Photoshopping Coin Photos

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by CommemHalfScrub, Apr 20, 2020.

  1. CommemHalfScrub

    CommemHalfScrub Active Member

    Hey all,

    I wanted to get your take on editing coin photos. I have started taking photos of my coins, and notice some do not look great. Do any of you edit the light/contrast levels, or do you feel that this would be making your coin out to be something it isn't?

    Here is an example:
    the first picture is original, and the second is enhanced with more contrast/brilliance. Do you see much of a difference?
    halfdlr.png halfdlredited.png
     
    capthank likes this.
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  3. baseball21

    baseball21 Well-Known Member

    Theres no one answer to this. Any editing in terms of look should be for how it looks in hand but there are times where doing some would be more accurate
     
  4. CircCam

    CircCam Victory

    I think the key there is tread lightly. Look at the coin in hand under a lamp and if some subtle adjustments make the photo more accurate, go for it. Be especially careful with contrast, I use maybe 1 or two clicks of it if I use it at all. I think the second images look better.
     
  5. SamuelFred1

    SamuelFred1 I Guess I'm Kind Of a Decent Member at This Point?

    Sometimes, I do it to make the details on the coin more accurate to the real coin and to eliminate glare. That off-center Lincoln cent that I posted a couple of weeks ago has been edited for better details.
     
  6. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    I would be more apt to buy or have the first rather than the second. Almost as if they are reversed in position as the top one has darker darks and lighter light areas, which is contrast. The second looks washed out. IMO, Jim
     
  7. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    How about this?

    1834 experiment.png

    No knowing what the coin looks like in person makes it hard to fix the photographs. When I am working on a photo, I have the coin in front of me and try to duplicate what it looks like on the screen.

    I would also only adjust one side at a time. I think that this coin was cleaned long ago and has a layer of retoning. Each side has its own characteristics, even though it's the same coin.

    These photos make it look like you are seeing this coin in a light fog. I could not get through that with the software I have.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2020
  8. jgrinz

    jgrinz Senior Member

    I find it fine. Some people like myself use their cell phone to take pictures. Though that is an art itself, the end result sometimes does not look like the coin. Some modification is necessary to get the real look of the coin.


    1899o_crackTemplateOBV.jpg 1899o_crackTemplateREv.jpg
     
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  9. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Lighting/color-balance adjustments: fine, and often necessary to make the photo "look" accurate. This includes brightness/contrast.

    Sharpening: iffy. Again, it can make the photo look more like the coin in-hand, but it can also exaggerate both detail and defects.

    Blurring/copy-paste/healing-brush: right out.
     
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  10. CommemHalfScrub

    CommemHalfScrub Active Member

    My photo was taken with my cell phone too, I just edited it together.
     
    jgrinz likes this.
  11. CommemHalfScrub

    CommemHalfScrub Active Member

    I agree, the photos aren't the best. I've been trying to play around with lighting systems but every coin has there own lighting needs. I think the coin was cleaned and has retoned, but in your edit the reverse looks cleaned to me (not criticizing just observing).

    I am getting the same ideas from you guys as I had myself, which is to edit the photo only to look more like the coin in hand. I think I'll be sticking to this, as it makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience when I look at my collection in pictures :)
     
  12. Publius2

    Publius2 Well-Known Member

    I have been learning how to photograph coins (a long way to go) and have generally been reluctant to post-edit much since I have been mostly shooting for inventory purposes. But, I have lately taken to deliberately under-exposing the shot by a tad and then selectively brightening it in post-processing. This seems to help with the glare problem somewhat for certain coins.

    I also do not fool with color corrections, I try to set up the lighting to get that right from the beginning. I also don't fool at all with post-processing for vibrancy, etc. Sharpness settings can sometimes be useful but so far my experience, limited thought it is, is to be very sparing with this function.

    In general, I try to make the photograph look as much like the coin as I can, understanding there is always a set of trade-offs.

    I am thinking that as my skills develop to shoot three set of photos:

    1) One set dedicated to the coin's details and relief;
    2) One set dedicated to the coin's color and/or luster; and,
    3) One set dedicated to a compromise between 1 and 2.

    Since none of my photography is intended to "market" my coins, I have no interest in producing glamour shots that hide or minimize problems but merely to present the coin's own attributes in the most honest way possible.
     
  13. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    I always look at the picture after I take it to see what adjustments it needs in order to be a better picture. Some people for whatever reason get all bent out of shape about using Photoshop to post-process coin pictures, but they have no problem using the camera's auto-exposure or saturation and sharpness settings. Minor adjustments here and there are almost always necessary. It's best done when you can't tell anything was done. Altering the appearance of a coin, on the other hand, is a no-no.
     
  14. bsshog40

    bsshog40 Senior Member

    Yea, even after 50 pics of the same coin, I usually still have to balance a couple things to make it look like in-hand comparison. Lol
     
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  15. jgrinz

    jgrinz Senior Member

    Had to chuckle as I must not down sized my pictures. You click them and it looks like they are going jump and sit next ya … heh
     
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  16. BadThad

    BadThad Calibrated for Lincolns

    Personally, I don't believe in using it at all except for cropping and resizing. If you need Photoshop, then your camera, lighting and settings need to be improved.
     
    Razz likes this.
  17. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    Do you feel the same way about how Ansel Adams created his prints?
     
  18. tmoneyeagles

    tmoneyeagles Indian Buffalo Gatherer

    I absolutely edit the brightness on all my photos. Sometimes I find the "backlight" option helpful as well (this is a feature in Photoscape; I prefer it to GIMP and do not have Photoshop anymore, so I am not sure if there are similar options available).

    I rarely mess with contrast, and never fiddle with sharpness--I try my best to get those right with the camera itself.

    For what it's worth, I enjoy your third set of photos.

    Paul has made some good threads on coin photography that are worthwhile.

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/photoshop-your-pictures-to-make-professional-looking-images.41839/

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-good-coin-photo-makes-all-the-difference.232528/

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/diffused-lighting-coin-photography-capture-the-color.56246/

    Relatedly:

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/post-a-picture-coin-photography-and-lighting-setup.208575/
     
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  19. BadThad

    BadThad Calibrated for Lincolns

    Did he print coins? :p
     
  20. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    He wasn't shooting coins, but if he was, he would have shot himself........
     
  21. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    Big Box Camera. Glass Plates. Only one chance to get it right. Dang, we's so fortunate in modern times........
     
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