Pardon my not remembering who suggested the black paper, but -- if you only have a scanner to use -- they are closest to the answer. Use the paper, or a piece cloth, to cover the shell and then hold it in position with your hand. It will only take a few seconds for the light/sensor head to pass over the shell -- if it is a Cyphoma. This might not be so simple for a Triton Trumpet! While not everyone has the hardware, digitized images from digital cameras or live video signals are more effective. If you plan on doing lots of these, consider one of these as an alternative. A trick of the photographers is to shoot close-ups with a telephoto lens on extention tubes (or use close-up lenses). This allows the camera to stay back far enough to reduce the geometry/perspective problems caused by getting very close to the subject. Aloha, makuabob (a.k.a. Bob Dayle) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com