LocalKit
Visit LocalKit.app
← Back to all tips

Lighting setups that boost OCR accuracy

Dial in lighting before you scan so Image to Text can capture every character without streaks or glare.

lighting for ocrhow to scan documents without glarebest lighting for product label ocr

Stage diffuse, even light

Use two light sources positioned at 45° angles from either side of the document. Diffuse them with parchment paper or a white bedsheet to prevent hotspots.

If you only have one lamp, bounce it off a white wall or foam board. The reflected light wraps across the page and smooths out texture without adding shine.

Control ambient color cast

Mixed color temperatures confuse both your eyes and the OCR model. Switch every bulb in the capture area to daylight (5000–5500K) or warm (2700K), but avoid mixing.

When shooting glossy packaging, add a polarizing filter to your camera or phone clip-on lens to tame specular highlights before they bloom into white streaks.

Stabilize the document

Tape corners or use small binder clips to keep pages flat. Warped surfaces create shadows that look like characters to the model.

Use a mini tripod or stack of books to keep your phone square to the page. Even slight angles create perspective distortion that must be corrected later.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a smartphone flashlight for scanning?
You can in a pinch, but always diffuse the flashlight with parchment paper or tracing paper. Direct beams create hotspots that the OCR model interprets as blown-out characters.
Do ring lights help with OCR?
Ring lights work well when positioned 12–18 inches above the page with the camera in the center. Use the lowest brightness setting that still exposes the text to avoid glare.