How to Copy Business Cards with a Digital Camera


The lights should be set at about a 45 degree angle to eliminate reflections.

Light setup

To make a good image of a 3.5 x 2 inch business card, your digital camera must have a Macro mode to focus on an object so small and close.

Level the Easel and camera tripod with a small carpenters level to get square images of the Business card.

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Setup of the lights and studio. I am using an easel that you can buy at Walmart for around $10 USD. The Easel with garage door in background.
I painted the easel, it is unpainted when brought

 

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The Camera is about 9 3/4 inches from the  easel. To focus that close, you must use the Macro mode. Use the zoom to frame the long side of the card.

 

Showing distance of the camera body from the easel. 
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This is the result (after reducing for the web). White balance is set to Tungsten. I have not cropped the image, and there is space at the top and bottom of the card, because the ratio of the card is not the same ratio of the camera. Card is 3.5:2 and the camera is 4:3. Second example. (after reducing for the web). White balance is set to Tungsten. There is a slight blue tint. I have not cropped the image, and there is space at the top and bottom of the card, because the ratio of the card is not the same ratio of the camera. Card is 3.5:2 and the camera is 4:3.

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Page last edited: April 26, 2015