Scanning 3-dimensional objects is a lot more challenging than scanning photographs or transparencies.

Here is how to scan a small horse, cleverly made of rope, that Andrea and I were given in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. You can teach your children to use the scanner in this manner and let them learn graphic design at an early age. It's fun for them, and a great way to help them feel included in your work as well.

horse on Heidelberg CPS Linotype-Hell Saphir Ultra2 flatbed scanner.

Here is the horse standing up on the scanner so you can see its approximate size (about 4 inches tall).

The scanner used is a Saphir Ultra2 flatbed from Linotype-Hell (LinoColor, from Heidelberg)

Of course for the actual scan the horse is placed down on the glass surface.

This link takes you to the resulting scan.

The pictures on this page were taken with a point-and-shoot digital camera, so the color is not corrected.

Most flatbed scanners can not handle 3-D objects adequately (Creo , for example). So be sure you test with 3-D objects before you buy.