Do you think PCGS TrueView photographs do a good job of showing luster?

Pushkin · December 12, 2009 10:32AM

I've seen many PCGS TrueView photographs posted on the forum and they seem to do an outstanding job of picturing color and showing detail. What I find lacking is their ability to show luster. For me, luster is a significant factor in distinguishing a nice coin from an exceptional coin. Luster gives a coin life, it's a dynamic feature that makes a coin come alive. Photographs that don't show luster (assuming the coin has it) look static (static is a polite word for dead - like a body on display in a mortuary with plenty of makeup applied).

Do those of you with TrueView photographs, or who have seen TrueView coins, believe TrueView adequately shows a coin's luster?

SilverEagles92 · December 12, 2009 10:34AM

I've always thought that TrueView photos make coins look cartoony. No other way for me to explain it.

SilverEagles92 · December 12, 2009 10:34AM

Double post!

golfer72 · December 12, 2009 10:37AM

I think that trueviews although pretty good are two dimentional and coins are 3 dimensional.

SilverEagles92 · December 12, 2009 10:38AM

<< <i>I think that trueviews although pretty good are two dimentional and coins are 3 dimensional. >>

Isn't that the case with every coin photograph?

STONE · December 12, 2009 10:43AM

Photography is an art, and as such the artist needs to decide which aspects to highlight over others.
Some TruView's I've seen do an excellent job of showing luster while others show more color and/or detail.

It's all dependent upon the interpretation

GRANDAM · December 12, 2009 11:20AM

How is this for luster on a True-View?

GrandAm

Goldbully · December 12, 2009 11:41AM

How about this one??

Unknown · December 12, 2009 11:45AM

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phantom1701 · December 13, 2009 3:34AM

No, the TrueView shots hide luster IMO.

RYK · December 13, 2009 4:04AM

I think that, in general, luster is very hard to capture in a photograph, and the TrueView technique is no better or worse than any other for demonstrating it.

dpoole · December 13, 2009 4:06AM

I agree. Excellent on color and detail. But the ones I've had lost a lot on luster.

Unknown · December 13, 2009 4:09AM

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TwoSides2aCoin · December 13, 2009 4:16AM

<< <i>I think that, in general, luster is very hard to capture in a photograph, and the TrueView technique is no better or worse than any other for demonstrating it. >>

Gold bully has a coin which shows evidence of extreme luster and grandam's has excellent strike detail, but overall, I really agree with you RYK.
Luster really cannot be captured until a coin is tilted in hand to different angles of light reflection. Then it jumps right out and it's impossible to miss. Photographs just cannot do it unless there are several photos of the coin from different angles, in my opinion.

fcloud · December 13, 2009 4:20AM

It will vary coin by coin and the lighting for that coin. Some coins seem to photograph much better than others. PCGS seems to do a good to great job depending on the coin. PCGS does a much better job than DGS or NGC.

drddm · December 13, 2009 4:24AM

Take a look at my sig line below for my Capped Bust Half Registry and also for my Lib nickels as well.

Luster is VERY hard to show in pics as others have said on this thread. My 1807 AU58 bust half for instance has incredible luster which is totally not seen in the photo.

I happen to have many Mark Goodman pics as well of my CBHs, which I feel are a good representation of the way the coin actually looks like in hand.

Overall, I think there are strengths to both True Views and Goodman's pics.

I'm interested to hear more opinions about what others feel comparing True Views to Mark Goodman's pics.

mgoodm3 · December 13, 2009 4:29AM

Photos all depend upon what you want to accomplish. Luster can be brought out in most cases if that's what you want, color can be brought out. Generally, one will limit the other.

fcloud · December 13, 2009 4:32AM

Your 1822 is awesome!

<< <i>Take a look at my sig line below for my Capped Bust Half Registry and also for my Lib nickels as well.

Luster is VERY hard to show in pics as others have said on this thread. My 1807 AU58 bust half for instance has incredible luster which is totally not seen in the photo.

I happen to have many Mark Goodman pics as well of my CBHs, which I feel are a good representation of the way the coin actually looks like in hand.

Overall, I think there are strengths to both True Views and Goodman's pics.

I'm interested to hear more opinions about what others feel comparing True Views to Mark Goodman's pics. >>

coinkat · December 13, 2009 4:36AM

great question and I suppose it can only be answered on a coin by coin basis

Do you think PCGS TrueView photographs do a good job of showing luster?

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