How to use scanned money in Adobe Photoshop.
Adobe adds algorithms to Photoshop that prevent users from opening or printing scanned money. While we've been aware of this feature for quite a while, it has taken on the character of an urban legend, because in a quick poll of designer clients, we couldn't find anyone that had actually tried it.
So CreativeTechs put on our MythBuster hats to put this claim to the test: We slapped down a fresh new $20 and scanned it into Photoshop. Presto the warning of legend:
Scanning money is not illegal if you follow the rules. Visit RulesForUse.org and select a country for the limitations on using reproductions of various currency. So how can you open a scan of a $20 in Adobe Photoshop?
The answer turns out to be pretty easy: Open your scanned money in Adobe ImageReady first. Click the “switch to Photoshop” button at the bottom of the toolbox and you are back in Photoshop with your money. Easy when you know the trick.
Source: The fun part of this week's tip is our source. Check out this energetic Photoshop tutorial from Deke McClelland: dekePod Episode 1: It's your Money... Scan it! This is the pilot edition of Deke's new dekePod video podcast. We're looking forward to seeing what comes next. Want to read more about dekePod? Read an interview with Deke at O'Reily Digital Media. Or subscribe to dekePod on iTunes.
MythBusting Note: It turned out to be harder to get a screen capture of our "banknote" warning message than we originally expected. A $10 bill opened in Photoshop just fine. A $100 bill did too. It took a quick trip to the ATM to find our problematic $20 bill before we could reproduce the needed error.
Comments
Craig, While the photoshop thing is cool, there are ways to get really decent scans online, from the Treasury Department themselves. Here are links to printable images of the new $20 bills:
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/files/20Glossy-face-web.pdf
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/files/20Glossy-back-web.pdf
Or find any of the new bills here (the left side column includes links to all the new notes):
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/main.cfm/currency/aboutNotes
;-)
David.
Posted by: David Durkee | May 14, 2006 11:40 PM
Thanks David. Those US Treasury links are pretty cool. The website you provided is actually a better source for the regulations for reproducing US currency:
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/main.cfm/currency/regulations
I'll have to update the tip.
Posted by: Craig Swanson | May 14, 2006 11:52 PM
Dudes, you rock. Just used this tip and, as you say, it's easy when you know
the trick.
Thanks, Dana
Posted by: Dana Sullivan | May 18, 2006 09:00 PM