Scanning can be done in the studio (dark background) or outdoors (lighter background). Classes at the DAA are conducted throughout the year. Visit digitalartacademy.com for schedule. "Scan Your Garden" is a 4 week supervised on-line tutorial instruction. Learn and experiment at your own pace. Self-guided activities are an option. The weekly assignments are also optional. The tutorial is, essentially, a nearly 100 page, illustrated manual describing my process. Flowers are the most difficult subject matter to get a good scan. If you can capture flowers effectively- then you can scan any other static object or collection of objects.
The requirements for "Scan Your Garden" involve setting up your own scanning suite with a CCD type "photo" quality flatbed scanner. A good introductory level scanner is an Epson Perfection model. (Brands other than MicroTek produce "poor" results and CIS all-in-one units cannot be used.) Fundamental knowledge of any "advanced" image editor (Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro, the Gimp, et al.) is not initially essential, but is necessary to produce "professional" quality work. (This is not a class for learning Photoshop!)
"Scan Your Garden, plein air" requires setting up a mobil outdoor studio on your deck or in your garden. It's essential that you have produced enough studio scanning to feel confident because the results are not predictable and quite challenging. This class is "project" oriented and feels more like a "painting" class than a "photography" class. I insist that participants use an Epson Perfection model and the Epson software (not third-party software) because the value/color exposures require precision.
