Using iPhone as a scanner. Anyone tried?

[sportsluvr]

Well, I have installed some apps that take pictures and can save images as a pdf file. Where I'm stuck is, how do you build a jig to mount the iPhone? I'm thinking of scanning a book > 2000 pages and I don't want to hold the iPhone with my hands while taking pictures.

Anyone gone down this road?

 

[doc4216]

Have you tried to go to the book's manufacturer and see if the have the electronic version available? Sometimes they already have them in PDF format.

 

[sportsluvr]

Yes, the last thing they want to do is to give me a PDF file.

 

[berth]

I'd think you could whip something up using some coat hangers, cardboard, and masking tape.

2000 pages, that's alot.

Are you planning on cutting the binding off? A lot of cheap "all in one" printer scanners have sheet feeders, might make this process a little less painful.

You'd think you'd be able to set the phone up, and just record a movie of you turning pages, and with some processing -- pages spit out.

Maybe you could find a scanning place that can do it for you (again, you may well have to cut the binding off).

 

[sportsluvr]

Yes, that is exactly what I'm trying to do, but I don't want to cut the binding off because I want to keep the paper copy as well. I will looking into your idea of finding a shop where I can get it done. But, I'd imagine that they want to charge a lot because it is a labor-intensive project. It is a Sinhalese dictionary which I use a lot and the thought of looking for a specific word in a 2000-page book is very daunting, but I use it all the time!

 

[OneRedLT4]

CTRL-F FTW!
I don't know how big the book is or any of the set up details, but I have seen different adjustable phone stands that are universal (I know, it's against Apple policy to use anything not Apple). They usually don't hold the phone very far off the surface of where it's resting. But if you're not looking for something "professional grade", give it a try.