I am not a graphic designer, nor have I ever tried my hand at scrapbooking, but thanks to TikTok, I suddenly care about capturing the texture of my travels. It all began when I watched @studiocloclo on TikTok slide a portable scanner across various flat surfaces in Italy, revealing a treasure trove of train tickets, bar menus, book covers, and food packages, each expressing its own grainy, vintage feel.
In a perfect world, we’d keep every receipt we obtain on our trips as a memento, but the reality is, such paper trails hang out indefinitely in back pockets and old wallets, never to be returned to again. But there’s beauty in digitizing the banal little visuals we come across in faraway places, and a portable scanner allows us to do just that. You might be wondering, Why not just take a photo? And to that I say: Where’s your whimsy? Your joie de vivre?
A scan of a hot dog cart, featuring a corn dog close-up.
The writer in action, scanner in hand.
Search “portable scanner” on TikTok and you’ll see a number of users scanning Subway signs in New York City, or vending machines in Tokyo, showcasing the delightful works of art that can be created with such snapshots, from the TikTok collages themselves to diptychs with analog photos. There’s something very real that comes across in the scans, whether it’s the up-closeness of vibrant typography or the wrinkles, cracks, and stains that signify the passage of time.
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Jessica Sulima
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Hannah Chubb
Aozbz
Portable document scanner
I acquired the exact iScan device that @studiocloclo uses from Amazon, and spent the last few weeks testing it out in and around New York City. The wand-like device—which is about the size of a hair straightener—is nice and light, and it comes with a little drawstring pocket to protect it in transit, making it easy to toss into a tote bag wherever you go. I scanned everything from graffiti art to cheeky fliers posted around the city, and I can’t wait to collage them with the zeal of an amateur artist.
To use: Power the device on, hit the scan button, wait for the green light, slowly scan your surface ensuring the green light stays on, then turn the device off (it does so automatically after three minutes). Images are stored on a 32 GB micro SD card, and you can access them by using the accompanying USB cord to connect the scanner to your laptop (Note: I had to call in the help of a dongle for this, as I use a Macbook Air).
There’s a bit of a learning curve with this guy. I kept making the mistake of scanning while the green light went out; you want to make sure you move at a steady pace, or else your image could get cut off. Something peculiar happened with the battery too. Even though I inserted two new double AA batteries from the get-go, I must have relied too heavily on the automatic shut-off, because it died within a few days. Once I replaced the batteries and made a point to power the device down after each scan, I did not run into this issue again.
If you’re feeling particularly experimental, you can play around with resolution too, choosing between 300 DPI, 600 DPI, and 900 DPI. Images are available in both JPEG and PDF format. I recommend practicing on a few magazines at home before you take it out for a spin, because the difficulty—and part of the beauty, might I add—is that you won’t be able to see how your creations turned out until you go home and plug the wand into your computer.
When the scans do come out to your liking, though, you’ll get a dopamine hit like no other. There’s also something about the process of hunting for scans that encourages you to really pay attention to the intricacies of your surroundings—you know, the whole “awe walk” thing.
I will admit, however, I did feel a little funny at times, scanning objects out in the wild. It’s one thing to take a photo of Mister Softee from afar. It feels mildly illicit to get up close to the truck and physically run the scanner over it. Though I’m sure Mister Softee wouldn’t mind, and you’re essentially using a camera—just be prepared for a few stares.
If you’re willing to withstand a little embarrassment in the name of creativity, connecting more deeply with the world around you, then this portable scanner is for you. It would also make the perfect gift for any stationery lover, illustrator, or aesthete in your life. Go out and get scanning.
