Simple "looking" one camera book scanner

[iwenttoofast]

Apropos of single camera scanners, has anyone tried a "flip over" camera? You take one page then flip the camera 90 degrees and take the other page. Then turn the page of the book and repeat.

Has this been tried?

Not necessarily a flip-over camera -- but I believe a flip-over mirror has been used in several DSLR-based commercial designs. It works just fine, as long as you keep the mirrors clean.

I think a flip-over mirror might have less complexity and be easier to implement.

-- Jim

[spamsickle]

If I were going to try a one-camera system, I'd probably go with a Lazy Susan under the cradle. I'm pretty sure I saw somebody try this, but I have no idea where and don't recall how happy they were with the results.

If you're going to try to use a mirror, you might want to consider a front-coated mirror. I'd be afraid a back-coated mirror (the usual kind) would introduce undesirable ghost images, because you'd get one reflection from the silver backing, and one much lighter reflection from the glass in front. If you didn't get ghosting (I haven't actually tried it, so I don't know), the back-coated mirror would be the way to go, because a front-coated mirror is much more susceptible to scratching.

[Neil_M]

I'd be afraid a back-coated mirror (the usual kind) would introduce undesirable ghost images, because you'd get one reflection from the silver backing, and one much lighter reflection from the glass in front.

Many digital cameras have a "photograph through glass" setting which might help.

[spamsickle]

I had thought the photograph through glass setting was just to keep your autofocus from trying to focus on the glass instead of the object behind it, but I've never actually used the setting myself.

[Neil_M]

I had thought the photograph through glass setting was just to keep your autofocus from trying to focus on the glass instead of the object behind it, but I've never actually used the setting myself.

I think you're right but it might be worth a shot. I'm not sure where to source front silvered glass.

[bnz]

Hmmm...I just posted into another thread that I thought of building a design like this. The idea with the memory foam seems pretty clever to me. Are you happy with the results of this scanner? Would you mind posting a four-page or so example of the processed result maybe? I am pretty hesitant what to built (the new standard or something like this here) as I already have a T2i/550D DSLR and it seems pretty straight-forward to me to built something like this.

[spamsickle]

Seeing this dredged up reminded me that I meant to try something, and since it's raining today...

I like quick and easy, and quick, easy, and cheap is even better. Here's what I did with a TV tray, a couple of lights, a throw pillow, a piece of plexiglass, a camera, and a tripod. The back leg of the tripod is longer than the two in front, so the 8 MP camera is pretty much directly over the book with a clear view.

Test1.jpg (102.9 KiB) Viewed 1172 times

The two halogens are clipped to a TV tray. The light on the left is aimed a little higher, to throw more light on the far side of the book. The light on the right throws more light on the near side of the book. Both lights light the middle.

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The book sits on top of a throw pillow from the couch. On top of the book sits half a platen from a previous build; it's 1/4" plexiglass. The pages of the book are 9" x 6".

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Here's a shot of a pair of pages:

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And here's what it looks like after it's gone through Scan Tailor:

Page1.jpg (107.64 KiB) Viewed 1172 times

Page2.jpg (117.5 KiB) Viewed 1172 times

If anyone would like to take a look at three originals and the six pages Scan Tailor created from them, they're in a little zip file available at http://www.4shared.com/file/86rJjAnC/SimpleTest.html.

[bnz]

Heh, great post! I have actually tried something pretty similar today. I removed a glass plate from my fridge, cleaned it up a little, put it on top of a book of mine and also mounted my pocket cam on a tripod. This can actually yield pretty acceptable results (at least for my taste). My primary problems were the following:

- It was nearly impossible to align the camera straight ahead to the book with my tripod as the tripod feeds are in the way. I guess it is better to have a different kind of mount for the camera.
- Using my current pocket cam, fiddling around at the camera messes up all kinds of settings and adjustments. A remote control as really a necessity for every kind of book scanning project.
- Removing the glass and putting it back on top is really a lot of work and moves the book around.

I think most of these problems can be solved pretty easily by using a DSLR that supports remote control and/or tethered shooting and some construction work for mounting the camera and an attached piece of glass. In the end, it'll end up with something similar to what Will has built.

[spamsickle]

- It was nearly impossible to align the camera straight ahead to the book with my tripod as the tripod feeds are in the way. I guess it is better to have a different kind of mount for the camera.

As I say, the two front legs of the tripod are set shorter than the back leg, and the two front legs sit to the sides and just a bit above the bottom of the book. The tripod is not especially stable in this configuration -- my camera's heavier than a pocket cam, and if I bump it forward, it could fall over. So I don't touch it.

- Using my current pocket cam, fiddling around at the camera messes up all kinds of settings and adjustments. A remote control as really a necessity for every kind of book scanning project.

I use CHDK, and a timer script that fires the camera every few seconds. For this setup, 4 or 5 seconds between shots seems about right.

- Removing the glass and putting it back on top is really a lot of work and moves the book around.

Plexiglass is lighter, maybe that makes a difference. I actually found that having the throw pillow under it helps keep the book in place.

I think most of these problems can be solved pretty easily by using a DSLR that supports remote control and/or tethered shooting and some construction work for mounting the camera and an attached piece of glass. In the end, it'll end up with something similar to what Will has built.

Go for it! Post your results.

[StevePoling]

the two front legs of the tripod are set shorter than the back leg, and the two front legs sit to the sides and just a bit above the bottom of the book. The tripod is not especially stable in this configuration -- my camera's heavier than a pocket cam, and if I bump it forward, it could fall over. So I don't touch it.

you can't duck-tape a can of tomato juice to that back leg?