Darken handwriting from scan in PS

[Aperture]

Hi Everyone,

I just scanned a handwritten paper and much of the writing is very light and hard to read... Some is kind of patchy. Which command in PS will help me darken up the text to make it more readable?

Thanks!

 

[cgratti]

Try adjusting the contrast...

 

[ppc_michael]

Levels will most likely help you there.

--

When I deal with handwriting, I usually copy it into an alpha channel and invert it, then use levels to take out the paper texture and strengthen the handwriting. Then I convert that into a selection and fill it into a new (normal) layer or into a mask for a new layer. That way you have transparency and better control over everything.

But if you don't want to do all that, adjusting the levels at least should help. 🙂

 

[Mac Kiwi]

Ya Photoshop levels and pull in the black point.


ppc_michael - Thats a pretty good idea to try.I must remember that one.That could also be useful for sketches that have been scanned into PS as well.

 

[Aperture]

Thanks everyone!

 

[MorzillA]

hmmmmm....very interesting! I usually do adjusting on the scanner pgrm before opening it on PS!
thanks ppc_micheal!!!

 

[antoneoh]

:d

 

[xfiftyfour]

hmmmmm....very interesting! I usually do adjusting on the scanner pgrm before opening it on PS!

That's the easiest solution. When you scan, set the white and black points (the black obviously pointing to the handwriting itself).. then you don't have to mess with Photoshop trying to guess pixel information.

FYI, you should do this before scanning ANYTHING so that you get a good range on the histogram straight from the beginning.