Scanner Recommendations

[ekclete]

Hi Simon,
When I used to scan screwback orders I made myself a little bracket that would hold the order in place when I took the scan. I try to use things like toothpicks or some other small item that will not raise the order too high and also not get in the way of the scan.

I have made a 'bracket' and used clear fishing line create a grid on the frame to place the order into while I scanned what I needed. It is not a great method and it does have issues but for the most part it will do a decent job.

Like Ron (redmedals) my scanner has an adjustable hinge that allows the lid to stay on over the order. If the screwpost was too large I would remove the lid and use a clean white towel to use as a background instead of the scanner lid itself.

I also think scanners are a better way to digitize collections. They are better able to show detail and in my case I can open Paint Shop Pro (my foto editing software) and scan the pic right into the editor and be done with a scan in just a couple minutes. In my case these days I tend to enjoy tunics and visors and those just dont scan well! Thanks Clete

[DutchBoy]

And it has fantastic depth of field too.
Ron

When I scan screwbacks only the portion touching the glass plate actually comes out in focus, the rest is out of focus. Is this a problem of my scanner, or is there some adjustment one can make to correct this?

[Dolf]

Matt,

In my case I believe it's exactly the opposite! I mean, when scanning the reverse of a screwback Order, the only portion that is not focused is the one that touches the glass (which is the top of the screw) and all the rest is focused! The contrary would be a bad out of focus pic I guess, with the portion that matters not clear, or blurred!

Dolf

[Simon]

Clete and Ron, thank you for your responses. They are very helpful.

Simon

[Lapa]

Matt,

That's a typical problem of depth of field; I believe that in this case it comes from your scanner and there is not much you can do about it.

Marc

[DutchBoy]

Matt,

That's a typical problem of depth of field; I believe that in this case it comes from your scanner and there is not much you can do about it.

Marc

Thanks Marc,

That's the answer I was expecting (and didn't want to hear!)

I'll try my friend's scanner if that one works better.

[Dolf]

When I scan screwbacks only the portion touching the glass plate actually comes out in focus, the rest is out of focus. Is this a problem of my scanner, or is there some adjustment one can make to correct this?

Matt,

May I ask which Scanner you use?

I ask because I recently bought a new HP PSC 2355 all-in-one and I'm very much disappointed with the results of my scans if compared with my old Umax, as now with this new one I have exactly the same problem you mention on this Post: Only the portion touching the glass is focused, all the rest is out of focus! That didn't happen with my old Umax, as the entire 3D object (Order, Medal, Badge, obverse and reverse) was perfectly focused!

Marc, Christophe,

When Matt posted his question you mentioned that this problem doesn't happen with a good Scanner. I guess you weren't talking about this new generation of PSC devices, right?
Can you please let me/us know what Scanner you use in order to get the good results I used to have with my old Umax? I only changed because it was too old, too slow and even after installing the latest drivers it still had sometimes conflicts with Windows XP, but I really regret it...

Thanks a lot,

Dolf

EDIT: here is an example of the blurred results I get now! :rant:

[medalklector]

I think I am going to go against the trend and stick up for Digital Pic's, I just don't think you can get as good pic's with a scanner...and it's much easier with a digital camera to take snaps of particular areas of medals/awards. I've got a small Sony Cybershot and in close up mode it gives fantastic results. It's USB so one click and the pics are on my P.C.

Just my two pence....

[Dolf]

Medalklector,

Here is an example of what I can get with my Digital camera, using the Macro option.
It's better than with this new PSC, but not as good as with my old Scanner!

Dolf

[DutchBoy]

[QUOTE=Dolf]Matt,

May I ask which Scanner you use?

I ask because I recently bought a new HP PSC 2355 all-in-one and I'm very much disappointed with the results of my scans if compared with my old Umax, as now with this new one I have exactly the same problem you mention on this Post: Only the portion touching the glass is focused, all the rest is out of focus! That didn't happen with my old Umax, as the entire 3D object (Order, Medal, Badge, obverse and reverse) was perfectly focused!

Dolf,

I use a Canon Multipass MP700, and it's not a cheap piece of hardware. Since it's only 1 year old, I'm not going to get a new one, so I'll just use the digital camera then.

My old HP scanner couldn't scan 3D items either....