Digitally Photographing Documents

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DartmanX

Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av DartmanX » 05 apr 2005 17:39:27

I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but have
to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i photographing what
I want at the local courthouse will work. My camera maxes out at
1600x1200 resolution.

Any thoughts?

Jason

Gjest

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Gjest » 05 apr 2005 18:19:31

On 5 Apr 2005 09:39:27 -0700, "DartmanX" <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote:

Im wondering i photographing what
I want at the local courthouse will work.

I use my digital camera to photograph documents off of a microfilm reader (no
printer available). You will need a tripod or something like
http://www.clamperpod.com/, which is what I use.

Dave Hinz

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dave Hinz » 05 apr 2005 18:38:05

On 5 Apr 2005 09:39:27 -0700, DartmanX <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but have
to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i photographing what
I want at the local courthouse will work. My camera maxes out at
1600x1200 resolution.

Should be OK if the documents are clear enough. Use a tripod, long
exposure, and no flash. Glare is a killer (and they don't like it
in the records offices) if you use a flash. Nice thing is once you get
it into a digital format, you can do all sorts of manipulation to even
out brightness on the page and enhance edges, and that sort of thing.

If you're shooting typed pages, you might want to get a half page per
shot, given the low-ish resolution of your camera. And if you can tell
it to shoot 8-bit greyscale or even 24bit greyscale, that'll give you
better finished product than if you shoot them in color - you'll be
taking the color out of the image later anyway, most likely.

Dave Hinz

DartmanX

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av DartmanX » 05 apr 2005 20:31:09

What do you recommend as the length of the exposure? I'm going to
experiment on some documents at home before I try it at the courthouse.

Jason

Dave Hinz

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dave Hinz » 05 apr 2005 20:39:24

On 5 Apr 2005 12:31:09 -0700, DartmanX <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote:
What do you recommend as the length of the exposure? I'm going to
experiment on some documents at home before I try it at the courthouse.

Well, as long as you can get it. The smaller your f-stop, the better
your focal depth of field. So, if you can adjust that manually, then the
longer the better. Some sort of tripod or clamp is a must, obviously.

If you come up with something you particularly like, please share it with
the group. I've been meaning to write something up, but you know how
that goes.

Dave Hinz

Gjest

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Gjest » 05 apr 2005 20:47:06

On 5 Apr 2005 12:31:09 -0700, "DartmanX" <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote:

What do you recommend as the length of the exposure? I'm going to
experiment on some documents at home before I try it at the courthouse.

I set the camera ASA (or whatever they call this setting on digital cameras)
at the highest it would go ... on mine it is 400. Turn the flash OFF and put
the camera in "macro" mode with the document about 9 inches away. Then I let
the camera determine the rest.

CWatters

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av CWatters » 05 apr 2005 23:01:46

"DartmanX" <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1112719167.496420.4230@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but have
to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i photographing what
I want at the local courthouse will work. My camera maxes out at
1600x1200 resolution.

Any thoughts?

Scanning allows much higher resolution but photographing is faster once set
up right. Make some test shots and see how they come out before you waste
too much time.

keith_nuttle

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av keith_nuttle » 06 apr 2005 01:07:56

I have photographed documents for some time. I use the Macro mode, no
flash and let the camera do the rest. I also use the view screen.

One thing that I have found when I don't have enough light and no
tripod. I shorten the neck strap on the camera so that when I can
press the camera against the short strap and use my body to steady the
camera

DartmanX wrote:
I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but have
to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i photographing what
I want at the lacal courthouse will work. My camera maxes out at
1600x1200 resolution.

Any thoughts?

Jason

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 06 apr 2005 01:40:09

"CWatters" <colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote in
news:eVD4e.56350$XP4.4380720@phobos.telenet-ops.be:

"DartmanX" <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1112719167.496420.4230@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but
have to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i
photographing what I want at the local courthouse will work. My
camera maxes out at 1600x1200 resolution.

Any thoughts?

Scanning allows much higher resolution but photographing is faster
once set up right. Make some test shots and see how they come out
before you waste too much time.

