logo scanning

I have a few logos to scan, but Im not sure how to get the white background, the paper color, out of the logo while preserving the logo image. Im sure there are a few ways to get rid of unwanted colors or backgrounds in photoshop, it seems as if all the ones I try, end up taking away from the actual logo quality. Please help, thanks!

I think torn had a tutorial for what you might be wanting up on http://www.cbutts.com in the tutorials section, channel masking?

It looks like that might work, Ill give it a try, thanks

Use the pen tool to create the contours of your logo, then make selection and fill it with black.

If you have illustrator this works even better because you can then resize your logo to any size you want without getting jagged edges.

Whats the best format to scan a logo into? Thanks

If you're only going to use photoshop, keep the scan as a photoshop native .PSD. If you want to export it out of photoshop with no background (like the white pixels removed), save it as a PNG.

When I'm looking for logo recreation, I usually make a 600 DPI scan of the image. Then I import that scan into FreeHand (illustrator, corel draw, streamline.... same thing) and put it on a background layer . Then on a foreground layer I "trace" the logo with the path/pen tool.

After you get the logo recreated trash the original scan... and save just your vector recreation as an .eps file...

you can import it into photoshop, Place it "as is" into virtually ANY page layout program.... and the background is transparent. Furthermore.... the graphic created in this manner can be as small as you wish.... or a 24 ft billboard.... the quality will be the same.

I'm working on a tutorial for this.... I just haven't finished it.

Thanks for the detailed reply, that sounds like it should work for what Im doing.