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Scanners Aren’t Just For Flat Objects

 

Even though your flatbed scanner is normally used for scanning (you guessed it) flat images, it doesn’t mean you can’t scan images that have more dimension (such as a watch, a ring, a yo-yo, you name it). The only problem is, scanning an image that lifts the lid adds lots of ambient light into your scan, introducing so many outside colors and reflections that it makes the scan all but unusable. The tip for getting around this is deceivingly simple: Just put a black sweater (or black felt cloth) around the object you’re going to scan, and you’ll get great-looking scans, even with the lid open. The black sweater soaks up that ambient light and you’ll be amazed at how natural and balanced your scanned objects will look.

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1 Comment

  1. Anoop said on — June 24, 2008 @ 12:37 am

    Great tip. But shouldn’t it be black cloth around the scanner lid (and not around the object) while the lid is partially open?

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Viewing and Basking in your Image

When I’m done working with an image, I like to sit and admire it (hey, I spent six hours working on it, I should). To do that, I hit the Tab key, then hit the F key three times. This hides all of the panels and toolbars and lets you see the image by itself surrounded by black. To get back to regular mode, press the F key and the Tab key one more time.

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