Some items are also difficult to scan: I have a deck plan of the GREAT
EASTERN that's too long for the scan bed, and in very sad shape.

And no, I don't know why it was stuck in the family bible. Yet. ;-)


--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

It is more important that a proposition be interesting than that
it be true. (Alfred North Whitehead)

L Covey

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av L Covey » 06 apr 2005 04:37:02

Dave Hinz wrote:
On 5 Apr 2005 09:39:27 -0700, DartmanX <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but have
to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i photographing what
I want at the local courthouse will work. My camera maxes out at
1600x1200 resolution.


Should be OK if the documents are clear enough. Use a tripod, long
exposure, and no flash. Glare is a killer (and they don't like it
in the records offices) if you use a flash. Nice thing is once you get
it into a digital format, you can do all sorts of manipulation to even
out brightness on the page and enhance edges, and that sort of thing.

If you're shooting typed pages, you might want to get a half page per
shot, given the low-ish resolution of your camera. And if you can tell
it to shoot 8-bit greyscale or even 24bit greyscale, that'll give you
better finished product than if you shoot them in color - you'll be
taking the color out of the image later anyway, most likely.

Dave Hinz

Don't have my digital camera directions handy at the moment. When I
slide open the metal piece that covers the lens, my flash automatically
pops up. I can't manually push it back down and have it stay there.

Off the top of your head, do you think there is a way to take photos
without the flash?

Thanks in advance,
Lani

DartmanX

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av DartmanX » 06 apr 2005 13:11:19

Ah, if only I could afford a good, portable microfilm scanner... :)

I would have CDs/DVDs full of stuff... and genealogist would come to
me... begging for the priviledge of a lookup...

Seriously, I'd transcribe and donate to the genweb archives.

Jason

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 06 apr 2005 13:30:40

L Covey <ljcovey@worldnet.att.net> wrote in
news:yPI4e.525626$w62.354562@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

Dave Hinz wrote:
On 5 Apr 2005 09:39:27 -0700, DartmanX <fergusonjason@gmail.com
wrote:

I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but
have to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i
photographing what I want at the local courthouse will work. My
camera maxes out at 1600x1200 resolution.


Should be OK if the documents are clear enough. Use a tripod, long
exposure, and no flash. Glare is a killer (and they don't like it
in the records offices) if you use a flash. Nice thing is once you
get it into a digital format, you can do all sorts of manipulation to
even out brightness on the page and enhance edges, and that sort of
thing.

If you're shooting typed pages, you might want to get a half page per
shot, given the low-ish resolution of your camera. And if you can
tell it to shoot 8-bit greyscale or even 24bit greyscale, that'll
give you better finished product than if you shoot them in color -
you'll be taking the color out of the image later anyway, most
likely.

Dave Hinz

Don't have my digital camera directions handy at the moment. When I
slide open the metal piece that covers the lens, my flash
automatically pops up. I can't manually push it back down and have it
stay there.

Off the top of your head, do you think there is a way to take photos
without the flash?


There are menus to set up your camera, and you can shut off the flash in
there.


--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

Ask not for whom the <CONTROL-G> tolls.

Dave Hinz

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dave Hinz » 06 apr 2005 15:09:46

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 03:37:02 GMT, L Covey <ljcovey@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
Dave Hinz wrote:

Should be OK if the documents are clear enough. Use a tripod, long
exposure, and no flash.

Don't have my digital camera directions handy at the moment. When I
slide open the metal piece that covers the lens, my flash automatically
pops up. I can't manually push it back down and have it stay there.
Off the top of your head, do you think there is a way to take photos
without the flash?

Hard to say. My camera is a Kodak 6 megapixel, with semi-auto and full
manual controls if I want to use them. If you have a fully-automatic
camera, it might not be possible.

My parents' camera is a Cannon, and has a button on top with a
lightning-bolt flash symbol with the "not" through it, maybe yours has
that?

