Should you use flash on a whiteboard photo? Almost never. Here's why.

## Why flash is almost always wrong for whiteboards

The phone's flash is positioned millimeters from the lens. When you fire it at a flat reflective surface (a whiteboard), the flash reflects directly back at the lens — creating a bright overexposed hotspot in the center of the image. Everything written in that zone is unreadable. And unlike a window or ceiling light reflection that you can move to avoid, the flash reflection always lands in the center because the flash is always on-axis.

## The one scenario where flash is tempting

A very dark room — say, after hours when overhead lights are off and you don't have access to the switches. In this scenario, flash is tempting because it's the only light source on your phone.

What to try first instead:

• Turn the iPhone torch (flashlight) on and prop the phone against something to the side of the board, lighting it at an angle. Then use a second device or ask someone else to photograph.
• Turn on the room lights if at all possible. Emergency exit signs and hall lights are often enough in a pinch.
• If the building has windows, shoot in daylight.

## If you absolutely must use flash

In a genuinely dark room with no other options:

1. Don't shoot straight at the board — shoot at a 15-20 degree angle so the reflection is directed away from the lens.
2. VisionKit will correct the perspective.
3. Accept that quality will be reduced. Anything is better than a completely dark image.

## What BoardSnap reads in dark photos

BoardSnap AI can work with lower-light images, but there's a floor. Truly dark photos with noise from high ISO will produce less accurate output. The best dark-room strategy is always to introduce more light — even a few phones shining at the board from off-axis angles is better than a direct flash.