A document-backing surface for reducing show-through when a duplex-printed document is scanned but without producing undesirable artifacts. The document-backing surface has a plurality of first and second light-absorbing surfaces, and a plurality of specularly reflective surfaces partially covering each of the second light-absorbing surfaces. The first specularly reflective surfaces are oriented to reflect light from a scanner lamp to a scanner sensor. In an alternate embodiment, the document-backing surface is partially covered by a specularly reflective surface oriented to reflect light from the scanner lamp to the scanner lens. In another embodiment, the document-backing surface has a set of teeth, each of which has light-absorptive first and second tooth surfaces and a specularly reflective surface partially covering each second tooth surface. In addition, the present invention is directed to a method for using a document-backing surface.