Lighting Help For Axil Lighting

mike I am wondering if the lightbulb is so weak in lunmins you are not seeing the anti reflective coating. mike I will tell you what I did to my piece of glass. I submerged the whole sheet of glass in white vinegar. I left it in the white vinegar for 30 minutes. I took a glass scrapper. I removed the anti reflective coating. I then cleaned the piece of glass. my lights I use a sixty watt frosted incandescent bulb. I use a jansjo lamp with one of rays smile director. it sets next to my other light. I will some times aim a second one at the center coin. placed next to my enlarger lens shine light down through the glass. make sure your glass is clean. here is and image taken with a 100 watt light bulb. this will show you what the reflective coating looks like.

All I use is a regular piece of 3/16" glass that I stole (borrowed) from one of my wifes picture frames

I cant help you with that...all I ever used is this cheap piece of regular glass and I'm more than happy with my pictures. Give both a try and see if there is a difference.

mike this glass I sent to you. this is no ordinary glass. it is glass from Germany. it is for photography. see in order to get a deal. I had to buy 30 pieces of it. what I was trying to tell you is. the anti reflective coating could be cutting your light stops. if you want to remove the reflective coating vinegar is the easy way, other wise you go to scrape it off. you will be working for a while. see if you have a piece of glass positioned right. the anti reflective coating works like a true view. I have 28 pieces left. I hope mike you can get it to work for you. I was just trying to help you. mike try ordinary glass I have. it dont work the same. take your time, move your light around like brent has said find the sweet spot. your images are great.

Is this special glass from Germany better for axial lighting than the 50% transmission beamsplitter glass from Edmonds Optics? That's what I use.

Also -- does anyone here have good techniques for using axial lighting with slabbed coins? The glare from the slab really reduces the contrast in axial shots.

This is taken with a 60w crystal clear blub and rocky's glass and then a regular piece of glass. All settings are the same.

You tell me which you think is better.



This is the same pics adjusted with the same setting, yes you could get the regular glass one to be better.

I did alittle editing to your picture.....