The purpose of this guide is to help sellers provide clear, detailed photos of their small items on eBay without using a camera.  I have used the techniques described here for years with great success.  I still need a camera for larger items, but jewelry, coins, knives, and other “little things” can be difficult to photograph well without special lenses and lighting so I have developed a simple alternative.  This guide is adapted from my article “Knife Images on the Cheap” originally published in the November 2007 issue of Knife World Magazine which you can see at knifeworld.com.

On eBay a picture truly is worth a thousand words.  However, some pictures are only worth a couple words, like “What the heck is that?”  A faded, blurry photo, or one where the object is only a tiny blob in the center of your monitor, is of little or no practical help to your buyer.  The problem is that many cameras won’t focus closely enough to produce a large, clear image of small things such as jewelry, coins, pocket knives, etc.  For the object to be in focus it must be so far from the lens that it only occupies a small portion of the picture, and has no detail.  When you move in, to fill the field of view with the object, you get a large blurry image that still doesn’t provide any detail.

One way to overcome this problem is to hold a small magnifying lens (like a jeweler’s loupe) in front of your camera’s lens.  You must turn on the viewing screen and focus by moving the camera and lens in and out together until the image on the screen is clear.  This method works quite well except that lighting becomes a problem.  Usually, you are so close to the object that it is difficult to get an adequate amount of light on it to produce a quality image.  Now what?

You may already have the perfect solution right on your desk!  If you have a flat-bed scanner and some basic image-enhancement software (it usually comes with your computer and/or on the scanner or a camera's operating CD) you may be able easily to make clear, detailed images of small three-dimensional objects. 

The most important variable you will find among scanners is the depth-of-field of the image they produce; in other words, how thick an object you can scan and have the entire object remain in focus.  Some scanners work better than others; I don’t know why, but it has nothing to do with cost.  All-in-one scanner/copier/printers are the worst.  My deceased Hewlett-Packard flatbed scanner was superb.  The forty-nine dollar Taiwanese model I am using now is great.  My far more costly Dell 924 A-I-O just doesn’t cut it.  As far as I know there is no way to adjust the depth-of-field on a scanner.  However, one great thing about scanners is that you can buy used ones at yard sales for next to nothing; just be sure you get the operating software CD with the device. 

With a camera, depth of field is usually not an issue because, except for extreme close-ups, the depth of field is at least several inches.  If an object initially appears in focus the parts farthest from the lens will usually be just as clear as the ones closest to the lens.  With a scanner the depth of field is usually about one-half inch.  If you scan a coin or other very thin object it doesn't matter, but if you scan a thicker object, such as a brooch or pocket knife you want to parts farthest away from (above) the scanner’s table to be just as clear as the part that rests on the table.

Try out the scanner you have by placing an object, a ring of keys works well, on the glass table (carefully! you can scratch the glass surface.)  Cover the entire glass table with a towel to block outside light, and scan the object.  Examine the image on your monitor to see how much of its thickness remains crisp and clear.  The available depth of field will determine how thick an object you can scan and get good a image. 

To avoid strange lighting, affects and get the best images, you need to be sure to block all outside light from entering the scanner; and you should have a background that is parallel to the scanner's table.  All scanners I have seen have removable, hinged covers.  Lift off the cover and find or make a one inch deep (give or take) cardboard tray that is large enough to cover the entire glass table (so no outside light gets in) and small enough that it will rest on top of the scanner body itself.

Now, when making an image for an online sale, remember: it’s not an art contest.  Buyers don’t want pretty pictures; they want information about the item, to assess condition, etc.  A uniform, neutral background is best.  On the inside of the tray you made, paste a piece of light colored, plain or fine-grained, low-contrast paper, cardboard, or similar medium.  This will be the background of your images, i.e. the top of the inside of the cavity created when the tray is inverted and placed over the scanner's glass.  Do not use a picture or high-contrast patterned background with distinct lines.  When an object is viewed against a detailed background, clean lines and edges may appear to be blurred or irregular or even damaged.

You can simply leave the cover open, or remove it entirely.  This usually results in a black background; however, personally, I don't like the appearance of images made this way.   

Now a few tips on getting the best image: 

1. Scanners often create a shadow on one side of a three dimensional object. Also, flat shiny surfaces can look dark or totally black if the light hits them at certain angles. Experiment by rotating the object on the table to find the alignment that minimizes undesirable effects.

 2. Your scanner's software should allow two adjustments that will create highly detailed images of even tiny objects.  Set the scanner to record at 200% (or more).  This will result in a much larger image on the monitor.  Also, most scanners can be adjusted to record at various numbers of dots per inch (DPI.)  Although I have been told that it shouldn't affect the image size, on my scanner increasing the DPI creates a larger image.  I use 200 DPI for basic images.  If I want more detail I can adjust the scanner to 300-400 DPI.  

3. Now you are ready to turn the scanned image is to a money-making picture.  First, “Rotate” (typical commands are shown here in quotes) the image so that the item is displayed right-side-up.  Next, “Trim” off all the excess background so the item fills the image area.  (Why post a 3" x 4" image with a 1" object in the center, when the object can fill the 3" x 4" area?)  Now you will most likely have to “Photo Size” (reduce the over-all file size of) the image to comply with your internet photo-host’s file size requirements, i.e. the maximum number of kilo-bytes they allow.  At this point you want to be sure you are viewing your image at "100%" on your monitor.  This is about the size the image will appear in the eBay listing.  You want to post the largest images you can but not so large that one must scroll back and forth across the screen to see the entire image.  (Be sure “Constrain Proportions” is selected when you adjust file size or your item will appear oddly stretched.)  “Sharpen” the image (an electronic miracle!)  Adjust the “Brightness” and add “Contrast.”  A little increase in the “Saturation” will bring out the beauty of colored materials.  You can even “Clone” away that cat hair that somehow got onto the glass.  Just remember: NEVER use the enhancement tools to hide flaws or make an item look better than it actually is.  You want to show off your merchandise in its best “light,” but not be deceptive. 

It is not nearly as hard as it sounds.  It will take a while to master the photo-enhancement tools but with a bit of trial and error you will be amazed by what you can do.  With practice the process can be completed in about one minute or so and if you get only one dollar more for each piece you sell that’s like making sixty bucks an hour!

For the best professional presentation of your merchandise, there is no substitute for a high-end camera and shadowless, omni-directional lighting.  But for on-line selling on a shoestring your scanner may be the ticket to better images and higher dollars.  Give it a try!

© Ron Bucher 2007, 2008
All Rights Reserved