What is the trick to achieve a good positive for sandcarving?

A good scan is crucial for creating a good positive for sandcarving. Use the following steps to maximize your scanning results. 

Using your scanner software: 

1. Make sure that the artwork you are scanning is clean, free of specs and wrinkles. 
2. Lay the object completely flat on the scanning bed. Make sure that it’s even vertically and horizontally. 
3. For line art, set scanner settings to “Black and White” or  “Line Art.” With halftones, choose “B/W Photov” or Grayscale (these options may vary depending on scanner software). 
4. Set scanner at a resolution of 1,200 DPI. 
5. Save as a TIFF, EPS, or JPEG file. Your artwork is now ready to import into your graphics software.

   —IKONICS Imaging