•
Select film type appropriate for the task and equipment available.
• Determine what lighting is required.
• Check that color or tone of background does not clash
with or obscure the object.
• Position object against background to show shape as clearly
as possible. Decide whether one viewpoint will be sufficient.
• Check that texture is clearly shown and that no important
parts are in shadow.
• Check that the edges of the object are clear against
the background.
• Check that no hard shadows are thrown across the body
of the object.
• Place scale of suitable size, preferably upright, beside
the object and about half-way back in its visible depth. Make
sure that its shadow is not cast onto the object.
• Place gray scale, color scale, and information label
near, but not touching or overlapping the object. Make sure
that its shadow is not cast onto the object.
• Choose viewpoint showing most information and bring camera
on a tripod to this position.
• Make certain that the object is in focus.
• Check that the scale appears upright in the viewfinder,
and that the information label is clearly visible.
• Take light-reading on the object or on a gray card (not
the background).
• Set aperture as small as possible to give sufficient
depth of field, and set shutter speed to fit that setting.
• Check that camera and object are perfectly still.
• Expose film, preferably using a cable release.
• If practical, make exposures both one f-stop above and
one below the first exposure.
• Record object and exposure and/or roll numbers in a log
book.
