Logbook photo guide
Good images make OCR accurate. Follow this checklist before you upload Jeppesen or ASA page spreads — you are only charged a credit when processing succeeds.
Quick checklist
- Both pages of the spread visible in one landscape photo
- Camera directly above the page (bird's-eye view)
- Even lighting — no dark shadow in the center gutter
- Text in focus; column headers included
- No fingers, glare, or heavy skew
- Choose the correct format (Jeppesen or ASA) at upload
Recommended setup
Lay the logbook flat on a contrasting surface. Open to a two-page spread and smooth the gutter so rows align horizontally. If the pages curl upward at the edges, hold them flat with bulldog clips or binder clips (avoid covering any log entries). Use indirect daylight or two lamps from the sides. Hold the phone parallel to the page and tap to focus on the date column.
Dedicated scanning apps (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, or your phone's document scanner) often produce straighter, higher-contrast results than a casual camera shot. Use your free credits to test your setup before processing an entire book.
Why spreads matter
Jeppesen-style books and many ASA layouts put related columns across a left/right spread. Photographing only one page breaks row registration and can drop times, landings, or remarks. Always capture the full open spread in one image unless support tells you otherwise for a specific format.
Common problems
- Curved or bowed pages — left/right row registration fails; clip edges flat and retake
- Angled photo — rows misalign; shoot from directly above
- Shadow in gutter — dual-column times may be missed; add side lighting
- Blur — re-shoot with focus lock
- Single page only — include the full spread
- Wrong format selected — ASA pages processed as Jeppesen (or the reverse) degrade accuracy; confirm the selector before Process
If processing fails
- Read the message on the image card in your project.
- If it suggests photo quality, re-shoot using this guide — don't retry the same blurry file repeatedly.
- If it says our team is reviewing, you don't need to retry.
- Open Review only after status shows Completed.
Related help
Quick answers
- How do I scan a paper pilot logbook?
- Capture the full two-page spread in one landscape image, camera directly above the page, even lighting with no gutter shadow, text in focus, and column headers included. A phone is enough; dedicated scan apps (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, or your phone document scanner) often straighten pages better than a casual camera shot.
- How do I photograph logbook pages with an iPhone?
- Lay the book flat, hold the phone parallel to the spread, tap to focus on the date column, and avoid fingers, glare, and heavy skew. The iPhone document scanner (Notes or Files) is a good option if the camera preview shows bowing or glare.
- Do I need a dedicated scanner for a pilot logbook?
- No. A phone with even, indirect light usually works. A flatbed scanner can help for thick bindings that will not lie flat, but it is not required. Use your free credits to test the setup before processing an entire book.