Flowers, souvenirs, artwork, and other three-dimensional objects can be scanned and combined with photos,
or used to create unique artwork, scrapbook pages, calendars, and more. We give you tips on how to scan them
and suggest how to you can use those scans in photo and art projects.
3-D scanning ideas
The wedding dress your grandmother made can be scanned and turned into wedding scrapbook pages.
Ordinary 3-D objects take on new value when you have a scanner. Everything from coins to a wedding dress
can be scanned for use in a myriad of ways. Here are some possibilities:
Add flair to your photo projects.
Scan kids' art to archive for posterity.
Create your own wrapping paper and scrapbook pages.
Print scans onto fabric sheets to make quilts and clothing.
Place a transparency on the scanner bed when scanning objects that might scratch the glass.
When scanning bulky items, pull a black cloth over your scanner to prevent shadows.
Keep these tips in mind for perfect 3-D scans every time:
Clean scanner glass of debris or streaks with a bit of glass cleaner sprayed onto a lint-free cloth.
Place object on the scanner glass. Or, use a transparency if scanning items that might scratch the
scanner bed.
When scanning large items, gently close the lid over the item, then cover the scanner with a dark
cloth to prevent shadows.
Choose the resolution or dpi (dots per inch) of your image. A scanning resolution of 300 dpi works
well for most images.
To use this feature while scanning, just look for
Auto Correct Photos,
then check the box that says
Perform Dust & Scratch Removal.
Save the image to your computer as a source file in TIFF format to retain the most detail. You can
then make a copy of this file and save as a JPEG, which is best for attaching to e-mails or posting
to the Web.
Scan fresh flowers from your wedding centerpieces to give scrapbook pages special meaning.
You can create your own scrapbook pages and trimmings by scanning souvenirs and mementos that relate to your
theme.
Embellishments
A hospital bracelet or rattle can add meaning to a baby book, while seashells from your last beach vacation
will remind you of the good times your kids had combing the shoreline.
Backgrounds
You can also design your own page backgrounds by scanning everything from fall leaves for a back-to-school
scrapbook, to flowers from your bridal bouquet for a wedding album. Just be sure to gently arrange them on a
clean scanner bed. You can even layer items by placing the ones you want in the forefront down first.
These scanned pages can also make beautiful note cards or wrapping paper.
Scanned artwork can be used to make one-of-a-kind cards, calendars, and other projects at the
HP Activity Center.
For example, baby hand and foot prints can be made with paint, then scanned to create a calendar like the
one shown here.
You can also create your own scanography, or fine art, using scans of photos or 3-D objects. For example,
flowers from your garden can be scanned, framed, and hung as an art piece.
A photo scanner allows you to scan 3-D objects and photos. Here are some tips for finding one right for you:
HP photo scanners
offer high resolution, negative and slide scanning, and software that lets you crop and edit your
photos from your scanner. Compare models with HP's
scanner comparison chart.
If you want to scan and print, a Photosmart All-in-One printer does both. Check out our
buying guide
for more information.
Printable version
