my head when I saw the tiny pieces you did in the magazine and the backgrounds. Also, not meaning to pry, what is your schedule like as a freelancer? I was very fascinated with your interview with Allison where you said, that you came to a point where art was work, and then afterwards you had flow. I must rewatch, there were many good quotes! Thanks for being so honest, and giving, and personable!
+Kazu Narayan Yes! I love that song as well - Kevin MacLeod is great! I think he does a good job at titling his songs by mood. It makes me super happy to hear that you feel like things are "fun and possible" when you watch my videos! That's what I'm going for! I haven't done a ton of pattern-making, but I know there is a cool technique for making patterns by hand using scissors, tape and a copier. I first saw it on Design Sponge - bit.ly/1HdMO2j. Found a video of it as well: th-cam.com/video/2B684Sgy94s/w-d-xo.html. Regarding schedule, as a freelancer I work on a lot of different kinds of things - commercial illustration for brands and large & small companies; individual commissions for people wanting custom work for their homes; brand design and website design; print design/layout; working with vendors and other brands who license my my existing art; running my Etsy shop. It really varies from week-to-week! Soon I'll be posting a video about some of the ways that I found work initially and built up my business - I can do another video in the future too that focuses more on what my work life looks like from week to week. Since it varies so much I might have to do a series of them to give an accurate representation. Thank you for watching and for asking such good questions! :)
Wow! Can't wait! Thanks so much for the link will check it out 😆
If you want the background to be white on your final image, you might want to try and make the original watercolour painting on a hotpress paper, which are smoother than the coldpres. The paper grain you get on a cold pressed paper might be usefull if you want a artistic brush stroke, but in this kind of detailed painting, specially if you want the white backgroung aftwards, I highly recommend that you buy a hotpress paper. You will be saving some time, by not having to manually remove all the grain from the paper, once you have the digitalized image.
yay! finally found a great tutorial for this. thank you so much!
+Jessica Lupinacci Awesome! So glad it was helpful!
That's just art-mazing. :)
This was really helpful!! Thank you so much for the tutorial!!!
+Lisa Rickershauser Thanks Lisa! Glad to hear it!! :)
Thank you.
Wow, fascinating! I’m a traditional artist as well and I’ve been hoping to find a program like Photoshop that wasn’t the monthly subscription- seems like WAY too much. Pixelmeter sounds perfect!!!
Do you never have to do color corrections tho once your piece is in the computer?
thank you so much for this vid. saviour! 🙌
Aww, that's great to hear! Glad it was helpful.💕
Hi, Kendyll!
I'm SO close to ordering this scanner - you are by far the most helpful tutorial I've watched so far! My question is, have you had trouble with the software? Some reviews on amazon are claiming that this is incompatible and awful software...but there was no indication that it was incompatible for you. Anything to clear up confusion would be great!
Hi Jenesis! Glad to hear that you found the video helpful. :) Compatibility is dependent on your computer and OS, so not knowing what you're working with, I can't say for sure. For myself, it's been fine with a Mac (I'm running it with Sierra, but also ran it on the previous two OS's). The software is clunky, but after spending time figuring out how to use it and what settings I like, I haven't had trouble with it. Worth noting -- I only use the scanning software (NOT the image editing software). So I can't speak to how that is to use. Overall, as I said in the video, it's a good scanner, I still use it, and would recommend it. Good luck!
Thank you, very informative.
most helpful video EVER. thank you!
Super helpful video! Thank you!
Glad to hear it! Thank you!
This was so helpful! I just got the Epson v550, and it works in the same software - I just signed up for a free month of Pixelmator to try that out as well :) ;)
Yay, that's so great to hear!! Hope you like Pixelmator as well! 💕
Thank you sooo much .. this is soooo useful
Hi thank you for this video!!!!! This is what I needed!!!!! What brand is your scanner, and where did you get it?? and how much is it??? :) - btw, I just subscribed!
ooh i haven't tried pixelmator but it looks dope. Seems a lot easier and more straightforward than photoshop
It definitely is! I recommend it for sure! :)
So helpful! Subscribed today :)
Yay, thank you so much! Really happy to hear that it was helpful.
