Scanner Photography: How to create interesting photos on your flatbed scanner.
Creating Photos with Your Scanner
If you have a flatbed scanner attached to your computer then you might
not know it but you have one of the world's best digital cameras
sitting on your desktop. Your scanner is not only great at copying old
photos and documents, but it can take a scan (i.e. a photograph) of
anything that you can fit on the platen: an arrangement of seashells,
your antique button collection, or even some flower blossoms fresh from
the garden. I laid this eggplant blossom on my inexpensive Epson
scanner moments after I picked it, turned off the room lights (to get a
black background) and scanned it. The great thing about scanners is
that, while they can only "see" one surface of your subject, they have
incredible depth of field (near-to-far sharpness) so almost everything
the scanner sees will be sharp. Wild, isn't it?
Here are some quick tips for success:
Scan at a high (300 dpi) resolution so that you can make really nice prints.
Keep the glass clean.
Turn off the room lights or use a sheet of black paper over your subject to keep the background black.
If you want to see some of the best scanner photos ever made, visit Ellen Hoverkamp's site and you'll see some remarkable and beautiful scanner photos of flowers, veggies and other interesting subjects.
Entire Site Contents Copyright 2012 Jeff Wignall
An Ambitious Dogs Production In Association with Boo Boo & Mama Cat Films Please also visit my Photo Tip of the Day blog.
