6.20.2016

Another Waiting Game at UCLA/Harbor plusTesting CamScanner

I found a "scanning" phone app via my Fake Journaling friend Dana, who found it through Tina, an Urban Sketcher.
The app is CamScanner, available for both iOS and Android.

The first quick experiment, under bad lighting:
Compare with a standard scan:
The standard scan wins in this case. This is an easy sketchbook to scan from, and black ink is easy to scan.
I have other sketchbooks and media that are more difficult, and I will continue with my experiments.

The hospital visit was for a sonogram for a suspicious lump near my 2nd mastectomy scar. It was a false alarm -- that was a relief. I could have done without the three hours of waiting around, it was very boring AND anxiety inducing. I refused to sit in the Room of Doom (where I waited to get my initial diagnosis on 6/2/10). Instead, I sat in the hall near the Radiation Oncology Clinic.

6.11.2016

Testing the Rocketbook Wave Sketchbook

Last year, I backed an Indiegogo campaign for the Rocketbook Wave, a reusable sketchbook that can be quickly digitized through a phone app. I can't even remember when I finally received it, it's been gathering dust on the shelf. 
Yesterday, I met with some pals at LACMA, to see the Reigning Men exhibit (which is great, by the way). I decided to bring along the Rocketbook, rather than my usual Canson 6x6" sketchbook, just in case photography wasn't allowed. It was, I didn't need to sketch, but after lugging around the Rocketbook all day, I was determined to sketch SOMETHING to test it out. 

Here is my first experiment: 
Direct in-app digitization, uploaded to Blogger on phone, image size: 984 x 1112 pixels 
Scanned @300dpi, Photoshop levels adjustments, resized to 1000 pixels width for blog.
The QR code, dot grid, and symbols at the bottom are elements for the digitization that become invisible.
Thoughts:
As you can see, the top direct digitization lost detail (dots especially) and saves at a smaller resolution than I can get scanning.
Scaling the in-app file to exactly the drawing's dimensions (7.75" width) creates an image of 127dpi.
OK for notes, not very usable for fine art purposes.
The provided pen is too wimpy -- it's a special pen to work with the sketchbook's reusable feature. Again, OK for notes, meh for fine art. There is a thicker felt-tip pen available on Amazon, which I might try.

After purchasing a Rocketbook, it's possible to download a PDF to print then use.
I thought of some ways I could utilize this, especially for some of my fashion sketching.
That will be my next experiment.
Meanwhile, I think I'll be using my Rocketbook for ToDo lists -- better than the myriad scraps of paper floating around on my desk!