Your Opinion - new images and background
pursuitofliberty
Posts: 7,109 ✭✭✭✭✭
So, I've been practicing my imaging techniques again, and it seems I'm getting better ... still a ways to go I think ... but better. Some come out very good, and some are just, well ... difficult.
I figured I'd try a background setup while I was taking a break from chores, and see how a couple of the better images worked.
I think I'd like to have a consistent theme like I see some here do. I played around with a couple, and found this the best I've created so far ... simple, not too much, not too little?
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Three different Bust Halves in mid-AU (big surprise, right?!!), with one in an NGC prong, and two in PCGS. These are the smaller size (the full size are about 10M each), but they're still pretty big if you open them in a new window.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Comments
Imo the background is neutral, but in a way that some coins seem to disappear into it, like the NGC coin does. Any coin with a light silver or dove grey color gets lost and blends into that background to me.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I found a matron head one cent coin (large cent) that resembles a penny from 1816-1839. It has EAC-03 engraved on it. What does that mean?
As Coinbuf said, the neutral gray background does not help the images. Try some other background colors and see what happens.
Yep, I agree now that I step away and come back. Wow. Glad I asked. Thank you both!
Straight black seems to pop the most, but what about this? A little darker gray to black fade. I'll use the NGC coin as it was the one that slipped into the background the most, I think
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
It think the "fade to gray" background looks good! If only the white prongs weren't showing ... but there is nothing you can do about that.
I like your pics.
I wish I could take some like what you showed.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
I found a Matron Head one cent (large cent) which has the words "EAC 03" engraved in it. What does the "EAC 03" mean? Does it have any value?
I think they are all great. The gradient fade towards the center gives them depth. None are distracting to me, but I tend to like louder backgrounds than most people. I think most people will like the black gradient one better.
Mr_Spud
Not really sure Jacob. Usually engraving is considered Post Mint Damage (PMD). Pictures would help, after the Mod's allow you full privilege's
Thanks @291fifth Regarding the white prongs ... yes indeed, a scourge ... I guess I could always cross it, but that'll be sometime in the future if I do.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I like the black with the gray fade very much, it adds some eye appeal to the background without dominating the coin or allowing it to blend.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
This one is my favorite of the 3, but it could be due to the blue toning which makes the coin stand out from the background more. I would move the text in from the bottom more so there's more padding and not so close to the edge.
For a gradient background, the @SpaceMonkey gray or NGC PhotoVision blue are my favorites.
This gradient reminds me of a gray version of the NGC blue which I like I looked for one to post and found this from @coinbuf ATS. This look always give me a "museum" feel.
I really like how Mike @illini420 is using what looks like @SpaceMonkey's template on all his coins like this one. This looks like a high quality showroom to me.
Original posting nice on the Overton 107 and 108. Not as good on the O 122. You're right the black background makes them pop, but I like the contrast on O-107 & O-108 nice work. I'd buy from those two pictures & probably the O-122 in the first picture. Ya gotta study the coin more.
Also that O108 is a tough "3" to see in any background. You do nice work, much patience.
All very good considerations, keep the suggestions coming.
Like @coinbuf and @291fifth commented as far as the gradient goes, I think I like the darker one best. It helps the grayer coin, and it helps the colorful one as well.
Here's the 23-107 on the black gradient. I like it better than the gray, and when I tried the "NGC blue" it kind of threw the reverse off.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Nice shots! And great coins too. The background doesn't concern me too much, but a solid black, grey, or white background might be better.
As a simple and unnecessary recommendation, I've seen a lot of people put "____ photography" in the space at the top between the coins, so maybe you could put in "Pursuit of Liberty" photography or something like that on your photo template.
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Regarding the blue, any time the background and coin edge colors are similar, the coin is going to look odd. To address this, one thing TrueView does is to add a black outline to the coins like this. Not sure if it would help, but it can create a sharper separation between the coin and background.
I do something similar in Photoshop with one of the filters.
I like a white background.
I do not crop my images to circle as so many do for obvious reasons.
Always white background for me since it best reinforces that it’s all about the coin!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I experimented with backgrounds a while back and you can see some of the experiments in this thread, including carbon fiber, which people didn't seem to really like
My New Coin Template - Feedback Requested
I thought the pure black example was very classy:
Phil @PCGSPhoto also tried pure black when moving to the new template:
Very nice pictures. I either use a $700 scanner or a Fujifilm T555 I bought a few years ago. If anyone could come up with a foolproof camera system with supermacro for under $500 with light box, etc he would make out quite well.
I always prefer a white background to make the images leap off the screen.
Coin Rarities Online
I have fussed with several backgrounds and I have settled on black….I don’t care for the white so much.
In the OP, I prefer the third image.... I prefer a background that does not overpower the subject. That being said, gold coins on a black background do look very, very nice. Cheers, RickO