Your artwork is absolutely stunningly beautiful and I found this video extremely helpful - thank you! I also have an Epson Scanner and use the Epson Scan software you demonstrated in the video. I am also trying to scan watercolor paintings :). You mention playing with the settings on the initial screen. Firstly, I wondered if you could share what settings you've found work best? Also, I wondered if you have altered anything in the Configuration panel, in particular under the Color options? Do you leave these settings as the default - Color Control checked with Continuous auto exposure set at Display Gamma 2.2?
+Sophia Caldwell Hi Sophia, thanks for the kind words and lovely note. Glad the video was helpful. I'd recommend just trying out a bunch of different settings, as things will need to be adjusted depending on the paper and the colors, textures and values in each piece. When I do this, I like to do test scans at 72dpi to speed up the process. If you can't get the colors exactly the way you want them, you can always mess around with the curves tool in photoshop or pixelmator (or whatever program you're using to edit). Good luck!
+Kendyll Hillegas Thank you Kendyll. Totally get your point. For example, if you were scanning rough cold press versus hot press I can see you'd have to alter your settings accordingly. Good thing is you can save the settings so once you get it right, wouldn't be as much work next time :). Great tip about the 72dpi, common sense, but I'd never have thought of it ... haha :D. I'm subscribed to your channel now and look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you for sharing your amazing skills and knowledge with the creative community!
Hi Kendyll! I love your channel and this video was super useful for me! I wanted to ask you: if you scan an illustration that is quite small to double or triple the size, does it pixelated? or by scanning at 720 dpi the quality is still good? this answer will help me lots! Thanks so much and keep doing amazing work :)
this was insanely helpful, thank you so much!
your artwork is beautiful, btw, you're so talented :)
Thank you, Em! I'm really happy to hear that. Good luck!
woww Thank You for This vidéo. It's really helpful. ❤💜💛💚
Glad to hear it! 👍
brilliant tutorial. How did you put your signature there in the second scanned peice? it looks very neat.
This is super helpful! I'm a traditional artist so I dont know how to do digital at all haha but I love how you broke this down (I also wanted to know what type of laptop you have as well)
Thank you, Nalu! That's great to hear. I use a MacBook Pro.
thanks. that was great.
+Jeannie Hunt Glad you liked it! :)
omg, thanks so much for this! i have been dying to get my art online and now i can!
Yay! So happy to hear that. Thank you!
I've been reading a lot of reviews of this scanner and a lot of people say it doesn't run well with a Mac and that the scanner doesn't allow a resolution higher than 600 dpi. Have you had a problem with it with the more recent iOS updates?
Hey, its very hepfull. Btw i have a question ? Do you need to learn digital art and a pen tab before editing, or u just trying learn by yourself to edit ur art work ? Thanks, sorry im from indonesia
Do you have any suggestions on how to set the scanner settings? I've been struggling with my scanner not picking up the colors correctly, and sometimes it will be crooked on the scan but perfectly aligned on the actual scanner screen, as if it is confusing the white background of my painting with the white pad on the inside of the scanner.
Kendyll thank you for all the helpful information. Is there a similar program you can suggest for Microsoft computer.
You're welcome! Glad to hear it was helpful. I don't have any firsthand experience with Microsoft myself, but I know some illustrators who work on Windows use GIMP - www.gimp.org/windows/ as a Photoshop alternative. I believe it's free, and a lot of people use it so there should be good help resources out there. :)
+Kendyll Hillegas awesome! I will look into it. Thank you for the quick response!!! :))))
what the paper do you use btw? looks so clear when you scan it
Thank you for sharing. Any links to large format scanners for up to 18x24 works?
I'm afraid not. Scanners at that size are very expensive (well over $1,000USD). If I want to make prints of something that large I photograph it with a good camera in natural light and a tripod. Some print shops may also have large format scanners that you can pay to use. Hope that helps!
Very helpful video :) i think I may purchase this scanner. Any chance of a video on making your art into prints?? Thank you for sharing
+Harri M (HarriJubbly) Glad to hear it! My most recent video goes into more detail on my process for printing: th-cam.com/video/sDXKihUSQfc/w-d-xo.html Hope it helps! :)
This was so helpful!! Thank you so much for sharing! I subscribed!
+pinkdogapples Oh good! I'm so glad to hear that you liked it. Thank you!
