Photo template help! Which photo do you like better?

coinkid855

I recently upgraded my SLR, and now my images can be much larger. Therefore, I wanted to make a new template. I think that my old one (with the reflection) is getting a bit dated, as is text. So I'm leaning towards the all-black background without text. What do you guys think? Yes, I know the label is wrong, I just used it for the purposes of this test!












Thanks guys!


-Paul

coinsarefun

First one.......nice Morgan

etexmike

Gotta go with door #3.

Just a clean and uncluttered look about it.


Mike

magikbilly

First one is still best of the three shown here IMHO. But, the reflection always bothered me - not believable. The shadows don't make sense and would look a little better perhaps if centered. Maybe three shadows with the central darkest as you see with three bulbs in a bathroom - the coin is lit from more than one direction... Where the coin touches down - so sharp - feather a touch just on the lower edge of the outside of the rim. All these components are not integrated IMHO and that is most of the problem. Personally, I would not use black - I would sample the nicest and darkest area of the coin and create a very dark but not black color from that as a backing - instant cohesion in another way and each will look its best as well. My .02. My .10 is on the left

Eric

lcoopie

I find the label, and title, and reflection to be distracting to the coin

Broadstruck

Never been a fan of seeing the slab insert label either as to me it cheapens the look of the template... You can always shoot separate full slab shots.

1Bustcollector

I like the first picture, but at times it may appear too busy. The others are too bland. Try sampling different areas if the coin to match a background as suggested by majikbilly. Also, instead of a plain background, use a gradient. If you look at NGC's site and view the Newman holders that is what I am referring to.

Most everyone will have a different opinion and always will.....good luck.

messydesk

Depends what it's for. First of all, I'm not a fan of the label in the picture, although I'll do it for those who want it, and it does have its place in documenting the coin and its holder in a single picture. The least distracting has the least amount of non-coin on it, which is to say #3 without the label would be best if you want a clean picture of the coin itself (shrink the bottom margin a bit, too). If you want something more artsy, then the reflection without the annotation and label would be best, as the labels are typically rather anti-artistic in nature. If you want an annotation, I'd choose a different font, make it smaller, put it closer to the bottom edge, and spread it out. Doing this, you could document the holder without adding an ugly label to the picture. For example, at the left edge, "1884-CC Morgan $1", centered, "MS 64", and at the right edge, "PCGS 8675309 CAC".

Are the clerical errors (varying grades in the caption, wrong labels) merely your version of the "Lorem ipsum" of coin photo layout?

UNLVino

#1 is my favorite.

panexpoguy

I strongly prefer #1. Nice presentation and nice Morgan.

coinkid855

<< <i>Depends what it's for. First of all, I'm not a fan of the label in the picture, although I'll do it for those who want it, and it does have its place in documenting the coin and its holder in a single picture. The least distracting has the least amount of non-coin on it, which is to say #3 without the label would be best if you want a clean picture of the coin itself (shrink the bottom margin a bit, too). If you want something more artsy, then the reflection without the annotation and label would be best, as the labels are typically rather anti-artistic in nature. If you want an annotation, I'd choose a different font, make it smaller, put it closer to the bottom edge, and spread it out. Doing this, you could document the holder without adding an ugly label to the picture. For example, at the left edge, "1884-CC Morgan $1", centered, "MS 64", and at the right edge, "PCGS 8675309 CAC".

Are the clerical errors (varying grades in the caption, wrong labels) merely your version of the "Lorem ipsum" of coin photo layout? >>




Thanks for the thoughts! I didn't have a label picture for this actual coin, so I just pulled a random one to use. The 64 grade was just a typo though. Lol

AUandAG

2nd one if you had the right cert info. It's not an 1880 nor is it a 63?

bob

Weiss

#1. The reflection is cool--for now. It's being used so often now and really has nothing to do with the coin. But if being used as a virtual collection (and let's be honest, that's what our hobby is becoming more of), then I think it adds a little something. Like a frame around a picture.

Pretty coin, btw

magikbilly

Good points above. The reflection is nearing it discard date, but by tuning it all as below you might extend it...

PS - No one says the reflection and the label and even text have to be at 100% opacity...they are indeed distracting so maybe tone done. No one says text has to be white or that large either. You can make beautiful cohesion which is needed by sampling light colors and using that for the text. Just don't sample the most obvious things, but something visible. Whisper, not shout, is loudest when used judiciously. This is part of what I was getting at above - no real depth - feather as described etc. I think you got what you want but it needs tweaking and adjustment - tuning like a choir.

Best wishes,
Eric

lava

Like #1 best, which would be particularly useful in identifying vam info not noted on the slab label.

coinlieutenant

No label....never have liked labels

Feel free to use this template if you like...I can email you the .psd if you want a master slide.
A circ and MS coin to gauge your liking.

BustHalfBrian

#1 without the text at the bottom

UNLVino

<< <i>2nd one if you had the right cert info. It's not an 1880 nor is it a 63?

bob >>



Wow Bob - didn't even see that - I do like the cert and reflection look, but that is not my main reason for #1 - it just seems more natural.

coppertoning

<< <i>Gotta go with door #3.

Just a clean and uncluttered look about it.


Mike >>



+1

I have always felt the reflection was like a contact mark in the focal area. It just really draws the eye away.
Clean and uncluttered is the way to go on coin pics

CoinZip

#3

bigjpst

I am not real fond of the label in the pictures either. I haven't used this template in a while, but this is how I used to prefer the layout.

illini420

Either put the label in the template or the text... not both. For that reason I like #3.

milkcoin

I like the first one the best, personally.

coinlieutenant

I would get rid of reflection as well and change the font....

Cocoinut

#1 and #2 are too cluttered for my taste, so #3 is the best.

Jim

ambro51

Plain Black Background. Just my opinion but all the OP coin images look to dark and gloomy.

MidLifeCrisis

Here's what I like -

Catbert

<< <i>Either put the label in the template or the text... not both. For that reason I like #3. >>



+1

I'm now preferring no coin grading info in my collection pics - just display the coin! To further reflect this minimalist approach, I like a white background now too. Unfortunately, most of my collection pics do not reflect my latest preferences. Oh well!

Kove

<< <i>Either put the label in the template or the text... not both. For that reason I like #3. >>



I agree.

coinkid855

Ok guys....I think I'm probably going to go with #3. I changed it slightly, moving the coin lower. The label will also normally be slightly lower, but I couldn't do that for the ANACS label.





And here's without the label:










Edited to add another example.

vibr0nic

#2, and I would propose trimming up the spacing at the bottom. I thought it was a little redundant to include the label, and it also added extra preparation time, so I've been using this.

keyman64

My 10 cents would be to tighten it up and get rid of the label. Too much excess black space to the left, right, top and bottom. I would get rid of the label and go with text at the bottom. I do not like the reflection either, takes away from the coin really. People read left to right top to bottom, keeping with this focus allow people to see and focus on the coin first...and ONLY on the coin. If it is a variety then you can showcase that feature within the same graphic. If you want to show that it is CAC you can either add that to the text after the TPG Grade or you can implement a small CAC sticker. All of that junk said, everyone has different preferences. If you are shooting for a customer then it would be a GREAT IDEA to show them the options available and let them choose so that they are the happiest with the end product.

coinkid855

Ok guys, here's the final product. I think I'm sticking with this one!

fcloud

I like the third. The info below is redundant.