Some Fun - Rendering Ancient Coins In 3d!

That's really impressive!

And here's what the obverse looks like.

First, focus-stacked image, using similar lighting to capture the rims:




But I think the 3D animation is a better view of the coin than a static photo--full screen:

, wow, just wow

Here's one more--using a nice Syracuse Litra! I think I have most of the kinks out, although the background is still there.
For some reason, this particular background pattern gets omitted when a depth map is generated (that's why it's flat). The whitish patch is due to a light diffuser.

Thanks--unfortunately that isn't possible with the software package I use. Even if you exported the relief maps into a full-fledged 3D program, you would have to merge two halves of the coin into one object, which could get tricky. It would be much easier to create a split-screen video showing both sides moving in 3D. Someday, I'll re-shoot these coins with a chroma key aka "green screen", so I can add any background I like in video software.

Helicon has a youtube page with tutorial videos.
Here's a basic intro to focus stacking:

FANTASTIC!! That's really cool, DVC :D

On page one, the third picture you posted-- with ten views at different angles-- if you cross your eyes while looking at it, just enough to perfectly overlap two coins, you can see the entire image in "real" 3-D. If you're fluent with controlled eye crossing (oddly, I've practiced that) you can keep it in focus while moving your head around, watching as the images shift in 3-D. It's rather like looking at those fractal hidden image posters that were popular a decade ago.

Yes, I recall being very bored in 5th or 6th grade and teaching myself to cross one eye at a time during history class. Who would have guessed that it would come in handy someday? I can do it easily and in a very controlled manner keeping the right eye straight while crossing the left but it takes more concentration to let my dominant eye be subordinate.