Kendyll - great video - your scan looks almost perfect from the start (my watecolor paper buckles) - Canson 90lb cold press - do you pre-stretch the paper or work on a watercolor block or use say 300 lb paper - can you do a video on that - thanks :)
Mostly work on heavier paper -- at least 140 lb. Never really stretch or work on blocks. Too lazy!😂
Kendyll Hillegas - thanks - I am with you on the stretch part 😉
Hi thanks for this great video, I scanned then vectorized my painting , however I think it lost some of its quality when I print it on a bigger scale , what is my mistake ? Is the resolution of the scanner not high enough or shall the painting be as big as the printing size in the first place . Or i have no way but to draw it from scratch on AI??
Hi Kendyll! Thanks for the information. I'm considering buying this one for my artwork. It appears to be great quality for color accuracy! Can you remove the lid on this one for scanning large scale canvas paintings?
Amazing Cool Scanning Art print I should get one it, thnak you video, I got subscribers👌
hi i love your videos! I'm having a bit of trouble trying to get rid of the background on a piece of art. i was wondering if you could maybe make a slower step by step video about how to get rid of it or you can tell me in the comments? thank you!
Hi there! Thanks very much! I just re-watched this video, and I honestly said everything I would say about removing backgrounds using Pixelmator, and went over all of the steps I do. The only part that was sped up was the erasing bit, after I explained how to do the erasing. What program are you using to remove the background? Can you tell me more specifically about what your question is?
I'm using Pixelmator as well and so far all all I know how to do is select the background with the wand tool and then refine selection. after that I'm completely lost
From there, once the background is selected, hit delete to remove it. Then use the eraser (the regular one, which is orange) to clean up any of the remaining edges or bits of background you don't want included.
hi great video ☺ so just wondering, when you send it to clients do you send it with the white background? or the just cropped out picture?
Hi Louise! It depends on what stage of the project we're at. If it's a draft, I send it with the white background (just the unedited scan). If it's the final, usually I send it will no background so it can be dropped into a page layout, or used on packaging, etc.
Will this scanner work with fine art as well? I'm a fine art major working on small to fairly large pieces in charcoal, soft pastel, oil pastel, water color, acrylic paints and oil paints. And I really need to figure out how to create a digital portfolio for college transfer admissions and jobs in the future. The largest we go in college so far is 20x26 Bristol or brown bag paper.
The largest piece I've scanned with this scanner was an 18x24, which had to be scanned in 6 or 9 pieces and then stitched together digitally. I personally wouldn't scan anything larger than that. And If you're working larger than a 9x12 on anything other than paper, and/or if your pieces have unfixed heavy charcoal or pastel that may transfer to a scanner plate, you're better off taking photos with a tripod and good DSLR in RAW. Just search "how to photograph fine art" and a lot of good videos will come up.
really helpful
So glad to hear that!👍
I love your helpful and beautiful video vlogs. May I ask you a quick question: What do you think of the epson perfection v600 vs your v370? Thank you for your time. Take care.
This was really helpful! I just got the same scanner as you and it doesn't come with much instructions!!! Thank you :-)
Glad to hear it! Thanks very much for watching, and good luck with the scanner. It takes some experimenting, but it's definitely a great scanner! :)
Thank you so much :D it's was very helpfull, i've been struggling with this for so long x_x
+milbeth morillo (Mirubefu) You're welcome! I'm happy to hear that it was helpful. It was a struggle for me too when I first got started, so I know how it feels! Best of luck to you!
hii yor vedio is really informaative.could you suggest a printer for printing digitized art calenders at home.
Hey loved your video! I wanted to know what kind of prints do you sell and to what kind of clients?
I am starting out so it will be a great help
thank you for this vid!
Thanks for such a helpful video , I kept searching for a video like this for a while , until I thought that I was weird not to know this :D , just a question , the program that you use to clear the background , can it add a back ground that you choose for example can I add a drawing of my own as a background behind the original drawing ?
+Aya DIY I know what you mean! That's how I felt when I looked for a video like this a few years ago. Glad it was helpful! In answer to your question, yes - you can add any sort of background or layers of other drawings you want. It's very similar to photoshop in that way.
How do you pull up the background layer menu?
