Acetate SheetsUse acetate sheets to protect the glass of your flatbed photo scanner ... especially when scanning messy items and/or working with children!
This tomato slice could have been a real mess! 
I used a sheet of acetate and tossed it out, when the scan was completed. No tomato juice on the scanner. These sheets are generally used for color separations and layouts. Sometimes you can find them in office supply and art stores. Be sure to get the CLEAR. The 9X12 size, .003 thickness is easy to work with and usually comes in pads. You may have to trim each sheet a little to fit your specific scanner. Once used, be sure there are no spots, stains or pieces of dust, dirt etc. on the acetate before using it again. If you are scanning something "messy" use a new sheet each time you move the item being scanned. NO, kitchen wrap is not a good substitute! It can leave a film on the glass, which is very difficult to remove.
Cotton GlovesAcetate can also act as a magnet for dust, hair, dirt and fingerprints!Wearing white cotton gloves helps prevent fingerprints! Many photographers use them when working with their artwork. Purchase a cheap pair at most drug stores. If you don't see them, ASK. They are often tucked away in odd places.
Big Messes
After scanning some mushrooms (without acetate), I could see the marks left on the glass. I placed a piece of black paper over the stains and scanned, this was the outcome. Use acetate sheets to prevent unnecessary clean-up jobs!
Watch the Edges
Be sure the pages lie flat on the glass. Sometimes the sheet may be just a little larger than the flat area of your scanner. If so, trim with scissors. While cutting, wear those cotton gloves, fingerprints will show! Any area that is not flat will give you rainbows and lots of light lines. To demonstrate ... this scanner photo is of a rolled up piece of acetate. The areas not touching the glass are obvious.
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