Aqua Blue Shadow Artifacts - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,941
Ray0917 New Member United States 4 Posts	Posted 03/26/2014 1:21 pm Hello Everyone, Looking for some assistance and guidance on sharpening up my numismatic imaging. I use a Nikon D80 with a Sigma 105mm Macro lens over a tented stage area with two 40W bulbs on snake lamps. The lamps are positioned about 2-3" from the lens and at the same height as lens. On flashier, lustrous mint state silver coins, I encounter an aqua colored artifact in shadowed areas of the coin surface like what is depicted in the Franklin obverse image below. Could someone identify the cause of this and how I can correct it or give me a link to resource that discusses this? Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff

srs77 Pillar of the Community United States 3166 Posts	Posted 03/26/2014 2:32 pm Ray, it's possible you were wearing an aqua colored shirt or there is something aqua colored that the reflective coin is picking up. Notice the reddish hue in my morgan picture below. Turns out I was wearing a red shirt at the time I took the shot. Highly reflective coins will pick up everything. Just a thought... I now have a trigger I use with my DSLR so I am no longer near the coin when I finally take the shot. Edited by srs77 03/26/2014 2:33 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Ray0917 New Member United States 4 Posts	Posted 03/26/2014 2:53 pm Thanks for the reply srs. Wish I could remember what I was wearing that day. That's a very valid point. I also noticed especially on hyper-polished proofs, PL, and DMPL surfaces if I wasn't careful of my hand placement, the field would be flesh tone in places. I do have remote triggering through the Nikon software, but I have avoided using it in the past because it hadn't always focused properly. Report this Post to the Staff
srs77 Pillar of the Community United States 3166 Posts	Posted 03/26/2014 4:01 pm Quote: I do have remote triggering through the Nikon software, but I have avoided using it in the past because it hadn't always focused properly I have two remote triggers. One that is truly a remote and one that is wired. I find myself using the wired one more. It's got a 16ft cord so I can walk into another room if necessary . You could always focus manually and then use your remote software. Just a thought. Good Luck! Report this Post to the Staff
Ray0917 New Member United States 4 Posts	Posted 03/27/2014 4:48 pm Did some more shots today and looks like the culprit could be the overhead lighting in the office. It's fluorescent lights. Report this Post to the Staff
CherreePicker Valued Member 440 Posts	Posted 03/27/2014 7:20 pm Ray could it be the mixture of 2 different types of lighting; your 40w lamps combined with the overhead fluorescents causing the camera confusion. Report this Post to the Staff
SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 03/27/2014 11:00 pm Quote: and looks like the culprit could be the overhead lighting in the office. It's fluorescent lights. This. The color correction required to get your dedicated lighting correct is what's casting the fluorescents as blue. Just re-emphasizes the point that one really has to eliminate all outside lighting when shooting coins - that's why I usually shoot after dark. Report this Post to the Staff
CherreePicker Valued Member 440 Posts	Posted 03/28/2014 07:43 am "that's why I usually shoot after dark". yeah that thought crossed my mind. Report this Post to the Staff
Ray0917 New Member United States 4 Posts	Posted 03/28/2014 09:45 am Until I can get a construction and budget allocation for a dark room ;-) I'll experiment with a soft hood or cover to shield the subject from the evil rays of the overheads. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,941

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