Editing images with photoscape.

The set up. A piece of paper, and two lamps with daylight CFL bulbs.

The image of a toned dime, straight from my SLR.

After using auto level, and auto contrast.

After using auto color, "fill light" and "shadow" with Google Picasa.

 

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Now you're getting it! I like the third pic. Although the sharpness doesn't seem as good as the first two. Probably because of the higher res. Now start adjusting the lights for different types of surfaces and luster. Nice job.

 

gimp http://www.gimp.org

 

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/

 

I'm finding copper much easier to photograph then silver/nickel. Also an angle seems to work much better than flat on the table.

 

This looks great. When i said it should be flat on a table, I was meaning compared to propping it up vertically. I use a jewelers board (grey) and sometimes prop it up as well.

Great job!

 

Propping up to eliminate glare is fine but the camera should also be tipped as well so the focal plane of the camera is parallel to the face of the coin or as close to parallel as is practical.

 

This time I shot the dime at an angle.

I can't get rid of the blue tinge on the lower right side of the rim.

 

I can hardly see any blue tinge with my monitors at home.

You gotta be happy with that image.

Also, my personal preference is to lose the reflection. Not mention how much time it takes when you want to do a lot of images. but of course, to each their own.

I also noticed that PCGS truviews use a small drop shadow around the coin. That is a nice thing to do if you use a white background.
ie:

 

I'd rather see the image with a white background.

 

Yep. I think most people agree, according to a poll I did.

Potato..you getting some sleep these days? Better stock up before the baby is born.

 

http://www.cointalk.com/t175157-4/

 

Not to take the topic on another direction, but I have been through most of it with my step son. Nothing to worry about. I'm just waiting for our little love to get here.

 

The white background smears the light colored rim with the background. That's why I use black.

 

That's a good reason to use a drop shadow. :yes:

 

How do you use a drop shadow (get one on there)?

 

In my software (Fireworks) it's a filter you apply. Every program will have something similar.
Also, I misspoke. It's actually "glow". Drop shadow would only do it in one direction.

 

How is this compared to this?

 

It seems like one light works better than two on some occasions. Two lights washes out the toning in the 1st photo.

 

Loose the 'pink'........