Tried out Axial lighting for Proofs
Marauderrt10
Posts: 1,097 ✭
And it didnt work out so well lol
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Marauderrt10
Posts: 1,097 ✭
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Franklin-Lover's Forum
http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgcoins.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmswart/295945998/
My Odds&Ends eBay Stuff to fuel my coin habit (No Coins)
<< <i>Not being familiar with axial lighting myself I found these links, should they be of service to anyone else...
http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgcoins.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmswart/295945998/ >>
Yep saw those.
<< <i>I use axiel lighting for all proofs and PL coins and it seems to work pretty good.
to me that doesnt really look like axiel lighting, i cant really see the mirrors which is what axial lighting is suppose to show
To correct the examples: 1) use a small light source such as a halogen lamp - just the 2.5 inch reflector; and, 2) insert a black baffle tube, such as a piece of plastic tubing, around the coin so stray light cannot reach the coin. The light source is now confined to that reflected off the glass, to the coin, and back to the camera.
None of the photos with the post seem to be axial lighting.
<< <i>Neither of the links show axial lighting correctly. Both use large light sources which create spill over. Additionally, both do not baffle the coin from all light except that coincident with the lens-subject axis.
To correct the examples: 1) use a small light source such as a halogen lamp - just the 2.5 inch reflector; and, 2) insert a black baffle tube, such as a piece of plastic tubing, around the coin so stray light cannot reach the coin. The light source is now confined to that reflected off the glass, to the coin, and back to the camera.
None of the photos with the post seem to be axial lighting. >>
any chance you can give me an example? any help would be great
When you use axial lighting on a slab you will end up with a fair amount of slab glare that will reduce the contrast in the image. Careful post-processing will help you get a decent image back. To get a decent fincal image, the glare needs to be very uniform over the coin/slab. The morgan suffers from non-uniform glare.
<< <i>Those frankies are a mix of axial and direct lighting. A pretty nice look all-in-all.
When you use axial lighting on a slab you will end up with a fair amount of slab glare that will reduce the contrast in the image. Careful post-processing will help you get a decent image back. To get a decent fincal image, the glare needs to be very uniform over the coin/slab. The morgan suffers from non-uniform glare. >>
what would be a good way of getting rid of the glare completely and getting a nice accurate picture of the color without losing picture quality?
The process will not generally produce as high of quality images as normal lighting, but if the coin has very bright mirrors it can come close. Since the lighting dumbs down the contrast, you have lost some image information and you can't restore lost information. You can make that remaining info better looking by adjusting the contrast/brightness/black level.
I don't generally use axial lighting as it tends to be fiddly. I just tilt the coin into the light and directly bounce the light off of the coin into the camera. That provides its own problems with focus and aprture.
<< <i>The lighting needs to be very uniform over the coin. Some sort of diffusion on the lighting helps - milk carton, lampshade, frosted glass.
The process will not generally produce as high of quality images as normal lighting, but if the coin has very bright mirrors it can come close. Since the lighting dumbs down the contrast, you have lost some image information and you can't restore lost information. You can make that remaining info better looking by adjusting the contrast/brightness/black level.
I don't generally use axial lighting as it tends to be fiddly. I just tilt the coin into the light and directly bounce the light off of the coin into the camera. That provides its own problems with focus and aprture. >>
thats what i usually do, but i get immense glare off the slab. I guess ill try a frosted piece of glass over the light source.
<< <i>Those frankies are a mix of axial and direct lighting. A pretty nice look all-in-all.
>>
You are correct about the mix of axiel and direct lighting. And thank you for the compliment! It means a lot coming from you!
Franklin-Lover's Forum
<< <i>The lighting needs to be very uniform over the coin. Some sort of diffusion on the lighting helps - milk carton, lampshade, frosted glass.
The process will not generally produce as high of quality images as normal lighting, but if the coin has very bright mirrors it can come close. Since the lighting dumbs down the contrast, you have lost some image information and you can't restore lost information. You can make that remaining info better looking by adjusting the contrast/brightness/black level.
I don't generally use axial lighting as it tends to be fiddly. I just tilt the coin into the light and directly bounce the light off of the coin into the camera. That provides its own problems with focus and aprture. >>
These are images that I've recently taken of some proof copper. I shoot them the same way that Mark describes. Once you get used to it, its pretty easy to get a nice image. Shooting proofs this way will give you a much more realistic view of what the coin looks like vs shooting it as if it were an MS coin.
<< <i>I don't generally use axial lighting as it tends to be fiddly. >>
Boy is that right!!!
Have you attempted using Ambient light? Won't work with all coins but can be very usefull with those shiny proof coins. However, it will have it's own set of problems. There, I'm sure that just helped...
Franklin-Lover's Forum
<< <i>Is this close chris ?
Yea that's great
Here a couple of proofs with interesting results. Still messing around...
Lance.
<< <i>
<< <i>This is from my neck of the woods. I have never heard of it, so it must be from somewhere downstream in CA >>
Yes, Mark. Some friends live in a remote part of Northern CA, maybe 30 miles east of Redwood Nat'l Park, 40 miles south of the OR border (as the crow flies). Their community is kind of counter-culture and minted these coins for local "trade". I bought some and sent them this photo.
It's not a bad design, don't you think? I did a few giveaways of these in the last couple of years.
Lance.
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
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