by Joe Wright

The name and procedures are mine. They resulted from a whimsical wonder about how a fern frond would scan. Because of the morphological depth in live material further attempts with aroid leaves and flowers proved to present problems with the flat bed cover that led to softer and more flexible ones.

This scan involves three cultivars of Colocasia affinis jenningsii. The flower is of the all black one. The silver centered one is of a recent Thai/Burma collection. Anyone who can offer cultivar names to any or all would be appreciated.

I had the best results when using a white muslin cloth as it proved to be the most adaptable. Even so, scanning Passiflora flowers were unsuccessful because the weight of the flower distorted the pistils and the stamens. Additional experiments overcame that by suspending them, that then required a different box like cover. For simple scans with leaves and somewhat complex flowers the cloth is most reliable.

To achieve the best presentation, thought should be given to composition and most importantly selecting the best possible material. Freshness and flawlessness are critical. This can present a problem when some materials are available and others chosen for the scan are not. It is much the same in photography.

Remember that the scanner orients in a particular way. For mine the top is the bottom of a page, and items must be arranged accordingly. In some cases it can be a reverse process. Once you have done a few it will be natural and make for an easy arrangement. Cloths of different color and texture were used with varying results. Artistic differences can be advantageous

Once the items are placed on the scanner, with the natural top removed, arrange the material, cover with the cloth and proceed. Should any item be accidentally moved simply adjust it and rescan before saving or printing. This is an effective way of showing real dimensions, color and depth of plant materials. It can be useful for a variety of purposes that I probably have not considered. It is fun. Give it a try.