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 Replies: 9 / Views: 7,639 |
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
What is the best way to photograph coins with rainbow colored toning? I have some coins that when tilted have beutiful rainbow effects but when taking pictures of them with my digital camera none of the colors seem to come out just mainly a one color toned coin? If I tilt it directly into a light source I do capture some of the colors but they are in certified plastic holders I get a huge reflection of that light source covering most of the coin? I also tried natural daylight outside but once again can't capture the colors. I always see pictures of rainbow toned coins that come out perfect but not sure how do these people get them. Any advice on the best way to do this?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
Like yourself, I too had trouble trying to capture rainbow toning, with a digital camera. I used natural light and took the photo from a angle. I also took the picture 2 feet above the coin. It took a while, but that was the only way I was able to photograph rainbow toning. I'm sure there is an easier way.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi Ray
I moved your photography question to our dedicated photograhy forum,, the folks who visit here will be bale to help you with photoing the toners ,, especially look for auldfartte's pics He does some fantastic things with toned coins !!
But for now ,,I can tell you that lighting from a couple of diiferent angles in necessisary to get good images of toned coins.
Metalman
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New Member
 United States
21 Posts |
Thanks. Ya I tried different light sources and while in person the coin's rainbow colors are clearly visible when tiled against the light source nut it seems cause of their plastic certified holders that light source gets a major reflection off of it and when you tilt the coin more to get rid of that reflection you now lose the image of the colored toning in the photograph. It's almost like you need a direct light source on the coin but filtered some how to not produce a reflection. I think with raw rainbow coins may be easier to photograph cause the reflection is coming off the slab not the coin but there must be some way around this to an extent without of course cracking the coin out?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
You can try setting the coin in the confines of a cut out opaque gallon milk jug,, the light can get in without causing a reflection on the slab,, this of course is an indoor technique.
have you tried natural lighting ? like under a covered porch out of direct sunlight but well lite by indirect sunlight . This maybe another way to get good light without a huge reflection from the slab.
Metalman
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
Ray, it is definitely much easier to capture accurate color on raw coins. I use a method where you tilt the camera about 5 degrees, and have the lights in front of the camera. The only slabbed toner I've photographed is this one:  It was impossible to angle anything, so I had to shoot it from about 18" above the slab with lights as close to directly overhead as possible. It took a lot of shots before I got one right. If I ever get another toned coin in a slab, I'll crack it out before I even try to get a good pic  Here's an excellent article on coin photography http://coinimaging.com/Feel free to ask anytime. If I can help, I sure will !!! Edit: I forgot to add that once you take an angled shot, the coin appears as an elliptical shape which I then correct in Photoshop Elements to make it round again. Edited by AuldFartte
03/04/2007 11:47 am
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Thanks great article. Yes it definitely seems that the plastic slab is causing most of the problem due to the glare from it when trying to capture the rainbow colors. I'm pretty sure if these coins were raw I could shine directly on them with a slight tilt to bring out the colors and no major glare would happen cause of no shiny slab over the coin.
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Use a polarizer.
Also, the milk jug suggestion is a powerful, correct way to "tent" metal and jewelry. Even works outside.
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New Member
United States
21 Posts |
Yes I tried different natural lighting but it seems while then I don't get the reflecion of the slab I don't have a bright enough direct light to bring out the true colors. Similar to the milk jug technique. Some rainbow coins can been seen straight on while other's as these they look kind of single color toned but when tilted under a direct light brings out the many colors. I always see on-line auctions with beutiful rainbow coins that look like they are shot from a straight angle and even though they are slabbed you don't see any reflection in them. Like the slab doesn't exist and they are raw coins but they're not. Just not sure how these pros do it?
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Valued Member
United States
143 Posts |
Polarizer. Gets you "through" the reflections on the plastic.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 7,639 |
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Posted 03/03/2007 4:52 pm
