Scanning My Jewelry with Blurry Results

by Carol Livasy
(Burton. MI)

Too blurry!

Hello Rena,

I've been scanning my work for a couple years on my flatbed scanner with great success. However, now I'm having trouble with blurriness, even on flatter pieces.

I haven't changed anything, spec-wise on my less than 1-year old HP Photosmart C6180 AIO. My scans were fine, and now they're not. The only thing that comes out clearly are the parts that lay totally flat on the bed, anything farther than 1/2" is fuzzy/blurry. Shouldn't I have more DOF than that?

Any other suggestions? I've also tried lid open, tried a box over it, and cloth etc.

I read all your great scanning ideas and will try some that I hadn't thought of before! Your newsletters are so-o helpful, and I always look forward to reading & digesting them. :o)

Thank you!
Carol

Answer:

Blurry Jewelry Scans

© by Rena Klingenberg; all rights reserved

Thanks so much for your kind words and support, Carol!

Well, if you haven't changed any part of your scanning setup / procedure, and if your scans used to be fine but aren't now, I'd have to think it's something to do with the scanner itself.

Is there any setting you can adjust in your scanner or in your pre-scan setup?

Or is it possible your scanner is just heading for a repair?

Otherwise, one thing you can do to improve the quality of your finished images is to use the "sharpen" feature in whatever image editing software you use.

If you use Paintshop Pro, PhotoShop, or any of the free image editors (such as Gimp, Picasa, PhotoScape, etc.) you should have a "sharpen" feature that can really take the blurriness out of your finished images.

Hope this helps! I love the necklace in the photo you included, BTW!

See more tips on scanning jewelry.

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Scanning My Jewelry with Blurry Results

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Thank you!
by: Carol

Hi Rena,

Thanks for your helpful insight. It sure may be time for a repair on that scanner. Meanwhile a friend of mine has been photgraphing my pieces for me, as I put a few things on Etsy. I'm not sure if that's going to fly, but I also think I need to get less expensive items posted,like earrings & bracelets.

I read your book on social networking and marketing. I made a practice page on Squidoo for an orphan care program we work with in Malawi, but I haven't got back to do one for my jewelry yet!! I did add my Etsy to that page. It's sure a lot of fun. :-)

Thanks again,

Carol
www.squidoo.com/NoahsArkOrphanCare

Your Squidoo Lens
by: Rena

Thanks so much for your very kind feedback on my book, Carol!

Your Squidoo lens is excellent! The Malawi orphans are so blessed to have such a wonderful, caring place to go.

I've submitted your Malawi lens to StumbleUpon and del.icio.us, and also voted for and favorited it!

Too cool!
by: Carol

Hi again Rena,

This is amazing actually...that we've connected through your site here AND Squidoo. Funny, because after reading about Squidoo in your social networking book, I forgot about it for a few months, and then not even thinking that, of course you'd have a lens! ;-)

I haven't done anything with Stumbleupon, but will now check it out. Sometimes the amount of info can be a bit overwhelming to my almost 58 year old brain! LOL

Now,I've really got to get back to beading VERY soon! Thanks again for your encouragment, Rena.

PS. I did purchase your Squidoo Traffic Power e-book, and will slowly digest it!