Scanning into Fireworks

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You can use the scanner to scan images and send them to Fireworks. It just needs to be TWAIN-compliant for Windows users or support Photoshop Acquire plug-ins for the Macintosh. This applies to digital camera image transfers as well.

To access a scanned image or digital photos from a camera, you use the Import function of Fireworks. This function opens the image as a new document. If you are on a Macintosh, you need to be sure that the Acquire plug-ins are in the Fireworks folder or change your preferences (Edit ® Preferences) to point to the location of the plug-in. To import an image, follow these steps:

1. Follow the scanner manufacturer's instructions, connect it to your computer, and be sure it's plugged in.

2. If you haven't installed the drivers for your scanner, do so now.

3. Click File ® Scan ® Twain Select, if this is the first time you are using the scanner; otherwise select Twain Acquire. If this is your first time, select your scanner from the list and click OK.

4. Click File ® Scan ® Twain Accquire. Your scanner software opens. You can now apply your settings and scan.

5. The imported image opens as a new Macromedia Fireworks document.

Removing artifacts from a black-and-white scan

A common thing people run into when they scan a line drawing is a lot of gray noise or trash in their image. It's really simple to correct in Fireworks. I have a scan of a drawing that Ron Rockwell sent me (author of the book FreeHand 10 f/x & Design [Paraglyph, 2002] as well as the FreeHand section of this book) that you can use for practice.

1. Open  tonyline.tif from the chapter16_exercise folder.

2. Zoom in to the right side of the steak, or anywhere you see a lot of gray particles.

3. Select the image, choose Filters ® Adjust Color ® Levels.

4. In the Levels dialog box, click the Select Highlight Color Eyedropper tool (on the right).

5. In the document, click a gray spot.

6. Click OK to close the Levels dialog box. Notice the spots disappear!

   Tip 

   You can darken some of the black lines using the Levels dialog box as well. Zoom into the curve of the apron below the elbow that is holding the steak. Notice the lighter spots of color, which are caused by the fact that the drawing was made with a felt pen. Select one of the lighter squares using the Select Shadow Color Eyedropper tool and click OK.

7. Export the image when you are satisfied.

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