(PDF version here)
Step 1: Reasons You Might Want To....
BEFORE WE BEGIN... Reasons you might want to do this include the following:
- You need to scan something, fast, but it doesn't scan easily.
- You don't want to build an entire DIY Book Scanner.
- You don't want to waste your time with a flatbed scanner.
- You have only one camera.
- You might not have a lot of tools or experience.
- You want digital copies of your books or notebooks.
ALSO... We've done this book scanning Instructable thing before. And answered many questions in the comments! And we love you guys completely, but sometimes (well, actually, all the time) we get the same questions over and over! So we've compiled a Fairly Annoying Questions (FAQ) Here are some answers before we get started!
1. Why not just take a picture with the book on the table.
- Why don't you. ;)
- Your camera doesn't have enough resolution for two pages.
- The distorted pages are not fun to read onscreen.
- Lighting is inconsistent.
- Cameras cast shadows. You cast shadows.
2. Why use a camera instead of a flatbed scanner?
- Pressing a book on the scanner breaks the binding.
- Flatbed scanners are slow.
- You need to reposition the book for every page.
- Flatbed scanners are slooooooow.
3. Why not use a sheet-feed scanner like the ScanSnap?
- I don't like sawing the bindings off my books.
- A small part of me dies when I destroy a book.
- I don't have a tablesaw.
- I'm not willing to spend ~$500 just to destroy a book.
4. Can't I use a webcam?