Easy Scanner Lesson #1

For the Easy Scanner Lesson we're going to scan in a simple heart (one color plus outline) and then add lettering to it using the lettering built-into the scanner and the Edit mode.

Lesson 1, preparing the scan sheet:

1. Find or make a piece of scanner paper. Each scanner comes with one pad of scanner paper and a green template to make more. Either use one of the pre-made sheets or make your own. "How on Earth do I do that?" you ask. To make scanner paper:

• Cut a piece of regular copy paper or tracing paper (don't use lined paper!) to the size of the green template. You should be able to get two sheets to a page and if you beg, borrow, or steal a paper cutter it goes really quickly.
• Place the green template over each piece. Use a black marker to mark the dot in the upper left corner, making sure to fill in the circle entirely. This is the "Registration Dot" and will let the scanner know where the scan area is.
• Use the black marker to mark where the clamp on the underside of the scanner lid goes. Trace around the two sides and the upper edge.
• Use a yellow or orange marker (a highlighter is great for this) to mark the four corners of the scan area (the square openings at each corner of the clear area in the center of the template). The clear area (3.5" square) represents the area in which your design must fit in order for the scanner to be able to see the entire design.

2. Find a black marking pen. If you are using a scanner that has not been upgraded your lines must be at least 2mm thick in order for the scanner to accurately read them. If you are using an upgraded scanner 1mm lines will generally work.

3. Draw a 1.5" to 2" high and wide outline of a heart on the scan paper, making sure that the entire heart is within the scan area and that the outline doesn't have any gaps or thin areas. You can easily double-check the size and location by placing the green template over the scan sheet, lining up the registration dot and clip mark, and checking that the entire heart is within the clear square. If you're nervous about your drawing skills you could draw the heart on scrap paper and then when you have a heart you like attach all loose edges of the scrap piece to the scanner paper with scotch tape, again making sure that the heart stays within the scan area. If you're using this method be sure to not cover the registration dot with either the scrap paper or the tape.

4. Check that there are no stray marks within the scan area (the scanner will pick them up and they'll get stitched as part of the design. If you find one cover it with either White-Out or a piece of white gummed label.

Lesson 2: Preparing the scanner.

If you have questions regarding these lessons please feel free to e-mail me.

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