How do I photograph something up close, like 18" from the lens?

I want to take up-close photos of small 4x6 drawings (I don't like scanners). The camera I use now bends and blurs the image if I get closer than about 30". Do I need a separate lens attachment? What is that lens called? Do any cameras on the market, straight out of the box, have the ability to take close-up photos of small things? If I buy a new camera, WHAT SPECIFICATIONS should I look for which have the capability to take close-ups.

You are looking for what's called a Macro lens. Macro lenses excel at taking photographs from a short distance. A complete treatment of Macro lenses is beyond the scope of a simple response. Suffice to say, it's an interesting sub-topic within the realm of photography.

Understand that Macro lenses are expensive. Usually starting around $300-400.

For the application you're describing, a Macro lens is not well suited. Macro lenses are well suited for focusing on a small object, not a relatively "large" 4 x 6" surface. You'll end up with distortion somewhere in the equation.

That being said, you'll really get your best results with a scanner.

V2K1 is right about using a scanner.

But if you insist on using a camera. You'll need a macro lens (a lens that is specifically made to take close up photos). You didn't mention what camera you have. If you have a point and shoot camera, there are "close up" attachment you can buy, but you will be disappointed with the results.

These are paintings from the Getty Center. Canon 5D with Canon 100 mm f 2.8 macro lens.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2311...

All available lights. No flash can be used at the Getty (and it will show an ugly flash reflection anyway).

you have wide angle and close up, so you if you widen out all the way on your zoom it makes the pic bigger but it distorts the image, bends the straight lines.
You need to move farther back and zoom in tight, close up.
To get straight lines you need to be medium (half way on the zoom) to close (zoomed in) in order to get what the eyes see. The lens that is closest to the human eye is about 55mm or 60mm I think, that's in terms of 35mm Film photography, if I remember correctly.
If you have a digital camera then a 50mm lens setting on the zoom (you have a zoom from lets say 28mm wide to 70mm tight) is going to be slighty different from a 35mm Film/movie lens but close ish, so you need to emulate what the eye sees and set your zoom to 50mm +. Kinda thing.
check out this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focal_lengt...
and this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_of_vi...

You could get yourself a telephoto lens that has macro - usually does. You can a generic brand like SIGMA that is made for your camera or the same brand but you will be expecting to spend a lot. Macro is usually doing close up work, like getting close to a really small object or extreme close-ups. For your purpose you can just get an inexpensive telephoto lens 70-300 with 5.6 (the smaller it gets the more you have to spend like 2.8 or 1.6 a lot of money) - with a Sigma brand you can buy it for less than $200, check Amazon for it or google it.
Then there's an old technique we use just in case we needed it right then and there. If your camera can be set to manual, you can remove the lens from the camera and then put the front of the lens where you connect the lens (reversing the lens). You just have to hold it tight ( cause you can't connect it that way) so no light will go through the side - or you can tape an electric tape around it. Then, you can see if you have the right proportion in your view finder, and shoot away - setting of course the right speed and it is in the proper lighted place (outside the sun without using the direct sunlight).
Another thing you can do is take the best image you can even if it's 30" away. Take it outside where it is bright, but not directly from sun. This way you have natural lighting. Once you have a good picture. Have the negative of the specific image cropped and enlarge to what ever size you want. Way cheaper than buying new equipment for few projects. Unless, you want to invest in new equipments.

Depending on what kind of camera you have some camera's have a special setting for taking close up pictures.

Scanning is the best and by far the cheapest way to copy your drawings.

You'll spend hundreds on a camera, while your local photo store will make high-res scans for a few bucks.

V