Help with Aligning and Cropping Scanned Cards

[Johnny15]

Hello,

I need your help. This might be simple for you, but it would be a great help for me to learn how to do it. I don't want you to do it for me!
I have scanned some cards and would like to align them because some of them are tilted.
After that, I would like to crop and save each card individually as an item so that I can use it in another document. However, I want each card to maintain the same dimensions.
One last thing—do the card dimensions change if I save and then load them into Illustrator?
I’d really appreciate any help!

Thanks a lot,
Giannis

 

[IamSam]

Hey!!!
Open your PDF in Ps.
Use your Rectangular Marquis Tool to select and copy each card from the original grouped layer (Layer 1 in my layers panel image) to it's own layer.
Select > Cmd/Cntrl + J

If you need instruction on how to do this, let me know!

I have scanned some cards and would like to align them because some of them are tilted.

Once you have the cards on their own layers, Use Free Transform to rotate and move them to the center.


Use the Ruler Tool to align them.
On one (either vertical or horizontal) of the cards edges, click and hold, drag the line to be even with the cards edge.
Seen here on the right hand edge of the card.....


Once you have the line drawn, click on "Straighten Layer"


I will explain how I cropped them in the next post.

 

[Johnny15]

I will explain how I cropped them in the next post.

You’re great! Do you also know how to add crop marks?
I’m trying to create files for PNP games, and it would be great to cut them evenly.
PS:I will be waiting for the next part.

 

[IamSam]

Once I have the card placed in the centerish of the document window and straight, I have to center it. This is how I did that.

On a new layer.
I used the Rounded Rectangle Tool.
I set the radius to 60px.
I then dragged out a Rounded Rectangle (RR) to match the GENERAL size of the card (note: the card is not yet centered in the document).
Once the RR was close, I lowered the RR's opacity so I can see through it.
I then used Free Transform (Cmd/Cntrl + T) to match the RR to the exact card dimensions!


The RR is now a template for cropping all other cards but it still needs to be centered.
Select the Move Tool.
Make sure the RR layer in selected/highlighted.
Hit Cmd/Cntrl + A to select all.
In the Move Tools preference bar, center the RR template by hitting the "Align horizontal centers" and the "Align vertical centers" icons....


Your RR template layer should be centered in the document.

Next, select/highlight the RR template layer and drag guidelines to the edges (Note:I also have them in the center, but it's not necessary.
Note that the RR template is now centered but the card is not!


Select/highlight the card layer.
Select the Move Tool.
Move/nudge (directional arrows on keyboard) the card into alignment with the RR Template.


With the card layer still selected/highlighted, Cmd/Cntrl + mousclick the RR templates thumbnail to make a selection.


Then hit Shift + Cmd/Cntrl + I to invert the selection.
Then hit DELETE.
This removes/crops everything outside the selected area!
Hit Cmd/Cntrl + D to deselect.

Your card has now been straightened and cropped.
All cards are the same dimensions.
Repeat the same process for each card.


With RR Template layer turned off

 

[IamSam]

Once I have all the cards repositioned, aligned and centered, I can now crop the document.



I can now rename all of the layers.
I can save each card to it's document, or a specific file.

 

[IamSam]

One last thing—do the card dimensions change if I save and then load them into Illustrator?

I would suspect it would not, but since I don't use Illustrator, someone else will have to answer that!

 

[Johnny15]

Great tutorial!
Thanks a lot!
Is there any way to make the edges of the card a little darker so that I can align them more easily? (mostly at the bottom and at the sides)
They have the same color as the paper.
Also is it easy to add crop marks?

 

[IamSam]

Is there any way to make the edges of the card a little darker so that I can align them more easily? (mostly at the bottom and at the sides)
They have the same color as the paper.

Well...........in the PDF you provided, you can see most of the edges, at least two edges and a corner. This is all you need to straighten or align the card for the crop.
Fore example......this card has visible lines on the top, left, and right edges. The two top corners are also visible. This is all you need.


But if I were to try and darken the edges, I might add a temporary Levels ADJUSTMENT layer (LAYER>NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER>LEVELS)



Drag the dark point slider to the right and darken the image.
Then delete the Levels adjustment layer when done.

Also is it easy to add crop marks?

Not sure what you mean by this. Perhaps to could describe it better?

 

[Johnny15]

They are marks that help you cut cards straight, something like this
It's okay, you've already done more than enough!
Thanks a lot!

 

[IamSam]

They are marks that help you cut cards straight

OK............maybe like this........

5.5in x 11in
Make a grid.
Go to VIEW>NEW GUIDE LAYOUT> Make 2 Columns and 3 Rows.


Center your cards in the grid.


Under VIEW, make sure you have "snap" and "snap to" >Guide, Layers, and document bounds.

Select and highlight the card layer on the top left. Drag guides to all four sides.
Select and highlight the card layer on the middle left. Drag guides to it's top and bottom.
Select and highlight the card layer on the bottom left. Drag guides to it's top and bottom.
Select and highlight the card layer on the top right. Drag guides to it's left and right.
Select and highlight the card layer on the middle right. Drag guides to it's left and right.
Select and highlight the card layer on the bottom right. Drag guides to it's left and right.
Should look like this.....


Using the guides, now use your Line Tool to create "cutting" lines!
Note: I added an off white background so you can see the cards and lines.
All the way across....


Or just short ones on the edge.........

 

[Johnny15]

I really appreciate your help, you are great! I have one last thing and all my problems will be solved!
How did you manage to crop the edges of the photos?
I did everything but the corners of the cards are square.

 

[IamSam]

How did you manage to crop the edges of the photos?

Not sure what you're asking. Please explain.

I showed you how I cropped the card in my post above......


With the card layer still selected/highlighted, Cmd/Cntrl + mousclick the RR templates thumbnail to make a selection.

Then hit Shift + Cmd/Cntrl + I to invert the selection.
Then hit DELETE.
This removes/crops everything outside the selected area!
Hit Cmd/Cntrl + D to deselect.