Taking a photo of a photo??

[skanji]

I tried scanning an 8x10 but saw lines on the finished product (probably because my scanner is old)

Since I don't have the original negative, can I take a good quality photo of my 8x10 photograph? I have an canon xti.

will probably try it when i get home...

[SwiZz]

I tried scanning an 8x10 but saw lines on the finished product (probably because my scanner is old)

Since I don't have the original negative, can I take a good quality photo of my 8x10 photograph? I have an canon xti.

will probably try it when i get home...

or give it to a photo place for them to try to scan it better?

its not so much tha tyour scanner is old, rather than I'm guessing your scanner's surface has prints/lines on the glass surface itself.

i'm sure any photolab could scan it in cheap for you. you coudl take a pciture, but i doubt youd get as good quality with that

[Aske001]

It's fairly easy to get scan lines visible in the scanned image. If they run in the direction that the scan head moves, they are probably caused by mis-calibration of the sensor elements (i.e., some are producing lower readings than others for the same amount of light). Most scanners auto-calibrate regularly, but you might have to do a manual calibration. If the scan lines run across the image at right angles to the direction of movement, they are probably caused by stepping errors (i.e., the scan head movement wasn't perfectly synchronized with the line capture). Sometimes it helps to slow down the scanner, e.g., by scanning at a higher resolution. If you get small random spots and streaks on the scanned image, that's usually caused by dust and hairs on the photo or the scanner glass. Thin-profile scanners are usually worse for this, because the illumination is coming from a sharper angle, which tends to throw the smallest dust particle into sharp relief.

If you want to try to take a photo of the photo instead, it is possible to get a good image, but you have to deal with several issues:

1. You need to position the camera exactly at right angles to the photo surface, and hold it rock-steady. A tripod with a head that swivels to point straight down is handy for this - otherwise consider sticking the photo to the wall.

2. You have to hold the photo flat. Consider putting it under glass, or at least sticking it down from the back if it curls slightly.

3. The photo needs to be brightly lit in order to have enough contrast, but you have to avoid reflections into the camera lens. Positioning a bright light on the photo without getting reflections is key to a good image, but very difficult to do!

4. If you are using a zoom lens, set it in the middle between the zoom and wide-angle extremes in order to get as flat an image field as possible while minimizing barrel and pincushion distortion. Consider using lens-correction software like Panotools after capturing the image to correct any residual distortion.

5. Be prepared to adjust your colour balance, exposure and contrast after taking the photo. Not only do old photos fade and change colour over time, but the lighting you used probably isn't pure 6500K daylight white. It's probably going to be yellowish.

[skanji]

It's fairly easy to get scan lines visible in the scanned image. If they run in the direction that the scan head moves, they are probably caused by mis-calibration of the sensor elements (i.e., some are producing lower readings than others for the same amount of light). Most scanners auto-calibrate regularly, but you might have to do a manual calibration. If the scan lines run across the image at right angles to the direction of movement, they are probably caused by stepping errors (i.e., the scan head movement wasn't perfectly synchronized with the line capture). Sometimes it helps to slow down the scanner, e.g., by scanning at a higher resolution. If you get small random spots and streaks on the scanned image, that's usually caused by dust and hairs on the photo or the scanner glass. Thin-profile scanners are usually worse for this, because the illumination is coming from a sharper angle, which tends to throw the smallest dust particle into sharp relief.

If you want to try to take a photo of the photo instead, it is possible to get a good image, but you have to deal with several issues:

1. You need to position the camera exactly at right angles to the photo surface, and hold it rock-steady. A tripod with a head that swivels to point straight down is handy for this - otherwise consider sticking the photo to the wall.

2. You have to hold the photo flat. Consider putting it under glass, or at least sticking it down from the back if it curls slightly.

3. The photo needs to be brightly lit in order to have enough contrast, but you have to avoid reflections into the camera lens. Positioning a bright light on the photo without getting reflections is key to a good image, but very difficult to do!

4. If you are using a zoom lens, set it in the middle between the zoom and wide-angle extremes in order to get as flat an image field as possible while minimizing barrel and pincushion distortion. Consider using lens-correction software like Panotools after capturing the image to correct any residual distortion.

5. Be prepared to adjust your colour balance, exposure and contrast after taking the photo. Not only do old photos fade and change colour over time, but the lighting you used probably isn't pure 6500K daylight white. It's probably going to be yellowish.

I have an old Artek e= 48u scanner - it was scanning at the highest level.

I will play around with your excellent suggestions, and ultimately take it in somewhere to get it scanned.

What are some cheap good scanners out there in your opinion?

[Amourek]

If you go with the camera option, use Photoshop's perspective cropping feature to fix the image if it's at a slight angle. Doesn't have to be perfect.