Photographing Slabbed Coins- Gray Or Black Background?

I like the darker background. Don't know about the reflection. nlp

Use a non-reflective black or dark gray background.
I find that ordinary kindergarten construction paper works very well.

This helps accomplish two things:
1. A white/light background can reflect enough light to darken the image of the coin which would already be darker than the background resulting in loss of detail.
2. A white/light background can reflect enough light to darken the image of the coin which would already be darker than the background resulting in not capturing it's true color.

Would some form of indirect or dispersed lighting help with the glare reflected from the slab? May be you could see if a white pillow case put over your light source would help

Thanks, bobby. I just ordered one. It has received many good reviews. Can't wait to try it out.

Coins have depth whereas stamps do not (for the most part). Then you have to deal with the plastic layers of the slab. I have not had good results with scanners and slabbed coins. Scanners and Currency work out great!

I have heard something about cameras with black bodies, versus other lighter colors, do not reflect into the images, but it may be corrected by a slight angling of the body of the camera or coin.

I've always considered scanning a pretty accurate method for showing strict technical detail, but it's quite deficient in imparting a true representation of the surface of the coin. For that reason, scanning is only an appropriate "alternative" shot for selling as it doesn't really represent the "look" of the coin. The images here encompass too large an area - since they include the slab - to have appropriate macro-level detail and as such aren't meant to be a detail of the coin itself. If you want detail, any decent macro lens will give you that in spades:



That was taken through a slab.