Un-slabbing a coin with image processing software

rhedden

I'm in the middle of photographing my large cents, which are mostly raw. The trouble is that some of the best coins are in slabs, and I want them photographed on the same background that I'm using for the raw coins. I had some fun this evening imaging my 1804 large cent, which is in an old ANACS VG08 holder. After taking several shots of it, I "freed" it from the slab using a host of image processing tricks, and here it is. The 1798 S-148 shown below is raw, and it actually is sitting on the lovely, puke-green surface I chose for imaging. I have to say, I'm proud of myself for beaming the 1804 right out of its slab, Star Trek style. I guess you can see the dirtywork around the edge in places, but it's pretty inconspicuous.

Now I just have to master the opposite technique - photoshopping my problem coins into PCGS MS67 holders- and I can start selling on eBay again. (No, not really!).

SomeGuyFromMichigan

Great looking Cud, I like the 98!

How did you get the plastic off?

blu62vette

Did you remove prongs? If so how do you know what it looks like underneath?

Kyle

Originally posted by: blu62vette

Did you remove prongs? If so how do you know what it looks like underneath?

The 1804 was in an ANACS holder

rhedden

I took several exposures and merged them to get even illumination on the coin, which hides the fact that it's in plastic. There are no prongs in the old ANACS holders, so I did not have to deal with that problem. The main issue with the edge would be if the white plastic was hiding a rim bump or something. That does happen on occasion. I then used layers and masks to superimpose the coin onto another coin that was sitting on the actual surface. That's how I got the 1804 to look like it's casting a shadow on the lower edge. There's a very thin line of pixels on the lower edge that's unnatural, but there are ways of dealing with that, if you really want to.

Here's a disturbing thought. If one can use software to literally fake a coin right out of its slab, what other things are dishonest online sellers doing to their images? I can tell you for certain that I bought an MS64 Morgan off eBay a few years ago, and it had some heavy cheek abrasions expertly airbrushed out of the photos. It sure looked like an MS65+ in the auction photos, and then when I received it, I thought it was a different coin. Nope, same slab number. Doctored images.

ricko

Very cool.... I cannot even take photographs and post them and you are doing magic with

photography.... Cheers, RickO

LindeDad

Circle crop is a handy tool. Yeah I have Photoshop to.

rhedden

I don' use Photoshop. Since they went to a subscription pricing model, that ended any chance I'd ever buy it. I do just fine with GIMP, which is free.

ctf_error_coins

Originally posted by: LindeDad
Circle crop is a handy tool. Yeah I have Photoshop to.

Try that with error coins, lol ..........

LindeDad

I only have Elements witch I've had for a long time. Made my avatar with it.



Couldn't be much harder than this was.





And yes that came from a Business Strike quarter.

rhedden

Nice image. It's amazing what can be accomplished once you get proficient with photo software.

BAJJERFAN

Originally posted by: rhedden

I don' use Photoshop. Since they went to a subscription pricing model, that ended any chance I'd ever buy it. I do just fine with GIMP, which is free.

IIRC my son could get it at his Univ bookstore for something like $10.

LindeDad

Yes I agree getting them to look exactly like they do in hand is the art of taking images. But getting rid of glare, and blurring, or color shifts is the skill.



BTW nice imaging of the old coppers.