Scanning of dried or fresh plant materials with Isik Kutusu System, transfer to computer and preparation of van basin virtual herbarium

The Isik Kutusu (Light Box is a specialized imaging system designed to digitize non-moving macroscopic organisms and physical objects smaller than A3 size, depending on the quality of the flatbed glass scanner used. When integrated with various scanner models, this system has demonstrated excellent performance in transferring semi-dimensional (2D to 2.5D) images and printed materials of non-moving specimens to a computer with high accuracy and consistency.
The system can magnify physical details of real-world macroscopic entities up to 60 times, enabling in-depth digital observation and analysis. To ensure precision, a formula has been developed to calculate how many times the real size must be enlarged and at what dpi images should be captured. The device has received both national and international patents for its innovation and utility. However, in a unique act of scientific contribution, the full construction methodology has been openly published and the patent rights were donated to humanity, promoting open access to technological advancement. This system was also utilized in creating the high-resolution image archive for the Van Province Virtual Herbarium, whose outputs can be viewed on the following platforms:

• Van Herbarium – Yüzüncü Yıl University
• Nadidem Virtual Flora – English Index
• Virtual Herbarium of Lake Van (VHLV)

Overall, the Isik Kutusu System offers a reproducible, cost-effective, and high-resolution alternative to conventional photographic and scanning tools, significantly advancing the digitization of macroscopic biological and physical specimens for scientific and educational use.