-------- Original Message --------
Subject: idea about image acquisition
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:20:00 -0400
From: David Thulman <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
I have used a decidedly low-tech method for image acquisition by using a
flat-bed scanner. I've used this for bifacial archaeological artifacts
(but they have a lenticular cross-section that looks like a fish). The
scanner I've used is an Epson 4180 Prefection (cost was less than $100),
but most scanners these days with a CCD should work fine. The scanner
has a depth of field of at least 1 cm, and probably more than 2 cm. The
error was less than .01 mm (tested with a digital caliper). The images
were scanned at 600 dpi, which eliminated the need for a scale for the
analysis I did. I used the images for a traditional morphometric
analysis (length, width, ratios, etc.), but recently uploaded them into
tpsDIG2 and have started reanalyzing with GM.
Laying a fish on the scanner platen may get messy, but its an
alternative that should produce precise images at low cost and fuss for
the right kind of specimens.
David Thulman
Department of Anthropology
George Washington University