L Covey

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av L Covey » 06 apr 2005 17:33:34

Christopher Jahn wrote:
L Covey <ljcovey@worldnet.att.net> wrote in
news:yPI4e.525626$w62.354562@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:


Dave Hinz wrote:

On 5 Apr 2005 09:39:27 -0700, DartmanX <fergusonjason@gmail.com
wrote:


I'm wondering if people have had good results digitally photographing
documents for transcribing.

I'm wanting to do some transcriptions for the Genweb archives, but
have to get copies of the documents first. Im wondering i
photographing what I want at the local courthouse will work. My
camera maxes out at 1600x1200 resolution.


Should be OK if the documents are clear enough. Use a tripod, long
exposure, and no flash. Glare is a killer (and they don't like it
in the records offices) if you use a flash. Nice thing is once you
get it into a digital format, you can do all sorts of manipulation to
even out brightness on the page and enhance edges, and that sort of
thing.

If you're shooting typed pages, you might want to get a half page per
shot, given the low-ish resolution of your camera. And if you can
tell it to shoot 8-bit greyscale or even 24bit greyscale, that'll
give you better finished product than if you shoot them in color -
you'll be taking the color out of the image later anyway, most
likely.

Dave Hinz

Don't have my digital camera directions handy at the moment. When I
slide open the metal piece that covers the lens, my flash
automatically pops up. I can't manually push it back down and have it
stay there.

Off the top of your head, do you think there is a way to take photos
without the flash?



There are menus to set up your camera, and you can shut off the flash in
there.


Thanks.


Lani

L Covey

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av L Covey » 06 apr 2005 17:45:15

Dave Hinz wrote:

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 03:37:02 GMT, L Covey <ljcovey@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

Dave Hinz wrote:


Should be OK if the documents are clear enough. Use a tripod, long
exposure, and no flash.



Don't have my digital camera directions handy at the moment. When I
slide open the metal piece that covers the lens, my flash automatically
pops up. I can't manually push it back down and have it stay there.
Off the top of your head, do you think there is a way to take photos
without the flash?


Hard to say. My camera is a Kodak 6 megapixel, with semi-auto and full
manual controls if I want to use them. If you have a fully-automatic
camera, it might not be possible.

My parents' camera is a Cannon, and has a button on top with a
lightning-bolt flash symbol with the "not" through it, maybe yours has
that?


I went throught the menus. I see a lightning symbol on the right
navigation button but not on the actual menu. I think I have something,
and it has to do with turning flash off when taking close up shots. I
will continue to read. I have an Olymbus Camedia D-550 Zoom 3.0
Megapixel camera.

Thank you,

Lani

James A. Doemer

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av James A. Doemer » 06 apr 2005 18:46:43

DartmanX <fergusonjason@gmail.com> wrote:
Ah, if only I could afford a good, portable microfilm scanner... :)

I would have CDs/DVDs full of stuff... and genealogist would come to
me... begging for the priviledge of a lookup...

Seriously, I'd transcribe and donate to the genweb archives.

Jason

Out of curiosity, how much does a portable microfilm scanner cost?

CWatters

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av CWatters » 06 apr 2005 20:25:26

"Christopher Jahn" <xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns962FD20AE8C33xjahn@216.196.97.136...
Some items are also difficult to scan: I have a deck plan of the GREAT
EASTERN that's too long for the scan bed, and in very sad shape.

That might be worth a bit.

For oversise drawings you can scan them in sections and use a Panorama
program to joint the scans together into one huge one...
http://www.panoramafactory.com/

DartmanX

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av DartmanX » 06 apr 2005 21:04:32

Here's the one I've seen:

http://www.heritagecreations.com/products/st100.php

About $2,000 there... plus you provide the computer.

Jason

Lesley Robertson

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Lesley Robertson » 06 apr 2005 22:08:02

"CWatters" <colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> schreef in bericht
news:GIW4e.57085$GK6.4306028@phobos.telenet-ops.be...
"Christopher Jahn" <xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns962FD20AE8C33xjahn@216.196.97.136...

