Ideas for photographing pages quickly.

WIAWSNB

Hi. 

No idea just how many books and pages could be involved, but this person is looking for the quickest, simplest and more reliable way to hold a notebook open so the pages can be photographed. 

I guess it's that one person holds the book open at the sides, and turns the pages each time whilst another goes 'click'?

I thought of a clear sheet that could be placed over it to hold it flat, but this could introduce unwanted reflections. 

Then there's the weighted string - as used on trendy recipe book stands - but I doubt this would be easy to set up. 

Am I missing an easy option?

Thanks. 

DullGreyGuy

A scanner rather than photography?

Presumably they are their own note books or are they hoping to make copies of copyrighted materials?

grumpy_codger

DullGreyGuy said:

....

Presumably they are their own note books or are they hoping to make copies of copyrighted materials?

AI: "In general, UK copyright law allows for making a single copy of copyrighted material for personal study or non-commercial research, under the principle of "fair dealing". "

Emmia

There are things like Gimble page holders

https://amzn.eu/d/1lt3R75

Or thumb devices,  which would be easier if the intention is to turn pages more quickly 

https://amzn.eu/d/9Y6EvEW

Section62

WIAWSNB said:

Hi. 

No idea just how many books and pages could be involved, but this person is looking for the quickest, simplest and more reliable way to hold a notebook open so the pages can be photographed. 

I guess it's that one person holds the book open at the sides, and turns the pages each time whilst another goes 'click'?

I thought of a clear sheet that could be placed over it to hold it flat, but this could introduce unwanted reflections. 

Then there's the weighted string - as used on trendy recipe book stands - but I doubt this would be easy to set up. 

Am I missing an easy option?

Thanks. 

The National Archives site has some examples of the kind of weights available to keep documents flat -

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/visit-us/researching-here/handling-documents/rules-and-handling-aids/

Or look for 'document snake weights'  (obvs not the weight of snake species)

The family history website providers now seem to be using small metal weights when they photograph documents like parish registers - although for their small size I wonder if they are actually powerful magnets?

WIAWSNB

Hm, some nice ideas there - I like the thumb device and the weights. I'll pass that on - thank you.

(No, now't illegal... )

FreeBear

WIAWSNB said:

I thought of a clear sheet that could be placed over it to hold it flat, but this could introduce unwanted reflections.

A polarising filter on the camera lens would cut most of the reflections. You can also experiment with a polarising gel on the light sources. And yes, you want two light sources, one either side of the document. Using a copy stand to hold the camera in place is also a good idea if you have more than a page or to.

Or just grab a cheap used flat bed scanner from ebay (Epson V500 is good).

WIAWSNB

Thanks.
I understand there will be lots of pages, so it needs to be quick and simple.

Andy_L

I'd suggest a tripod or similar to hold the camera as well.

FreeBear

WIAWSNB said:
I understand there will be lots of pages, so it needs to be quick and simple.

Flatbed scanner then.

casper_gutman

You mentioned it's a "notebook". Does the notebook need to be intact after the scanning process? The quickest and perhaps best way of scanning a lot of pages is a flatbed scanner with a sheet feeder, like the multifunction printer/scanner/copiers in most offices, but you'd have to cut the pages out of the bindings first.