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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2761297, member: 19463&quot;]<a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/getting-more-even-lighting-in-coin-photos.297527/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/getting-more-even-lighting-in-coin-photos.297527/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/getting-more-even-lighting-in-coin-photos.297527/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Theodosius posted the above thread that got me thinking and we all know how dangerous that can be.&nbsp; If you have not read the above thread, this one will be even more confusing than it will be anyhow.&nbsp; It is directed at people who like to take pictures of their coins.&nbsp; Others will be well advised to leave now.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks to [USER=77077]@Theodosius[/USER], I selected one coin for its plain silver surfaces.&nbsp; One side is high relief while the other is a bit more flat.&nbsp; I photographed that coin six times using the same camera, lens etc but modified the lights using ways familiar to me and one Theodosius suggested in his thread.&nbsp; Part of me says I should add a poll here but I don&#039;t know which one I like best so why should I expect you to.&nbsp; There are good parts to several (not all) and I might combine a couple things here if I wanted to make this the world&#039;s best image of this coin.&nbsp; However, I remain convinced that little variaations within each style could well change that light form winner to loser and a different coin might change everything even more.&nbsp; First I&#039;l show a very confusing image showing the set-ups that produced the images.&nbsp; There are only four parts to that image but those who stick with it will see that they cover all six variations.&nbsp; Click on the images to enlarge.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]634637[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I used two different LED lights.&nbsp; One was a flat panel; the other a ring.&nbsp; Both were daylight balance and made of a number of individual LED units.&nbsp; These two were used separately and both together giving three variations.&nbsp; The fourth choice, as suggested by Theodosius) used the ring light surrounded by a sleeve of white paper completely circling the coin.&nbsp; Fifth variation used both panel and ring with the addition of a cloth (handkerchief) open on the side of the panel.&nbsp; Last removed the diffusers but added a small silver block which could be adjusted to thrown extra light back onto the dark side of the coin.&nbsp; Where I felt it would help, a small, low ring of white paper was placed around the coin just to throw a little light on the edge for sake of separation.&nbsp; This was not included in the case of the large paper sleeve or the handkerchief (cloth) as this seemed redundant. </p><p><br /></p><p>The coin image has six parts labeled in the lower right corner.&nbsp; In the case of the ring, panel and both, the upper left corner image shows all parts.&nbsp;&nbsp; One was turned off for the single light options.&nbsp; Since both lights have brightness controls, there would be a thousand combinations possible according to which was set higher or lower.&nbsp; Any image using the panel could be varied by rotating the coin so the directional part of the light would produce even more variations.&nbsp; I will not be adding 10,000 more images to demonstrate.&nbsp; Should I mention that the coin could be tilted just a bit one way or the other changing the 10k to a million.&nbsp; The point is that there is always something left that just might make a difference if only we try. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]634636[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The coin is an AR stater/nomos of Kroton c.400 BC.&nbsp; Mine is more worn than many offered but has smooth surfaces and good metal.&nbsp; It came to live with me in 1999 and intends to finish the century (which is more than I can say).</p><p><br /></p><p>I am not telling my opinions of these images quite yet but invite anyone still here to offer comments or suggestions as desired.&nbsp; These images are guesses when it comes to color and contrast so possible suggestions could include adding/lowering contrast, for example. </p><p><br /></p><p>Those who have examples of this coin are invited to show their photos of it. It has been a favorite type of mine ever since I first saw it.&nbsp; The metal is high grade silver and wears quickly.&nbsp; Mint state examples might not be cheap.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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