Fixing Glare, Shadows and Low Light in Document Scans

A good scan is mostly about light. When a scan comes out dark, shadowed or covered in reflections, the fix is usually to change where you stand or which light you use, rather than to edit afterwards.

Common lighting problems

Glare. Glossy paper, laminated cards and shiny folders reflect lamps and windows, creating white patches that hide text.

Shadows. Your phone, hand or head blocks the light and casts a shadow across the page, especially with overhead lights.

Low light. In dim rooms, the phone raises its sensitivity, which adds noise and blur and makes text look grainy.

Uneven light. One side of the page is bright and the other dark, often when a window is on one side.

Fixing glare

• Change the angle. Move the phone, or tilt the page slightly, until the reflection slides off the text.
• Move the light. Turn off an overhead light that's reflecting, or switch to lighting from the side.
• Avoid flash. It almost always creates a hot spot.
• Use a matte surface underneath, rather than a glossy table.

Fixing shadows

• Light the page from two sides, so that your shadow is filled in.
• Stand so that the light comes over your shoulder, not from behind the page.
• Hold the phone higher, or use a stand, to keep it away from the light path.
• Choose a window with soft, indirect light, rather than direct sun.

Fixing low light

• Move to a brighter spot, such as near a window in the daytime.
• Add a desk lamp with a neutral, white bulb.
• Steady the phone, on a stack of books or a stand, because dim scenes take longer to capture.
• Use the enhancement option to increase contrast and brightness, but note that it can't restore missing detail.

Fixing uneven light

Place the page where the light is even, or add a second light source to balance a bright window. An enhancement mode that evens out the background can help.

Colour of the light

Warm yellow bulbs make white paper look cream. For accuracy, use neutral daylight-coloured lighting, or shoot near a window. If you're sending a scan to be printed, correct colours where needed.

When you can't fix the light

Sometimes you can't move: in a queue, a waiting room or an office. Try these:

• Tilt the page a few degrees away from the light.
• Place a dark folder behind it.
• Take two or three scans at slightly different angles, and choose the cleanest.

Review before saving

Zoom in on the smallest text, and check that both corners and edges are clear. Re-scan anything questionable while you still have the original.

Get clean, well-lit scans with Document Scanner →