This is a trick that DJ has shared before, and it really works well. I just wish I had known it long, long ago!
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, DJ Delorie <dj@...> wrote:
>
> I use a macro setting on the camera, with flash, but one unusual trick -
> I put a piece of white paper in front of the flash, angled down to face
> the PCB. That way, instead of getting flare from point reflections of
> the flash, I get a uniform ambient light.
>
> For unpopulated PCBs, I usually end up using my scanner, although gEDA's
> pcb layout package has a photorealistic output exporter that is a lot
> easier to use.
>