Some items are also difficult to scan: I have a deck plan of the GREAT
EASTERN that's too long for the scan bed, and in very sad shape.

That might be worth a bit.

For oversise drawings you can scan them in sections and use a Panorama
program to joint the scans together into one huge one...
http://www.panoramafactory.com/

My local copyshop has one BIG scanner that can copy things up to A2 (for the

Transatlanticsa, A4 is a touch bigger than letter, A3 is twice A4 and A2 is
twice A3) It's worth asking around.
Lesley Robertson

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 07 apr 2005 00:25:40

"Lesley Robertson" <l.a.robertson@tnw.tudelft.nl> wrote in
news:D-udncqEUsko0snfRVnyiw@infopact.nl:

My local copyshop has one BIG scanner that can copy things up to A2
(for the Transatlanticsa, A4 is a touch bigger than letter, A3 is
twice A4 and A2 is twice A3) It's worth asking around.
Lesley Robertson

That's great advice; I hadn't though of going to a copy shop. It will
certainly be easier than setting up a camera to get decent high-res
shots.


--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

Blessed are they that run around in circles, for they shall be
known as wheels.

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 07 apr 2005 00:26:14

"CWatters" <colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote in news:GIW4e.57085
$GK6.4306028@phobos.telenet-ops.be:

"Christopher Jahn" <xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns962FD20AE8C33xjahn@216.196.97.136...

Some items are also difficult to scan: I have a deck plan of the GREAT
EASTERN that's too long for the scan bed, and in very sad shape.

That might be worth a bit.

It might, at that.

For oversise drawings you can scan them in sections

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason. But
first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I mention
that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?


and use a Panorama
program to joint the scans together into one huge one...
http://www.panoramafactory.com/

I just use photoshop; I've been doing this kind of joining for years.



--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

There are two major products that come out of Berkeley; LSD and
BSD Unix. We don't believe this to be a coincidence.

CWatters

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av CWatters » 07 apr 2005 10:55:01

"Christopher Jahn" <xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9630C5614C08Exjahn@216.196.97.136...

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason. But
first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I mention
that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Might be worth getting professional advice. Perhaps fit it between two
sheets of clear mylar film and store flat in a rigid artists folio. Whatever
you do don't laminate it - but you know that right!


Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 07 apr 2005 13:49:17

"CWatters" <colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote in
news:Vr75e.57512$st6.4293691@phobos.telenet-ops.be:

"Christopher Jahn" <xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9630C5614C08Exjahn@216.196.97.136...


It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be
flat its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that
reason. But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice;
did I mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Might be worth getting professional advice. Perhaps fit it between
two sheets of clear mylar film and store flat in a rigid artists
folio. Whatever you do don't laminate it - but you know that right!




YEs, I watch ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. ;-)

--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

Overall, there was a smell of fried onions.

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 07 apr 2005 13:55:03

"CWatters" <colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote in news:Ot75e.57516
$qk4.4433973@phobos.telenet-ops.be:


They have a LEVIATHAN plan (EASTERN's original name). The one I have
looks like the sort of thing a passenger gets - it shows all the rooms
and salons.

--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

Overall, there was a smell of fried onions.

Dave Hinz

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dave Hinz » 07 apr 2005 15:14:37

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn <xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote:

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason. But
first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I mention
that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?

I just use photoshop; I've been doing this kind of joining for years.

Sounds like you're almost there then.

DartmanX

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av DartmanX » 07 apr 2005 16:19:05

I watch Antiques Roadshow too... 1) wishful thinking, 2) nothing on on
Monday nights until CSI:Miami. :)

But, I haven't bought the AR board game...

Jason

Terry Hollis

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Terry Hollis » 08 apr 2005 01:01:46

Dave Hinz wrote:
On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn
xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote:

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason.
But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I
mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?

The problem with laying glass over it, is that the glass will reflect the
light, like a mirror; this will spoil the copy.

If you lay it on a flat surface with some stragically placed weights, that
will produce the best results for photographing the document.

