Comments on: That little thing called morality http://www.tekstadventure.nl/branko/blog/2004/06/that-little-thing-called-morality Three atheists walk into a bar ... wait, that's not funny! Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:52:31 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: brankl http://www.tekstadventure.nl/branko/blog/2004/06/that-little-thing-called-morality/comment-page-1#comment-86477 brankl Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:30:35 +0000 /?p=158#comment-86477 I use a Canon PowershotA620. I set it to macro, then let the camera's auto-focus do the rest. My guess is that you either keep the camera too far away from the paper to let the macro mode do its work, or you keep the camera close to the paper but forgot to switch on macro mode. The OCR software might "fix" the problem, in that blurry photos might be good enough for OCR. I've never tried that myself. Typically---from what I understand, and if I remember correctly---OCR software looks for patterns such as holes in the o's, p's and e's, so as long as such details stand out enough, you may fare well. "<i>What do you use that works?</i>" Ah, I never claimed that what I do works. :-) But then I am aiming at near-archival quality with my photographic scans, and I believe that the quality I am able to achieve now is good enough for OCR. I've tried that once, and it worked. One thing: if you are going to OCR the "scans," make sure the pages are evenly lit.This typically means lighting the paper with two or three lamps, so that there are no shadows on the page. I use a Canon PowershotA620. I set it to macro, then let the camera’s auto-focus do the rest. My guess is that you either keep the camera too far away from the paper to let the macro mode do its work, or you keep the camera close to the paper but forgot to switch on macro mode.

The OCR software might “fix” the problem, in that blurry photos might be good enough for OCR. I’ve never tried that myself. Typically—from what I understand, and if I remember correctly—OCR software looks for patterns such as holes in the o’s, p’s and e’s, so as long as such details stand out enough, you may fare well.

“What do you use that works?”

Ah, I never claimed that what I do works. :-) But then I am aiming at near-archival quality with my photographic scans, and I believe that the quality I am able to achieve now is good enough for OCR. I’ve tried that once, and it worked.

One thing: if you are going to OCR the “scans,” make sure the pages are evenly lit.This typically means lighting the paper with two or three lamps, so that there are no shadows on the page.

]]> By: book scanner http://www.tekstadventure.nl/branko/blog/2004/06/that-little-thing-called-morality/comment-page-1#comment-86374 book scanner Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:42:57 +0000 /?p=158#comment-86374 Hi! I came to your blog from an article about scanning your own books, so I hope you don't mind the question. I read that any camera above a 5 mp with a zoom will work, but I've been trying to snap photos of text and have been unsuccessful---the words are too blurry to see clearly. What camera do you use? Will the OCR software fix the problem? I'm new to all of this, and would like to find the best camera for book scanning at the least price possible. What do you use that works? Thanks!! Hi! I came to your blog from an article about scanning your own books, so I hope you don’t mind the question.
I read that any camera above a 5 mp with a zoom will work, but I’ve been trying to snap photos of text and have been unsuccessful—the words are too blurry to see clearly. What camera do you use?
Will the OCR software fix the problem?
I’m new to all of this, and would like to find the best camera for book scanning at the least price possible. What do you use that works?
Thanks!!

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