7 tips for photographing a test cleanly
How clean the result looks depends a lot on the photo. These seven habits noticeably cut down the touch-up work.
1. Use bright, even light
Daylight near a window or a ceiling light directly overhead works best. A desk lamp from one side darkens half the page. Worksheet Eraser can correct shadows and uneven light, but even light from the start gives sharper results.
2. Keep your own shadow off the page
Shooting from above makes it easy to cast the shadow of your phone and hand onto the paper. Don't stand with your back to the light; keep it to the side or in front of you.
3. Shoot straight on
An angled shot makes the bottom lines small and blurry. Hold the phone parallel to the page. If it is a little skewed, "Fix corners" can straighten it by matching the four corners.
4. Turn off the flash
Flash blows out the middle of the page and makes pencil marks shiny, which makes them harder to remove. In a dark room, switch on a light instead.
5. Flatten folds
A test folded in a backpack casts shadows along the crease. Press it flat under a book for a minute first. A dark surface under the page makes the edges easy to see when fixing corners.
6. One page per photo, filling the frame
Two pages in one shot means smaller text. Let a single page nearly fill the screen, with all four corners visible.
7. Hold still
Tap the screen to focus, hold steady for a moment, then shoot. If the edges of letters look smeared when you zoom in, take it again.
Quick check after shooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| One side looks gray | Side lighting, hand shadow | Move the light or turn on "Fix shadows & lighting" |
| Bottom text is smaller | Angled shot | Use "Fix corners"; shoot straight on next time |
| Text looks smeared | Motion or focus | Retake the photo |
| Middle is washed out | Flash or glare | Flash off, change the angle slightly |
It's fine if your child's name or school is visible. Worksheet Eraser processes photos only on your device and never uploads them.