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Photo processing software for coins and medals
BillJones
Posts: 34,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
I am replacing my old desk top computer, and the Microsoft photo processing program is going with it. I am looking for a modern replacement.
I am looking Adobe Express, but it seems that the processing options are mostly canned (pre-set) and geared to adjusting colors on human faces.
What systems do you guys use?
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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Full version Photoshop
Since I use a Nikon camera I’m using Nikon NX Studio for raw conversion. Then do final editing in Affinity Photo. I really like Photoshop but I won’t do the subscription stuff for such little time I need it and Express annoys me as someone very familiar with the real deal.
You can still download a fully functioning version of Adobe Photoshop as part of the CS2 suite, it is no longer supported or updated by Apple but it is free to download from their site. You won't get all the new bells and whistles in the later releases but for editing coin photos it has worked fine for me.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Adobe Photoshop is the gold standard. However, it is complex and has advanced features few "enthusiasts" would ever use routinely for numismatics. Also ... it's really expensive.
Adobe Photoshop Elements has a subset of the full Photoshop program, with a cost just shy of $100. It has most every feature you would need for numismatic photography and it's really easy to use. You can also download a free 30-day trial.
Photoshop Elements also handles raw images very nicely, if you shoot in that format.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Acorn by Flying Meat for Mac users.
https://flyingmeat.com/acorn/
That sounds like a good option.
Edited to add ... it looks like it won't work on the current Mac OS ... bummer! But for an older PowerPC Mac, it looks like a good option.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Even Photoshop CS 6 won’t work with the current Mac OS. I believe a hack let it run on High Sierra but that was the end of the line. Affinity Photo is a good, low cost, replacement and is available for both Mac and Windows.
Irfanview on my Windows PC - free and great:
https://www.irfanview.com/
It's good for square/rectangular crops, auto color adjustment, and pasting photos side by side.
I also use it to rotate/straighten photos, and to draw vertical / horizontal lines to help identify date and mint mark position.
For overlaying text on photos and circular crops, I use GIMP. Also free.
It is a layer style editor, similar to Photoshop.
There are some videos on youtube which are tutorials for doing different things.
https://www.gimp.org/
A free option in between is Photoscape.
It does circular crops. Gerry Fortin chose it when his old editor was no longer supported.
http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php
Most recent version of Adobe Photoshop
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
I faced the same dilemma years ago.
I opted to use Photoshop Elements because it easily handled everything that I needed at a fraction of the price of the overpriced full-blown package.
Even Elements is not user friendly. I took a class at my local Community College - all is well after that experience.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
I'm sure I am in the minority here but I do all my photo editing on my phone.
On iphone I use "round photo" to crop and "photogrid" to paste obverse/reverse images together. Both are free apps. I do minor brightness/contrast tweaks using the default photo viewer/editor.
Works great, free, easy.
Instagram
gcall, @Pedzola - if android editor app is needed, I use an app called [drumroll] photo editor --- super generic name for the best image editor for android you'll ever find
Without question Bill, Photoshop, now you have to pay for a yearly subscription, but it is worth every penny.
Best, SH
GIMP, its open source and free