Did you know that scanning paper is just the beginning of the fun you can have with your favorite scanner? Although most of the information you find about scanners focuses on getting quality scans of printed materials like photographs, line art, or even text for Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanning, you can apply everything you know about scanning flat sheets of paper to things other than paper.
Go crazy
Remember, a scanner is just a tool. Your results will depend on your creativity, resolve, and judgment. If you're trying to be creative, do exactly that. You can scan more then just paper. As long as it doesn't damage the machine, give it a shot. Here are some suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:
- If you need an image of a bug, why take a picture of the bug and then scan the picture? Skip the middle step and simply scan the bug. You'll get a much more realistic image of a bug. The biggest challenge in scanning a bug, of course, is keeping it from moving around on the scanner. Dead -- but not flattened -- bugs make for the best bug scans.
- Do you need to create an interesting texture for a flyer or to use on your Web site? Find a piece of cloth or even a piece of clothing from your closet and scan it. Play with resolution and color and contrast settings until you get the texture you're looking for. Natural objects such as wood and fabrics are also good sources for textures.
- Your office and your home are a goldmine of possible patterns and objects to scan. Just look around you and count the possibilities.
- Flowers, leaves, and other plants scan beautifully as well. Carefully flatten them between a couple of books and scan away. You'll get realistic color and texture in a scan that captures the true essence of nature.
Note:
Most of these techniques require a flatbed scanner -- like those in the HP Scanjet line -- to work well. Do not try to feed objects other than paper into a sheet-feed scanner.
When you want to scan objects other than paper you may find that you can't close your scanner's lid over the objects to keep out the excess light. Not to worry. Throw a sheet, towel, or some other contrasting cloth over the object (thicker cloths block more light) and scan away. Experiment with different cloth color and thickness to see how they affect your final scan.
...But protect your scanner
Because most scanners are built with paper scanning in mind, you do need to be sure you protect your scanner while you express your creative scanning side:
- Be very cautious about what you place on the flatbed. Scanners are delicate, and their glass even more so. The scanner will pick up tiny bits of debris or scratches on the glass that are sometimes invisible to the naked eye. Avoid scanning items that might result in damage to the glass: notebook spirals, paper clips, knife edges, and clothing fasteners are good examples of key things to avoid. If you plan to scan something with a rough surface, take your time placing and removing the object from the glass, and if possible place a clear sheet of acetate (available at an art supply store) on the scanner glass first. A little caution can help you get a fun scan without sacrificing your scanner glass.
- Attempting to scan mirrors or other highly reflective surfaces can in some cases permanently damage your hardware. Avoid scanning objects with these kinds of surfaces. Instead, take a picture of the object and scan the picture. This is one instance in which the extra step of taking a photo will help ensure the long life of your scanner.
