What kind of lighting to photograph colored proofs accurately?

rhedden · December 8, 2005 12:56AM

I'm having some fun with my friend's digital camera, so forgive me while I continue to post gigantic pictures of half dimes. I am having a lot of trouble capturing the colorful toning on these pieces. For example, the 1867 half dime below is much brighter and more appealing than what I could show, and the 1872 below it is vibrant navy blue/purple on the reverse (a good match to the blue proof indians everyone on here seems to love so much). However, you can see from the pics that the colors are just not coming out very well. In fact, the 1872 doesn't look blue at all in the photo (at least on my monitor). Both are PCGS PR64 CAM, BTW, so they're in plastic. One thing I am getting really good at, however, is photographing little tiny hairlines that are barely visible in person! I am using top lighting with a normal 100W incandescent lamp bulb for these, and a Minolta SLR camera with 7x optical zoom. Is there any specific type of lighting source or lighting angle that I should use to capture the colors more accurately? I know there are a lot of toned coin fans on here, and if this has been discussed previously, I apologize, as I must have missed it at the time.

mgoodm3 · December 8, 2005 1:18AM

Proof colors ina slab are tough to photograph because the plane of the fields is often the same as the plastic on the front of the slab. With most proofs you only see the color well when reflecting light off of the mirrors. The problem is that the slab will reflect light at the same time causing glare. Other than shooting raw, the glare makes it tough. If you are lucky and the coin is tilted in the slab, you can bring the light in from the same side as the coin tilts and sometimes get the color nicely without the glare. Otherwise it's all about glare management. If you have a diffuse enough light source and can make the glare over the coin even, you can subtract the glare fairly well by upping the contrast on the picture.

cosmicdebris · December 8, 2005 1:22AM

Photo Flex Starlites

cosmicdebris · December 8, 2005 1:26AM

One trick with slabs, especially NGC slabs, beat the slab until the coin is as close and even to the surface as possible.

ss350camaro · December 8, 2005 1:31AM

Like Mark said, Tilt and glare management.

dthigpen · December 8, 2005 1:34AM

I don't have many examples, but I just use a couple reveal bulbs on flex arms attached to my copy stand, nothing special, I shoot them the same way I do every other coin, just adjust your lights until it looks right;

rhedden · December 8, 2005 2:28AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I am going to try a fluorescent fixture, since I don't have any flex-lights on hand, and the camera has to be returned eventually. At least I know why your pictures are better than mine. The incandescent light source just isn't cutting it.

ss350camaro · December 8, 2005 2:33AM

I use 3 - 60 watt Reveal bulbs (not the ones with the blue tint to them) in 3 flex-arm desk lamps.

Positioned triangularly around the coin. Experiment with positioning (low / high ...etc...) and turning certain ones off to see which works better.

I've changed my setup slightly since this pic was taken, (nice table to put it all on ...etc...) but it gives you an idea of a relatively simple setup.

LucyBop · December 8, 2005 2:36AM

How about natural sunlight coming into a room? It seems to capture color on a proof coin:

rhedden · December 8, 2005 2:41AM

Wow, that's a really nice job of capturing the color on that proof Frankie.

Ronyahski · December 8, 2005 3:28AM

I experiment quite a bit on older proofs. Rarely have I been able to take the pic head on with the coin. It has to be tipped so that the light hits the coin just right to show off the colors. I use a setup like camaro, 3 ott lights that seem to work well. They have the most nuetral affect on color than other lights. Your pics look like you could use a little more light - if you are using one bulb, you need more light source. I wouldn't bother trying with floursecent lighting. Also, you should change your background color. Somebody else can explain (I can't) that background color affects how the camera sees the color on the coins. I usually use black, unless the colors don't seem to be coming out right on the coin.

messydesk · December 8, 2005 3:40AM

High, flat, and soft.

What kind of lighting to photograph colored proofs accurately?

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