Photography Topics

Flat-Bed Camera

A Flatbed Camera is actually a flatbed scanner that is used to take pictures, rather than scan text from documents. Along with a scanner, flatbed photography calls for a computer and possibly image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop.

To take pictures with a “flatbed camera,” a photographer must place the subject to be photographed onto the scanner’s flatbed, glass surface. Ironically, a flatbed camera reverses the traditional interaction between a camera and a subject in which the camera is brought to the subject.

Additionally, flatbed cameras are unique in that their subject size is limited to the size of the glass plate of the scanner. While those serious about creating flatbed photos can buy a number of scanners with a variety of face sizes, this can be an expensive endeavor.

One of the main advantages of flatbed cameras is their ability to magnify their subjects up to ten times the original size. For this reason, flatbed cameras can be a powerful tool in macro photography, the practice of taking close-up pictures of smaller subjects to reveal their hidden and intricate details.

Good subjects for flatbed cameras include smaller, flatter subjects, such as leaves, insects or cross sections of rocks or fruit. Remember to clean the face of the scanner between shots when changing subjects, as any dust or residue can blur or ruin the following shots.