Yep, you guessed it, these are the
> > tops, turbans, and star shells. Any good methods on scanning these
> > beasts?


Many of the Trochidae and Turbinidae can be laid on the side and the
resultant scan is just fine.  Occasionally this doesn't work, in which case
I still use clear tape and remove the tape image later with a graphics
program.  I had to do this with a scan of Astraea heliotropium.  Unless it
was centered on the apex, half of the spines would not show.  I used two
pieces of tape across the shell, one vertically and one horizontally and the
scan was perfect.  Good luck,

Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA