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How to take a good picture of toning?
CoinAdvocate
Posts: 4 ✭
First off let me say hello to everyone and thank you for accepting me to the forums!
So I was trying to take a picture of a couple of toned coins I picked up recently and the scanner and phone camera just can't catch the color that the naked eye can. I mean the first one (a Northern California Numismatic Association medal) is just beautiful. It almost displays a full rainbow of colors. The second coin is not nearly as impressive but still a beautiful toned coin, but I still can't get the toning to show in images. So; any advice?
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First tip: Forget the scanner. They take terrible photos of toned coins if showing the color is your goal.
What you need is a camera and a point light source (or three). Position the light near the camera so it "flashes" the light off the coin and into your camera (even a phone will work OK) -- and you will see the colors you're no doubt interested in showing.
Same coin...
Indirect light:
Direct light:
Your results should be even better as your coin is raw and the above coin is in a slab.
Hope this helps...Mike
Tip the coin in very bright light. Florescent will show different colors also:
Yeah, I know the white balance is "off" as this is a silver coin.
Looks pretty good, welcome to the boards.
Successful Trades: Swampboy,
you might consider a photo SW with which you can correct "camera"-mistakes.
I use ACDsee for years now and am very happy with it.
Welcome, good luck !!!
So I tried with my phone and a few varying light sources and here is the results...This is just the most beautiful toned coin I've ever seen, let alone owned! The Canadian coin still didn't quite come out all that well, though.
Welcome to the forum.
Yes an SLR camera would be in order here. Without going into great detail an SLR is the ticket to really appreciate the colors on coins.
I do like the colors you’re showing here.
To capture color you will need tall, as-close-to-vertical lighting as possible. A steady structure to hold the camera helps with focus (i.e., a tripod or, even better, a copy stand).
An inexpensive, secondhand D-SLR and macro lens will get you huge leaps in quality. A remote shutter trigger is cheap; it will eliminate camera shake. Photography editors are also cheap (sometimes free) and very useful.
There's lots more to say. Many threads here. Look around.
Lance.
It doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Does take time to improve your skills.
With this setup......................
I took these photos...............
I will have to say that those are excellent attempts for someone with 3 posts.
Nice color.
Welcome aboard! Beautiful coin btw! Lots of great advice here. Here is one of mine taken in about 6 seconds. Not a great example but nuntheless. Lighting is a key factor
My desk isn't near as clean as shagnasty's.
E-Bay quality pictures just tilting the coin a few degrees with a copy stand and using a camera timer to eliminate shake.
sunlight works well at a slight angle
Good and toning should never ever be used in the same sentence imo. Welcome to the forum.
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Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
Retiring at 55, what day is today?
@CoinAdvocate... Welcome aboard.... I cannot offer any advice on coin photography... However, there are many informative threads on this forum and I believe there is also a book on the subject....Good luck, Cheers, RickO
The book @ricko is referring to:
https://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/product/numismatic-photography.html
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