Posted 08/27/2012 1:27 pm
IMO, you are better off using the camera, though it is more labor intensive.
Make sure the coin is flat relative to the lens of the camera. Make sure the tripod is stable. Use macro mode and make sure the coin is straight and takes up most of the sensor. If the coin is straight beforehand, you don't have to rotate it on the computer, which reduces sharpness.
You generally want the lights at as high an angle as possible. For starters, I would put two lights at the 10:30 and 1:30 position at a high angle to the coin. Experiment, maybe you'll get a better result with three lights on larger coins. Try not to have other sources of light in the room, they'll just reduce contrast.
Shoot in RAW if you camera has that option. If not, you'll have to be sure to get the white balance, exposure and other settings close to perfect in the camera.
Make sure the coin is flat relative to the lens of the camera. Make sure the tripod is stable. Use macro mode and make sure the coin is straight and takes up most of the sensor. If the coin is straight beforehand, you don't have to rotate it on the computer, which reduces sharpness.
You generally want the lights at as high an angle as possible. For starters, I would put two lights at the 10:30 and 1:30 position at a high angle to the coin. Experiment, maybe you'll get a better result with three lights on larger coins. Try not to have other sources of light in the room, they'll just reduce contrast.
Shoot in RAW if you camera has that option. If not, you'll have to be sure to get the white balance, exposure and other settings close to perfect in the camera.
), and post my results when I can. My camera DOES happen to have raw, but I've yet to figure out all those options when I load the images on to my computer 