This is such a great and informative video. Thanks. Can the Pixelmator 3.4.1 be used on a PC?
Thanks, Karol. I'm afraid Pixelmator is Mac only. For PC, you might try GIMP. Good luck!
Thanks for that., That is a really great video.
Thank you for sharing this.does the alternative Photoshop help in to enlarge and does it add grids to your scan drawings?
Glad you liked it! You can resize scans with Pixelmator, but you can't actually "enlarge" a raster image as it has a limited number of pixels. You can add grids.
Kendyll Hillegas yaaaassss😆😭OMFG thank you. Yea grids help.
Is the photo quality on the Canon Pixma you have not nearly as good as the Epson? Do you only use it for printing?
+ThatLadyNe The Pixma I have is print-only. In my experience, combined printer/scanners aren't the best for reproducing art.
Hi Kendyll, this was such a informative video, thank you!
A quick Q: Do you find that this scanner picks up images that are on warped paper? I often have artworks that have a warped area from using watercolour and water, and I find that some scanners scans that warped area blurry. How does this scanner handle warped paper? Is the image still clear?
Thank you. 😁 you said you're new to TH-cam. When did you start? You have a lot of followers
Started in October of 2015. This video is from December 2015.😊
Hey Kendyll! I ended up buying this scanner but I've noticed that every time I scan something, even if the paper is only slightly warped from watercolor I can never get a flat scan even if I put a book on top. There's always a bit of a shadow as if the paper isn't touching the screen. Does this ever happen to you?
Does increasing the dpi make the image you scanned bigger?
The scan itself is still the same size, but increasing the dpi increases the pixel density per inch so that you can reproduce it at a larger size.
Great vid :3 , Can u do this with any scanner ? If yes , do u suggest any particular one ? ^w^
Yeah, you should be able to do that kind of editing regardless of which scanner you use. I really like the one I have (the one in the video), which is the Epson Perfection V370.
Kendyll Hillegas oh so the one u have is good and not outdated ?
Kendyll Hillegas also thnx :3
This was VERY helpful. Thank you :)
Thank you, Katy! I'm very happy to hear that. :)
Hi love ❤️ this video. I had a question for you. I do digital Illustrations with my tablet and want to make prints of my artwork. I usually draw on a 8x10 canvas but with a resolution of 600 ppi so that I can make bigger prints from the original. I read somewhere that ppl do this. My question for you is that if someone purchased my 8x10 print which is at 600 ppi would I be able to get that printed somewhere as I heard that 300 ppi should be the print resolution and that 600 ppi is too high??? But I would really like to work at 600 ppi so that I can have for example a 11x14 print. As you cannot size up art in photoshop. Please help I'm really confused! I don't use a scanner all my work is digital Illustrations. Thanks so much hope you can help.
You should be fine with 600ppi. Most of mine are 720 and I print 8x10's all the time. :)
Thanks so much 😘
This video was so helpful! Thank you
Hi. Do you recommend this scanner to scan artwork on canvas/canvas board? thanks
I haven't tried it with canvas personally, but my guess is that it could be tricky as you might not be able to get the lid to close. I usually photograph canvas/panel pieces.
Kendyll Hillegas Thanks for reply
Great Video!!! When you save you illustration, do you select compress? If not the image is even heavier then the original scan image... And how heavy are a typical image that you scanned? Thanks ;) By the way, your illustrations are magnificent!
Thank you! I don't compress since I want the scan to have a greater pixel density than the original. This lets me print on a larger scale. Typically I scan at 720dpi.
Is there any reason to scan in greater than 720dpi? Is that just going to depend on how large scale you'd be printing?
That was a good tutorial! I really liked the video quality :D
but there are 2 things I think should be fixed:
1st the audio quality at the beginning of the video x_x
2nd scanning to JPEG :P
srsly, JPEG is probably the worst you can select. It's a very compressed and lossy file format. Use PNG, or TIFF, because those are lossless (Yes, it takes more space, but that's the _"cost"_). You can always and probably should compress your files before publishing online for example, but your input/ source file should be the highest quality possible :^)
hiii thank you so much for the video, it i may know, what printer do you use? thank youuuu ♡
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. You can find that info here: www.kendyllhillegas.com/faq/