Using your digital camera to capture quality images of your collectibles is SO last month, right?  Maybe not entirely but a valued iTaggit user has recently brought to my attention another simple and effective way to capture high quality images of your items. ScrimCollector, an iTaggit user that collects antique, vintage, contemporary, & commissioned Scrimshaw, raw whale teeth, and books on whaling, uses his glass-top scanner to capture high quality images of his collectibles.  

Here are a couple of crystal-clear, detailed item images he captured with a scanner:  

 

A scanner even takes surprisingly detailed images of 3-D objects, like the doll pictured above!  Who knew?  Using a digital camera, ScrimCollector says, “would involve a macro lens, shadow-less lighting, a tripod, a background, etc…and even then, repeating or improving an image is difficult.”  

Using a scanner is convenient, detailed, and accurate.  Even better, most scanners come standard with software that allows you to preview edit, crop, and add contrast to your image.

Here are some tips on using your at-home scanner to capture images of your items:

•    Closing the lid while scanning your item is unnecessary and provides your image with a nice, uniform black background
•    When scanning items that are dark, draping a light colored cloth over the item is a good way to create contrast
•    Adjusting the DPI (dots-per-inch) increases the resolution of your image, making your image sharper and highly detailed

• The larger the object, the lower the DPI .  Images that are small require a higher DPI to produce a clear image

• A good way to locate the DPI settings is by using the help feature included in your scanner software

•    Laying a ruler down next to your item when you scan is a good way to show the actual size of your item
•    You can use transparent tape to anchor your item in different positions when you scan
•    If there is dust present in the image, use the pencil feature when editing the image to erase small particles

Thank you ScrimCollector

Happy Scanning!

For those of you wanting more information on scanning 3D items, CLICK HERE to read ScrimCollector’s article “Using a Flat-Bed Scanner to Capture JPG Images of Jewelry, Coins, & Other 3-D Objects.”