Hardware

Good lighting and a clean workspace matter more than fancy equipment. Start simple; add complexity only if your workflow actually needs it.

Tier 1: Simple Setup

• phone or tablet for photos and notes
• basic tools: screwdriver, pliers, hammer
• scale
• ruler or measuring tape

This is enough for useful product documentation. You can take photos on your phone and upload them directly.

Tier 2: Advanced Capture Setup

• Raspberry Pi camera with the RPI camera plugin
• fixed or repeatable camera position
• controlled lighting
• gridded mats or similar backgrounds

Use this if you want repeatable images across many products. Gridded mats help with automated size and volume estimation. See RPI Camera Integration for the platform-side setup.

Practical Advice

• Prioritise consistent lighting over camera quality.
• Use a plain background if you care about later image analysis.
• Keep scale references consistent if you plan to compare products later.