Question for the photo pros - edit: almost got it, photos added

1960NYGiants

Got a new digital camera. Trying to take photos on slabbed coins. Can't get the white balance to come out correct on any of the light settings. Any suggestions?

edit to add:
blues get washed out and coins and slabs have a reddish hue.

NeoStar

Hi! Have you tried adjusting your white balance using a grey scale card? What kind of camera are you using? Also, have you visited Mark Goodman's website? Here's the LINKY.

YQQ

Best to ask Airplanenut, Jeremy. he is an expert...
But, personally I think it is the "light temperature and color " of your lighting source.

TwoKopeiki

Hi Gene,

What kind of camera is it? Does it have a custom white balance setting? If there is, use either a white sheet of paper or a gray card as mentioned above to set the correct balance (photograph the white sheet of paper or the gray card so that the card/sheet takes the whole image, and then use that image for your custom white balance setting. Otherwise, try changing different types of the light setting in your camera and check the result.

Alternatively, you can do this in post-processing. I usually check my color curves in photoshop and adjust if necessary.

Hyperion

yep, you should check with Goodman's reference and figure out the "color temp" of the light you're using, then go through your camera manual and figure out what the corresponding light type is..


for example, I use halogen lights on my copy stand. In the Canon EOS manual, the closest color temp to halogen lighting is called "tungsten". Once I changed the shooting light type my out of the box, unadjusted photos were darn near exactly what the coin is, in hand. (only problem I have is the halogen lights are so freakin strong they tend to wash the coin out somewhat)... an "autoadjust" (corel photo) usually tweaks it perfectly.


So, find the temp or your light
look up the setting for your camera,
shoot away! it should be a 1-time adjustment if you dont change your lighting often.

1960NYGiants

Thanks guys. My camera is a Canon Powershot SX150IS. It has 7 white balance settings - AUTO - Day Light - Cloudy - Tungsten - Fluorescent - Fluorescent H - and Custom. My lighting is 2x GE Reveal 75w bulbbs at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. I have it setup on a copy stand with the lens approx 4 inches above the coin.

I tried each of the named lights with a grey and a white background - all have come out with the blue label washed out and the overall reddish hue. Guess I need to try the custom.

edit to add: I had bought a copy of Mark's book a couple years ago - now where did I put it?

1960NYGiants

Ok - using the custom Auto White Balance and setting it to my copy stand background (grey) I was able to get these shots.

Actual color is a tad more red. The coin's lustre is hidden by the harsh glare off the slab. There's a grey area at 9 o'clock that shouldn't be there.

What else can I try?

YQQ

looks like a PRO took these images...
?: are you using a Macro lens?
that would be a key to get great close ups...