Computer Graphics with Photoshop - 3D Images using a flat bed scanner

Author

3D Images using a flat bed scanner

My View

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

I have seen a couple of sites recently where images of 3D objects (eg
flowers) have been created using a flat bed scanner.
The images appear exactly as if taken with a camera (with macro lens) ie no
flat sections because it is sitting on a scanner.

Images are crystal clear with white backgrounds etc.

Can anyone explain how these images of 3D objects are created using a
scanner?

Any attempts to replicate this have turned out very ordinary.

regards

PeterH

Mike Russell

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

"My View" <no spam ple@se.com> wrote in message
news:g_6mh.16628$HU.5815@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>I have seen a couple of sites recently where images of 3D objects (eg
>flowers) have been created using a flat bed scanner.
> The images appear exactly as if taken with a camera (with macro lens) ie
> no flat sections because it is sitting on a scanner.
>
> Images are crystal clear with white backgrounds etc.
>
> Can anyone explain how these images of 3D objects are created using a
> scanner?
>
> Any attempts to replicate this have turned out very ordinary.

Most scanners will do this fairly easily. If a scanner uses a mirror and
lens arrangement to focus the image on the detector, there is generally
enough depth of field to do a satisfactory image of small objects.

Other scanners use a linear array of detectors, called a contact image
sensor, that is as close as possible to the material being scanned - these
have almost no depth of field, and produce a poor image of objects placed on
the scanner bed.

http://www.scantips.com/chap3c.html (look for "CCD or CIS sensors").
--

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com/forum/

My View

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

Thanks Mike.
I have a Canon scanner with CIS - that would explain the poor quality scan
of 3D objects.
PeterH

"Mike Russell" <RE-MOVEmike@Curvemeister.comRE-MOVE> wrote in message
news:EZfmh.24909$QU1.7102@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
> "My View" <no spam ple@se.com> wrote in message
> news:g_6mh.16628$HU.5815@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
> Most scanners will do this fairly easily. If a scanner uses a mirror and
> lens arrangement to focus the image on the detector, there is generally
> enough depth of field to do a satisfactory image of small objects.
>
> Other scanners use a linear array of detectors, called a contact image
> sensor, that is as close as possible to the material being scanned - these
> have almost no depth of field, and produce a poor image of objects placed
> on the scanner bed.
>
> http://www.scantips.com/chap3c.html (look for "CCD or CIS sensors").
> --
>
> Mike Russell
> www.curvemeister.com/forum/
>
>

Conrad

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

Hi Peter,

flowers) have been created using a flat bed scanner.
The images appear exactly as if taken with a camera (with macro lens)
ie no
flat sections because it is sitting on a scanner.
[color=darkred]
> Images are crystal clear with white backgrounds etc.

> Can anyone explain how these images of 3D objects are created using a
> scanner?

>Any attempts to replicate this have turned out very ordinary.<<

Quite awhile back, I did fossils on a flat bed scanner that came out
pretty good.

If I were trying to get 3D images from flowers - I might try with a
soft white cloth to cover the flower(s) during scan and not put scanner
cover down.

I might try this myself - if time opens up (unlikely).

Good luck with your efforts.

Best,

Conrad
Camp Sherman, Oregon

Paul Rubin

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

"My View" <no spam ple@se.com> writes:
> Can anyone explain how these images of 3D objects are created using a
> scanner?
>
> Any attempts to replicate this have turned out very ordinary.

You have to use the big clunky type of scanner with the long optical
path, to get any depth of field.

My View

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

This is the website I was talking about
http://www.pbase.com/accordsystems/floral_scanography

"Conrad" <cweiler1@mac.com> wrote in message
news:1167743340.235022.106260@48g2000cwx.googlegroups.com...
> Hi Peter,
>
>
> flowers) have been created using a flat bed scanner.
> The images appear exactly as if taken with a camera (with macro lens)
> ie no
> flat sections because it is sitting on a scanner.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Quite awhile back, I did fossils on a flat bed scanner that came out
> pretty good.
>
> If I were trying to get 3D images from flowers - I might try with a
> soft white cloth to cover the flower(s) during scan and not put scanner
> cover down.
>
> I might try this myself - if time opens up (unlikely).
>
> Good luck with your efforts.
>
>
> Best,
>
> Conrad
> Camp Sherman, Oregon
>

Justin C

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

In article <JbBmh.349$A8.200@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
"My View" <no spam ple@se.com> wrote:

> This is the website I was talking about
> http://www.pbase.com/accordsystems/floral_scanography

I've seen some like these before, and impressed I was then, too. I'd be
interested to know for what she used the transparency adapter.
Unfortunately there is no way of contacting the photographer except by
leaving a guest-book entry, and she doesn't appear to have replied to
any of the entries she already has.

--
Justin C, by the sea.

Tom Nelson

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

There was an article a year or so ago about a scan-photographer in one
of the magazines I get. It might have been Studio Photography. I recall
that he used monofilament fishing line to hold hold flowers and avoid
the squished-on-the-glass look. Sorry, that's all I remember about it.
Tom Nelson
Tom Nelson Photography

Cgiorgio

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

I know that some Linotype (professional grade) flatbed scanners were pretty
good at scanning 3D - objects, googling for it I found a couple of links.
One of them is:

http://www.flatbed-scanner-review.o...elberg_CPS.html

I wrote "were" because the company discontinued the product line, but I am
sure that many are still in use.

My View

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

I came across this article yesterday http://tinyurl.com/y68uhm

"Tom Nelson" <ludibund@xintegraonline.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:030120071244068929%ludibund@xintegraonline.com.invalid...
> There was an article a year or so ago about a scan-photographer in one
> of the magazines I get. It might have been Studio Photography. I recall
> that he used monofilament fishing line to hold hold flowers and avoid
> the squished-on-the-glass look. Sorry, that's all I remember about it.
> Tom Nelson
> Tom Nelson Photography

Sir F. A. Rien

2007-01-10, 6:20 pm

On Wed, 3 Jan 2007 20:50:46 +0100, "Cgiorgio" <me@nowhere.org> found these
unused words floating about :

>I know that some Linotype (professional grade) flatbed scanners were pretty
>good at scanning 3D - objects, googling for it I found a couple of links.
>One of them is:
>
>http://www.flatbed-scanner-review.o...elberg_CPS.html
>
>I wrote "were" because the company discontinued the product line, but I am
>sure that many are still in use.
>
Nearly any scanner that does -=NOT=- use a lens system (such as the older
Microtek legal size) will do a credible job on 3D items.