I have had good results, using stacks of coins to hold the document in
place.

You can edit the coins out with your favourite software, later.

--
Regards - Terry Hollis, Auckland, New Zealand

replace "nospam" with "terry.hollis" to reply

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 08 apr 2005 01:37:27

Dave Hinz <DaveHinz@spamcop.net> wrote in
news:3bktidF6gl4giU4@individual.net:

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn <xjahn@yahoo.com
wrote:

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be
flat its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that
reason. But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice;
did I mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?


Getting it to lay flat isn't the problem; it's the staying in one piece.
It wants to seperate at every fold and crease.





--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

A sucking chest wound is just nature's way of telling you to
slow down.

Robert Melson

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Robert Melson » 08 apr 2005 01:49:57

In article <slrnd5bivg.6kg.leverich@askin-17.linkpendium.com>,
"Dr. Brian Leverich" <leverich@askin-17.linkpendium.com> writes:
On 2005-04-08, Terry Hollis <nospam@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
Dave Hinz wrote:
On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn
xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote:

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason.
But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I
mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?

The problem with laying glass over it, is that the glass will reflect the
light, like a mirror; this will spoil the copy.

If you lay it on a flat surface with some stragically placed weights, that
will produce the best results for photographing the document.

I have had good results, using stacks of coins to hold the document in
place.

You can edit the coins out with your favourite software, later.


Good idea ...

However, there are glass sheets made for use in copiers, picture
frames, etc., that are less prone to creating reflections.

I salvaged a pane out of a junked copier, and it worked quite well
for holding pictures and documents for photography.

BTW, if you have lots of money (or are crafty with a home shop),
you can buy or build a vacuum table that uses ambient air pressure
to hold pictures and documents flat against the table. Check out
high-end photographic copy stands. Cheers, B.


--
Dr. Brian Leverich Co-moderator, soc.genealogy.methods/GENMTD-L
Angeles Chapter LTC Admin Chair http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ltc/
P.O. Box 6831, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6831 leverich@mtpinos.com

You can also purchase non-reflective, no glare glass at just about anyplace
that frames art.

Bob Melson

--
Robert G. Melson | Nothing is more terrible than
Rio Grande MicroSolutions | ignorance in action.
El Paso, Texas | Goethe
melsonr(at)earthlink(dot)net

Dr. Brian Leverich

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dr. Brian Leverich » 08 apr 2005 02:21:03

On 2005-04-08, Terry Hollis <nospam@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
Dave Hinz wrote:
On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn
xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote:

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason.
But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I
mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?

The problem with laying glass over it, is that the glass will reflect the
light, like a mirror; this will spoil the copy.

If you lay it on a flat surface with some stragically placed weights, that
will produce the best results for photographing the document.

I have had good results, using stacks of coins to hold the document in
place.

You can edit the coins out with your favourite software, later.


Good idea ...

However, there are glass sheets made for use in copiers, picture
frames, etc., that are less prone to creating reflections.

I salvaged a pane out of a junked copier, and it worked quite well
for holding pictures and documents for photography.

BTW, if you have lots of money (or are crafty with a home shop),
you can buy or build a vacuum table that uses ambient air pressure
to hold pictures and documents flat against the table. Check out
high-end photographic copy stands. Cheers, B.


--
Dr. Brian Leverich Co-moderator, soc.genealogy.methods/GENMTD-L
Angeles Chapter LTC Admin Chair http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ltc/
P.O. Box 6831, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6831 leverich@mtpinos.com

singhals

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av singhals » 08 apr 2005 11:55:16

Christopher Jahn wrote:

Dave Hinz <DaveHinz@spamcop.net> wrote in
news:3bktidF6gl4giU4@individual.net:


On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn <xjahn@yahoo.com
wrote:


It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be
flat its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that
reason. But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice;
did I mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?


Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?



Getting it to lay flat isn't the problem; it's the staying in one piece.
It wants to seperate at every fold and crease.


