Scanography (also spelled scannography), more commonly referred to as scanner photography, is the process of capturing digitized images of objects for the purpose of creating printable art using a flatbed "photo" scanner with a CCD (charge-coupled device) array capturing device. Fine art scanography differs from traditional document scanning by using atypical objects, often three-dimensional, as well as from photography, due to the nature of the scanner's operation.
Create > Scanography Images
Goal: Create compelling images using a flatbed scanner. Studio Activity: Be inspired by the work of Elisabeth Schmitz-Garcia > http://goo.gl/AYLHqN and make images using a flatbed scanner. Similar to a Xerox machine a scanner has the ability to create high quality digital files. Elisabeth captures exciting movement by draping a fabric over herself and the scanner and then pressing scan. Her Borderline Personality Disorder portraits show distortion and stretched images as the scanner arm moves across the screen.
Scanners can also be used to take scans of objects placed upon existing photographs. Look at the examples of this by Rosanna Jones > http://goo.gl/UfVHXA
Get creative and experiment with the scanner and different techniques.
Trigger Mechanism: Experiment, Distort, Depth of Field
Step 1 Come up with a theme to base your idea on. It can be a deeper message, idea, feeling or compositional rule. Look at other scanography images and be inspired. Maybe you just think of some objects that are important to your or that have an interesting shape, texture, or meaning and could be included in a scanned composition in some way. Bring items into school to use for this project. I will NOT be supplying everything for you.
Step 2 Log into one of the computers that has a scanner.
Find the Epson Scan software and open it up. Use the following settings when you scan:
Use fabric (white of black) to cover your face in the scanner bed. Don't close the scanner cover. The light is very bright, be careful and keep your eyes closed.
Have someone press the SCAN button (no preview scan needed) for you when your set and ready to scan yourself.
Move your face if you want or keep it steady as you scan. Try several scans to get several to choose from. Save these multiple images to the computer.
Step 3 You must create 12 different scanography compositions. These will be turned in on a digital contact sheet.
3 portraits
3 natural objects
3 man-made or industrial
3 your choice
Select 2 out of the 12 that are the better compositions to then edit in Photoshop. These will be stand alone photos, they don't need to necessarily convey your message.
Then select the 3 photos that best convey your message or theme. You will edit these photos and create a triptych using picmonkey.
Now open Photoshop and make any CREATIVE adjustments you wish. Color, Saturation, Contrast Adjustment Layer changes should be used.
You can also bring in other photos that you have taken or scan film photos you took, add textures, etc. to manipulate your Scanography image further like the example below:
The final project will be a TRIPTYCH.
Turn your 2 final Edited Scanography images and pickmonkey triptych into the Scanography folder on the V:/ drive.