Having trouble using a scanner to post pictures of knives

[knives-are-quiet]

I've tried many times to create images of knives that I want to post using a scanner with my computer.
But they end up being out of focus and poor quality.
What am I doing wrong? I've seen others post pictures this way and they look exceptional.
Is it the type of scanner I'm using or do I have the setting wrong?
An HP DeskJet F448 all in one ->printer-flatbed scanner-copier.

Any advice on this subject would be appreciated.

Thanks,
JW

[tjmurphy]

I've just tried scanning a knife and I get about the same results you describe, not much depth of field. I have a HP Photosmart Premium all-in-one which is probably very similar to yours. Must be the scanner.

[jerryd6818]

+1

I have two scanners. Both H.P. One is a Photosmart all in one and the other is an HP Scanjet 3970. Either I don't know the lick it's done with or both of these scanners are NFG, 'cause the results from both are unacceptable. Even as bad as my pictures are, I'm sticking with a camera. I get a better picture with the camera than with either one of the scanners.

[Miller Bro's]

+2

I have the same problem with a scanner

[chetr1200c]

my suggestion is to ask knifegirl. it seems that kathy uses this method all the time.
she puts some sort of artist canvas over the subject.

[tjmurphy]

I tried it with both the scanner cover and a sheet of plain white paper with the same results

[knives-are-quiet]

Must be the cheap scanner that came with this computer.
It scans any object that is fairly flat with no problems.
Anything that is rounded or tubular shaped like a pocket knife doesn't come out very well.
Just wanted it to be easier to post pictures.
Taking pictures involves setting a lot of thing up and finding the right light to get a good shot.
I'll have to use my camera till or if I decide to get a better scanner.

Thanks for the info.

JW

[RobesonsRme.com]

I don't know what to tell you guys to do differently.

I have a Canon scanner that wasn't very expensive.

When I was creating my website, I could have used my 4.8 megapixal digital camera or the scanner. I used the scanner.

I wrapped a piece of blue felt around the cover, placed the knife on the bed and used the software that came with the scanner, called "ScanGear" and Adobe PhotoShop Elements that I happened to have on my computer. I don't recall where that came from, but it was included in some software I purchased. It's not as versatile nor as expensive as the whole PhotoShop program, but it does what I want to do with it.

I cropped and resized the scans for the website to 3" x 3", and adjusted the brightness and contrast a bit.

Almost every pic of a Robeson knife I post here was done that way.

An example below.

Charlie Noyes

[chetr1200c]

very nice knife and a cool pic charlie. kathy has excellent results also.. hopefully she will chime in here and enlighten us.

[knifeaholic]

You need a scanner that was designed to have depth of field for 3-D images. I have an Epson Perfection that was about $100 that works well. However, I do still get better results with my camera.

Charlie clearly has gotten awesome results with a scanner. Waynorth does as well.

[stockman]

I have used a scanner for all of my pictures. Mine is a Epson RX620. Some of my
pictures are OK some are not. I cover my knives with some gray cloth. The
pearl knife is a poor picture the bone knife looks fair to OK. I try to edit my pictures
this helps. I also crop most of them it seems to help. The pearl knife was done before
I started using the gray cloth.

Stockman

[Unk]

Most low cost scanners are set to focus right at glass level....i.e. to focus on a flat sheet of paper. If the object is above the glass - even a 1/8 inch (a 3-D object), you quickly loose focus (except on the part of the knife that is touching the glass).

I ran into the same problem with my HP all-in-one.

I think some higher end scanners are set up to scan 3-D objects.

[redferd]

I used my Lexmark scanner and downloaded Picasso. I send the pictures to Picasso and it lets me do some things there that help a lot. Picasso is free from google. May try that and see if it helps.

[tjmurphy]

I'll just continue to shoot my pics with my old technology Sony Mavica. It records on a 3.5" floppy. I had to buy an external floppy drive but it's worth it.

[Miller Bro's]

That`s what I use TJ

[tjmurphy]

I kinda figured that's what you had when you said it recorded on disc and when I saw the file name a bottom of some of your pics. All-in-all they're great cameras for taking pics of knives and have a great macro setting. I'm down to one battery, had two and one gave up the ghost (won't charge any more) I bought two new ones but they won't hold a charge. I'll try Sony and see if they have any. I'll really hate it when this last battery konks out.

[Miller Bro's]

I'm down to one battery, had two and one gave up the ghost (won't charge any more) I bought two new ones but they won't hold a charge. I'll try Sony and see if they have any. I'll really hate it when this last battery konks out.

Funny you should mention that.

A few years ago I found a camera someone had thrown out, same model as mine, I took it home popped my battery in it and sure enough the camera was junk. Then I got to thinking, I only have one battery, maybe the old battery will take a charge.

It did and I am still using it to this day. If the both batteries go I will get rid of the camera.

I still can`t believe these things cost $1000 new in 1998

[tjmurphy]

$1,000!! I know mine didn't cost that much, my kids couldn't afford it!! I think maybe it cost in the neighborhood of $250, I'll check with them to see. You still find these things on Ebay pretty cheap. Maybe try one of those.