Try re-hydrating it. It's a slow slow slow process, but it DOES work.
Put the thing on a cooling rack near an open windown on a rainy day.
Test carefully and see if you can now get to the next fold without
damage. Repeat as necessary, using increasingly larger cooling racks.
Or, put it in a damp basement for a couple weeks.

BE VERY CAREFUL that you never get it damp enough to make the ink run
because that's irreparable. What you're after is an end-result of paper
just-barely damp enough to unfold. Once you've got it unfolded, weight
it down until it stiffens up again. This time, roll it up around
something the size of a paper-towel core and store it in a carpet-core.
Or attach it to a roll-up window blind and for the rest of your natural
life, you unfurl the blind every humid day. (g)

Cheryl

Christopher Jahn

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Christopher Jahn » 08 apr 2005 13:11:13

singhals <singhals@erols.com> wrote in
news:wP-dnVyAjoaI_svfRVn-qg@rcn.net:

Christopher Jahn wrote:

Dave Hinz <DaveHinz@spamcop.net> wrote in
news:3bktidF6gl4giU4@individual.net:


On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn
xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote:


It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be
flat its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that
reason. But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice;
did I mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?


Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?



Getting it to lay flat isn't the problem; it's the staying in one
piece. It wants to seperate at every fold and crease.


Try re-hydrating it. It's a slow slow slow process, but it DOES work.
Put the thing on a cooling rack near an open windown on a rainy
day.
Test carefully and see if you can now get to the next fold without
damage. Repeat as necessary, using increasingly larger cooling racks.
Or, put it in a damp basement for a couple weeks.

BE VERY CAREFUL that you never get it damp enough to make the ink run
because that's irreparable. What you're after is an end-result of
paper just-barely damp enough to unfold. Once you've got it unfolded,
weight it down until it stiffens up again. This time, roll it up
around something the size of a paper-towel core and store it in a
carpet-core. Or attach it to a roll-up window blind and for the rest
of your natural life, you unfurl the blind every humid day. (g)


I won't be doing this; stiffness is not the problem. The problem is that
the thing is ready to let go at the creases and folds. HANDLING IT AT ALL
is the problem. Rolling it would pretty much finish it off.



--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( http://home.comcast.net/~xjahn/Main.html

Do not underestimate the power of the Force.

Dave Hinz

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dave Hinz » 08 apr 2005 16:06:22

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 12:01:46 +1200, Terry Hollis <nospam@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
Dave Hinz wrote:
On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 18:26:14 -0500, Christopher Jahn
xjahn@yahoo.com> wrote:

It's simply too fragile for scanning on a scanner; it wants to be flat
its entire length (24"). I'm using a digital camera for that reason.
But first, I need to figure out how to stabilize the peice; did I
mention that it's been folded up for 130 years or so?

Can you lay a sheet of windowglass on it?

The problem with laying glass over it, is that the glass will reflect the
light, like a mirror; this will spoil the copy.

Well, it depends on how you light it. A soft-box (diffuse light from
not the same angle as the camera) would go a long way. Non-glare glass
might help as well. Would take some experimenting.

If you lay it on a flat surface with some stragically placed weights, that
will produce the best results for photographing the document.

That could work as well, if it's not too wrinkly. I was picturing a
pretty shrivelled document, maybe that's not applicable.

I have had good results, using stacks of coins to hold the document in
place.
You can edit the coins out with your favourite software, later.

It sounds like the OP is very comfortable with photoshop, which helps.
I'd love to see the finished product.

Dave Hinz

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Dave Hinz » 08 apr 2005 16:07:30

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 00:10:24 +0000 (UTC), Dr. Brian Leverich <leverich@askin-17.linkpendium.com> wrote:

Dr. Brian Leverich Co-moderator, soc.genealogy.methods/GENMTD-L

Co-moderator? You got a helper? That's good news. Who's the victim -
er - volunteer?

Chris

Re: Digitally Photographing Documents

Legg inn av Chris » 11 apr 2005 01:54:15

I scanned all my documents and photos using a flatbed scanner and a
photo editing software.

Chris

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