Coin image practice......

ChangeInHistory

Just trying to fine tune my picture taking skills. How far off am I? Would you buy any of these coins based on the images?
Any suggestions or help are appreciated.

nwcs

You're getting there. You need more light and at a better angle to make the luster and color look better. Also they are visibly tilted so some adjustment there can help. You might want to try some sharpening but remember that sharpening should always be the last thing you do before you save.

VTCoins

I think the pics are quite good. Can you get the lighting at a higher angle (more straight down on the coin)?

ChangeInHistory

<< <i>I think the pics are quite good. Can you get the lighting at a higher angle (more straight down on the coin)? >>



I'm trying to get more light on the coin, but have to fight the glare from the plastic window of the 2 X 2. Like NWCS mentioned, capturing the true luster and color is the tough part. Another thing is not making every little mark seem like a major hit. I've been talking to MadMarty and he says you just have to play with it a while. ( I assume he was talking about coin pictures!)

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I'll try some more later.

lordmarcovan

Good. You ain't runnin' with the big boys yet, but you're gettin' there, and you're a helluva lot closer to that goal than I am.

robertpr

Take the coins out of the 2x2's for photography, and I would recommend not using them for storage either. Saflips are better. Shoot the coin straight on, at a 90 degree angle, and adjust the lights to get the best angle (not the camera). You can move the coin out of dead center and toward the edge of the viewfinder if that helps with the illumination but keep it straight on. Use a light unsharp mask on the image just prior to saving.

ChangeInHistory

<< <i>Take the coins out of the 2x2's for photography, and I would recommend not using them for storage either. Saflips are better. Shoot the coin straight on, at a 90 degree angle, and adjust the lights to get the best angle (not the camera). You can move the coin out of dead center and toward the edge of the viewfinder if that helps with the illumination but keep it straight on. Use a light unsharp mask on the image just prior to saving. >>



No kidding? I thought 2 X 2's were OK for medium-term storage. I'd hate to change everything to safeflips, but if that's how to get really good images.......

These were taken with the camera on a slight angle. I have 2 75-watt and 1 60-watt lights (I didn't read your reply yet)

robertpr

No kidding? I thought 2 X 2's were OK for medium-term storage. I'd hate to change everything to safeflips, but if that's how to get really good images.......

No, you should have the coin outside of any flip or storage for imaging, just take it out and lay the coin flat on a white sheet of computer paper. 2x2's are not the WORST storage medium however, if you get loose flecks of cardboard (extremely common in these flips) on your coins for any length of time, you'll get nasty toning spots or carbon spots as some call them.

Plus, using Saflips for storage eliminates staple danger.

rmpsrpms

These are big photos, in fact the first one is 129k. How did you upload them? The site won't let me upload bigger than 50k!!

ChangeInHistory

<< <i>These are big photos, in fact the first one is 129k. How did you upload them? The site won't let me upload bigger than 50k!! >>



I copy them onto my website/webspace and link them to the post. At least that's how I understand it. My wife knows the ins and outs of this much more than I do.

clarkbar04

That 2nd set looks pretty good! I'm in the same boat as you, trying to take good coin pictures. Just a day or 2 ago, with the help of people on this website I was able to go from this:


To this:


I also have a small washington quarter collection (50-64) and I like those pics!

ChuckC

Have you tried mgoodm3's dual light bulb technique?

Have a read:

Photography technique

ldhair

<< <i>Have you tried mgoodm3's dual light bulb technique?

Have a read:

Photography technique >>


I sat down with Mark's site and the manual to my camera and spent a little time.
It put me so far ahead of where I was, I couldn't believe it. Mark's site is a great learning tool.

ChangeInHistory

Thanks, everyone. I'll check out mgoodm3's site and do some tinkering . Thanks especially to robertpr.