You may be wondering what this topic has to do with home stuff or sewing, and quite frankly, it has nothing to do with those things. Beth and I were writing back and forth about how to digitize a hand drawn picture. When she found out that I knew how to convert a drawing to a digital file, she instantly wanted to know how to do it. I thought I would share how to do this really easy process without using Photoshop because I do not own nor know how to operate Photoshop. There are endless applications once you digitize a drawing, so it's only up to your imagination on how far you will go!
So let's get started. Here are the things you will need to digitize a drawing.
- A drawing. I quickly sketched up a few flowers in an Eloise Renouf style for this example. You should be able to use almost any medium of choice in any color you want. Today I am using ink.
- A scanner
- PicMonkey - It's free with no required sign up!
Once you have your drawing, you will need to scan it. Use a higher dpi (dots per inch) when scanning your drawing. It may take a little longer, but it will look much better. Make sure you are including the entire picture in the scan. Name your document when you save it, so you will be able to find it easily.
Upload your scanned drawing to PicMonkey. Click on the flask on the right hand side and choose Boost. This will brighten all white spots. It will turn your photo from this . . .
Upload your scanned drawing to PicMonkey. Click on the flask on the right hand side and choose Boost. This will brighten all white spots. It will turn your photo from this . . .
to this . . .
So what was once a drawing . . .
. . . is now turned into a digital file that I can use for anything my heart desires.
My quilting book released Sept. 24, 2015 and is on Amazon. Check it out!
This is so useful, as when I have tried to do this before, it leaves a grey tinge. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this...it will definitely come in very handy when designing my blog template :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy! I think I can do that! I'll let you know when I change my header again!
ReplyDeleteLove this! Did you do your header this way? I've always loved your spotty lines.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis's a very helpful post! I had no idea it was so easy!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip with the Boost. You so smart. And I love your drawings <3 you need to start designing your own fabric n spoonflower!!
ReplyDeleteGreat info thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I use picmonkey all the time but hadn't thought of this. Very cool. Thanks for the great tutorial. I'm new to your blog- looking forward to looking around.
ReplyDeletePS Saw on Pinterest that you are in NC. Me too- in Charlotte. Where are you?
Thank you, this is very easy and simple. I am hoping once I settle down I will be able to use my scanner ^_^ .
ReplyDeleteI just came across your post via Pinterest and OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I have so much kiddy artwork filling my house and this is a great way to save it forever without the clutter in my house!!! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
ReplyDeletehaha! You're welcome!! Glad you found it!
DeleteWonderful! Love that you digitize drawings with free online software. And your drawing skills are amazing.
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial!
ReplyDeleteJ
Your drawings are beautiful and adorable! Don't say they aren't good...it makes those of us artistically challenged fearful of trying!
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, this is awesome! Do you think it will work well even with colors? I made a card using rubber stamps and ink, and I was wondering if there is a way to kind of digitize that and then to be able to print since the process I chose kind of takes some time... :) Thanks a lot for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Nami! It should work for colors as well, but you may have a harder time color matching. There should be an online service to get you the color code of whatever you used. Also, keep in mind that boosting the photo, if you choose to do that, could alter the color as well.
DeleteThanks for sharing this! This is really useful, especially when you want to create your own banner for your website, especially if you have a white background. Getting out those gray background from a scanned image is really cumbersome. Nice artworks, by the way!
ReplyDeleteRuby Badcoe
Thank you for this, I have been struggling with the darkness on photographs and scans of my work and I can't afford Photoshop, so this has helped me immensely! Such clear instructions, it makes it so easy to follow. I seriously can't t hank you enough!
ReplyDeleteThat is great to hear! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteHi Owen's Olivia, I am trying to change my drawing to digital but I cannot find the flask icon from the site you gave us a link for. Can you tell me where I need to be looking for the flask icon?
ReplyDeleteBrilliant and simple instructions - now I'm gonna see if they work! will let you know :)
ReplyDeleteYou are brilliant and it worked perfectly. Solved a lot of design headaches I've been having, Thanks lots
ReplyDeleteAwesome tutorial, Nancy! (And WOW, adorable!) Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Kristi. Enjoy! xx
DeleteI have had an embroidery machine for years, but they have really had too small a throat area to accurately quilt a quilt. For fine bobbin thread I HEARTILY recommend Bottom Line by Superior. This was recommended many years ago when I first started using an embroidery machine, and now the selection of colors etc is fantastic. I it is the only bobbin thread I use.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I can't wait to try it. Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteAfter scanning the photo black and white, is there a way to change the background or ink color?
ReplyDeletethanks.. can you tell me where is the draw tool for using eraser? I am not able to find out.
ReplyDeleteThank you a million times!!! Found you through the Great Google and so happy I came across your post, as well as your blog! Thanks so much. Looking forward to catching up with you...
ReplyDeletethanks very much! I am new to blogging and was wondering how to upload my little drawing and turn it into my logo xx
ReplyDeletegreat, i think you must visit my site at- www.yayanabusofyan.tk, visit and doit
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, I want to make a digi stamp, it helps me very well :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Owen's Olivia. Thank you so much for this tip! I never really comment these things, as I find that most tutorials are far too difficult to use which is why I usually end up quitting. Your guide however was insanely easy to follow; thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks ! How do I remove the white background once I've done this ? I want to use my drawing for a logo ...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Céline
I'm not sure you can make a transparent background. That would need to be done in Photoshop/Illustrator
ReplyDeleteSuper helpful, thank you!! :)
ReplyDelete