Scanning mylar media

[Cliptin]

I need some advice on scanning mylar and onion skin media. I have been unable to get anything other than a mostly black image. I'm not the best with imaging technologies so I can't understand what the issue is. If we copy the drawing first and then scan I get an acceptable image. This leads me to think poor image contrast.

We are using this scanner:
http://www.fcpa.fujitsu.com/products/scanners/m4097d/tech-info.html

Thanks.

 

[blakerwry]

Aren't both of those medias transparent or atleast translucent? do you need a background of a certain color?

 

[jtr1962]

You might try putting a sheet of inkjet paper behind the item being scanned if that's at all possible with your scanner(might not work on a sheet-fed scanner). It usually works for me. You might still have problems with the mylar though because of the shiny surface.

The problem here is that the background on most scanners is very dark, and naturally because of this the images won't stand out. Still, you might be able to fix a mostly black scan in an image editing program. Try playing with gamma, contrast, and brightness values. You would be surprised what can magically appear out of an apparently dark image.