Light Diffuser - Opinions?

I have the day off today, so I built myself a quick-and-dirty light diffuser with wood scraps and a sheet of white paper.


I cut slots into the bottom of the frame to make the paper bend. The frame is attached to the base by a metal wire, so I can bend the frame to adjust the angle.

I photographed a few coin outdoors once without and then again with the diffuser. I shot some coins in nice condition and some in a little more rough shape. I'll show both photos.

All photographs will be presented first without the diffuser and then with it. Let me know if you have any preferences, suggestions, opinions or comments.

 

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Here's the first coin, an Athenian tetradrachm.
Without:


With:

I sort of prefer the obverse with the diffuser but the reverse without.

 

Next coin, a bronze of Philip II of Macedon.
Without:


With:

I can't see a whole lot of difference here. Maybe the obverse with the diffuser is a little bit crisper.

 

Third coin, a bronze of Pergamon, in rougher shape.
Without:


With:

I can't see much difference here.

 

Fourth coin, a Silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy II.
Without:


With:

Seems like this might show more detail without the diffuser.

 

..interesting invention ..but i think the pics w/o are better..and i only see a difference on the silver...

 

Final coin, a bronze nummus of Diocletian.
Without:


With:

I don't see a whole lot of difference here, but I think I prefer the photo without the diffuser.

Anyone have any comments, preferences, suggestions?

 

I agree that the difference is more noticeable on the silver than the bronze. I'm sure I'll need to practice with the diffuser to get the best angle, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort. Other than the obverse on the Athenian tetradrachm, I think the photos are probably better without it.

 

have fun with it....

 

I see no practical difference between the photos, with or without diffuser. Both photo sets have areas of focused brightness. This begs the question whether the design is working and actually diffusing the light. I've never used a diffuser, so perhaps my expectations of result impact are too high. Curious to read @dougsmit thoughts.

 

These look to me more like results from a reflector, rather than a diffuser.

 

I like the photos, but the differences are quite nuanced.

If you're aiming for lighting and contrast, I've had pretty good luck with Photoshop. You can also adjust color saturation and haze among other things.

As far as diffusing light, my skylight, on a sunny day, quite effective. Noon time is the best time to shot pics in this situation. I try to avoid using the flash.

 

I think this is a solution to the wrong problem. It's very difficult to control sunlight and bend it to your will imo. Why not get a lightbox instead, which is already diffused?

Rasiel

 

I think your sheet of paper is too opaque to get the effect you want (and, it might just be too bright in general for additional diffusing to make a difference). It'll just bounce the light on to the entire coin rather than diffuse it out. Tracing or tissue paper will be better, or cellular blinds if you happen to have them in your house.

Alternatively, I have a similar approach to @robinjojo where I only shoot on partly cloudy days (certainly less than ideal and challenging to control: a lightbox would undoubtedly help here but I have a low enough volume of new purchases to be willing to wait a few days for the photography gods to cooperate).

 

Even on full sun days, there are places in the shade which have naturally diffused light that are less directional than these. I do 99% of my coin shooting inside near a north facing window and never in full sun. There may be coins that benefit from the harsh light but I have not experienced them yet.

 

Yes, you are correct. Technically, the white paper is a diffuse reflector (as opposed to a mirror, which is a specular reflector). I have the paper behind the coin, bouncing diffuse sunlight back onto it.

But your comment has given me an idea. I wonder what would happen if I replaced the white paper with waxed paper and placed in in front of the coin. Then it would be a real diffuser. I think I will try this today and report back.

 

I've just always understood "diffuser" to mean something that light shines through, but softened (like with a very thin material), and "reflector" means something to redirect light, without changing its intensity, as with your white paper. That's where the confusion was for me.

 

Correct. Sorry for the confusion and the careless terminology.

 

I used to use a thin piece of card stock to diffuse my work lamp for taking pictures. Now, I just aim the light high so that the light hitting the coin is not harsh and comes closer from the horizon of the lamp, rather than from zenith.

Galerius
AE Follis

300 - 301 A.D., Treveri Mint, 2nd Officina
6.89g, 29.0mm, 7H

Obverse: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES,
Laureate and cuirassed bust of Galerius to right

Reverse: MONETA SACRA AV-GG ET CAESS NN,
Moneta standing front, head to left, holding scales in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left

Exergue: -/✱//BTR

Provenance: Ex. Leu Numismatik Web Auction 10, Lot 1555, Ex. Tetrarchy Collection

Reference: RIC VI Treveri 433b

 

What would happen with a Black background ? I see little changes. Just my opinion . Seems I got to the post late.