I have been struggling with the issue of the best way to display (or show to others) how colorfully-toned coins look in-hand. Up til now, I have mostly been using TrueView photos, however any photograph only shows a single static view -- and as most of us know, colorfully toned coins can take on literally hundreds of different looks as you examine them in hand while varying the viewing angle. So what do you think of my little videos made with my iphone. I realize they are not the best quality. But this is about as close as I can get to an in-hand look. Click on the link below to view my short video as I roll and tip the coin at various view angles: https://mindstar.com/cointalk_photos/IMG_5651.MOV Here is the PCGS TrueView photo:
This is another of my more unusual toned Lincoln Proofs (PCGS PR67 RB). The video clip really captures the in-hand look: https://mindstar.com/cointalk_photos/IMG_5650.MOV While the TrueView photo just captures one static look:
We need for Phil to start making hologram TrueViews. I love the look the video gives these toners. It would sure make taking photos with coins in the slab a lot less painful, not to mention how many hours it would save behind the lens and hot lights. Just 5 seconds per coin with no loss of detail.
I need some sort of machine that would take the coin through a smooth tip and roll ... I am way too shakey! I will have to think about a better way to shoot video. Certainly the videos do a much better job at capturing the mirrors and light reflecting dynamics than a static image.
That's a thought! Or I could rig up an old LP turntable with an angled base and as the turntable turns the coin rotates. I wonder if 33 rpm's is slow enough ... maybe not.
LasVegasT (on another board) had the idea to use an animated GIF image. This was my try at that. It's not very high res since it's based off screen captures from my Quicktime movie, but it does provide an accurate in hand look. I have this animation set up to loop through 5 times then stop. You would need to REFRESH/RELOAD the entire page to get it to start up again after it finishes the first time. It's a nice way to post an movie-like animation inline on a web page. And animations or videos are really the only way to convey the "in-hand look" of a toned coin to someone through the internet. LOOPS 5 TIMES -- THEN STOPS -- RELOAD OR REFRESH THE PAGE TO RESTART ANIMATION TRUE VIEW IMAGE OF SAME COIN
Thanks for providing that link! So Brandon uses YouTube ... that's very cool! I don't know how to get my Quicktime MOV files into youtube, but I will have to research that. My GIF animation took about 5 perhaps 10 minutes to build, i bet the you tube route is faster. I like the way he had the movie and controls right on the webpage.
On some computers, the youtube videos take forever to load. Most of those people wouldn't want to spend the time waiting. I like the gif idea or the idea another PCGS member had were the coin moves as you mouse over it. So if you mouse back and forth, the coin flashes. Plus no time is spent waiting for the image to load.
Personally, I think PCGS TrueView does a heck of a job catching at least 75% of the main colors in toned coins. However, I do agree that ALL the tones/shades in a toned coin cannot be captured in a single shot. A "360 Degree" kind of program allowing viewers to tilt the coin themselves would be a cool thing IMO
I love the GIF image idea very cool almost makes me want to dig out some toners and shoot some video, Also for anyone who has not read JhonECash's article about monster toners and watched some videos on his site should do so now it will give you a new appreciation for monster toners and there rarity. Thanks again Lehigh for recommending i do so.
NICE! I've been seriously thinking about this problem as well. For me the trick is finding a good camera with video macro ability. I've weighed some options but never pulled the trigger. I'd like to able to video close-ups of varieties and errors too. It'd also be cool to be able to video VERDI-CARE™ in action.
Sometimes I look at pictures and think "that doesn't look like a coin at all". I guess I'm in the minority. Lance.
Definately not in the minority Lance. I think that ALL of the time. A picture is but a rough approximation of a coin no matter how good the photo is.
I liked your idea WL about the gif thing...so I tried it out myself. It actually isn't a bad idea: (Sorry about the super small size. I would post a higher resolution gif but CoinTalk only allowed a certain size)
