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In my college life, I've had this thought cross my mind every semester - "Hrm, what if I can borrow someone's book for the weekend, and copy it!". It's an appealing thought considering the average college textbook is upwards of $80. However, I never really thought it was a practical idea.
However, one day I realized that digital cameras nowadays are actually pretty decent scanners! You're not going to get super high quality scans like you would with a regular scanner, but you won't have to spend a day just to scan one book. In fact, I've scanned a 600+ page history book in under 2 hours!
In this instructable I will show you the methods I used to both capture every page of a book with a digital camera, and later process the images into a readable PDF file using cheap/free software.
DISCLAIMER:
This information is for educational purposes only. I am in no way responsible for anything illegal you do with this knowledge.
However, one day I realized that digital cameras nowadays are actually pretty decent scanners! You're not going to get super high quality scans like you would with a regular scanner, but you won't have to spend a day just to scan one book. In fact, I've scanned a 600+ page history book in under 2 hours!
In this instructable I will show you the methods I used to both capture every page of a book with a digital camera, and later process the images into a readable PDF file using cheap/free software.
DISCLAIMER:
This information is for educational purposes only. I am in no way responsible for anything illegal you do with this knowledge.
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Signing UpStep 1Theory and Materials
The basic idea for this method is very simple. Have a camera set up on a tripod facing down on a book. Take a picture, turn the page...and repeat.
Basic requirements:
Digital Camera - It doesn't need to have too many fancy features, but it does have to have some way of triggering it remotely. My camera has 6 megapixels and the images turned out pretty readable (I wouldn't recommend any lower than 6, though it never hurts to try).
Tripod - A basic tripod with adjustable legs.
Remote control / Cable release - You need some way of firing the camera without touching it. This is important because of two reasons. Firstly, you don't want shaky images. Second, and more importantly, you're going to want to move as little as possible between flipping the pages and firing the camera. You will to be making the same motion hundreds of times, and having to get up and fire your camera, or reach in awkward positions will definitely wear you out. If you don't have a remote control or shutter release cable, there are a bunch of instructables showing you how to make your own =).
A heavy weight - The tripod is going to be in an awkward position and will need extra support on the back leg to stop it from falling over.
Lighting - At least two lights are recommended. You also may need something to diffuse the lighting, like wax paper.
A PC - Preferably windows based (software will be described below).
Software:
These programs are required if you want to turn your book into an Adobe PDF file for easy reading.
Snapter - This is an EXTREMELY useful program I was very lucky to find. It makes cropping all of your images into separate pages very easy, and it's pretty cheap ($50 - about half the price of the average textbook). Sorry Linux and Mac people, this program only works on windows. If you don't want to use snapter, there are programs that can do batch processing, but these require little bit more effort.
Bullzip - This free program lets you compile all your pictures into a PDF file. Bullzip is also windows only but there are plenty of alternatives for Linux and Mac.
Basic requirements:
Digital Camera - It doesn't need to have too many fancy features, but it does have to have some way of triggering it remotely. My camera has 6 megapixels and the images turned out pretty readable (I wouldn't recommend any lower than 6, though it never hurts to try).
Tripod - A basic tripod with adjustable legs.
Remote control / Cable release - You need some way of firing the camera without touching it. This is important because of two reasons. Firstly, you don't want shaky images. Second, and more importantly, you're going to want to move as little as possible between flipping the pages and firing the camera. You will to be making the same motion hundreds of times, and having to get up and fire your camera, or reach in awkward positions will definitely wear you out. If you don't have a remote control or shutter release cable, there are a bunch of instructables showing you how to make your own =).
A heavy weight - The tripod is going to be in an awkward position and will need extra support on the back leg to stop it from falling over.
Lighting - At least two lights are recommended. You also may need something to diffuse the lighting, like wax paper.
A PC - Preferably windows based (software will be described below).
Software:
These programs are required if you want to turn your book into an Adobe PDF file for easy reading.
Snapter - This is an EXTREMELY useful program I was very lucky to find. It makes cropping all of your images into separate pages very easy, and it's pretty cheap ($50 - about half the price of the average textbook). Sorry Linux and Mac people, this program only works on windows. If you don't want to use snapter, there are programs that can do batch processing, but these require little bit more effort.
Bullzip - This free program lets you compile all your pictures into a PDF file. Bullzip is also windows only but there are plenty of alternatives for Linux and Mac.
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This is an interesting article about an very interesting and very useful activity that is not enough done for people.
You can scanner many books as books friends to lend you or books you to take from public library, and this manner you extend your private library for no cost.
For now I have scanned and "ebooking" over 300 books with this method , and growing.
I do some steps a little bit different respect this tutorial. For me a very important detail with no mention in article is an software or hardware intervalomenter wich fire camera each X seconds. I work with software intervalometer included at Eos Utility software and computer connected to canon 400D. Minimun time between photos for this software is 5 seconds... I tried less time with other procedeures , but camera begin to fail some photos with less seconds.
At this rate you have photographied 24 pages a minute. An 240 page book, then, need only 10 minutes to be photographied completely.
I think that book have to be in a table, with the tripod over the table too , and you confortably seated with book in front of you. Its a mechanical task turning pages each 5 seconds or less (some seconds spare at this rate) , but is not tiring task and you can listen music or podcasts while you do it. Its very useful too buy two metal clamps as this: http://www.toolstation.com/images/library/stock/webbig/14106.jpg At any hardware store sell you very cheap. You will utilize this pieces for immobilize the book , wich is placed with inferior pages side coinciding with table side nearest you. Then you fix open book with the two clamps , one for first book page (cover book) and other for last page.
For image proccess I utilize two programs: Advanced Batch Converter for turning 180º each photo (with windows can be done same with two 90 º turns) and Image Cutter for cut photos into two pages and eliminates image parts around book pages.
Finally for transform all pages in an ebook I utilize Image to Pdf v2.1.0
1) Use expensive professional lighting umbrellas.
2) Take the photos outside on a bright but cloudy day.
3) Use a home-made light box/light tent. There are several Instructables on this http://www.instructables.com/id/Photography-Light-Box/
Yes, it is. A larger image sensor will give you a better looking picture, but the same resolution.
if i may offer some advice before you go to federal-pound-you-in-the-=%!-prison....watch out for your corn-hole.