Re: Opinions & Advice requested: tabloid-format Computist test page

[email@DELETE_THIS.luddite.no-ip.com (Simon Williams)]

Mike Maginnis <maginnis@tarnover.org> wrote:

> Taking Michael Mahon's advice, I tried a couple of test shots of a
> page from one of the tabloid-sized (11x17) issues.  I haven't done
> anything to it other than crop it down. 
> 
> I put one of the images up on my site:
> 
> http://www.computist-project.net/scratch/untitled-1.jpg
> 
> Opinions and advice are requested.  I'm thinking a good sheet of
> plexiglass to flatten the pages, but I'm sure there are other things I
> can do to make it look better.

The plexi idea is good, it will give you a more even "white" which will
make further enhancing easier.
I did a quick test with the image in Photoshop, concentrating on the
center rather than the overly shadowed edges. A 25% boost in both
contrast and brightness really improved the quality. Also converting to
greyscale (when appropriate) helps a bit.
I've never done any document photography, but I find that when taking
pictures of inanimate objects indoors it's best to use a tripod and
remote shutter switch with the flash off... hopefully someone else knows
a bit more about setting the aperture, exposure etc -- I'm strictly in
"auto" mode.
Also, with the plexi you'll have to be careful about reflections, unless
you can get something that's anti-glare treated. One way to do that is
situate the camera in front of a dark, non-reflective background.
Another way of flattening the paper without using plexi is to use
suction, kind of like an air-hockey table in reverse. In our high school
art room we had a contraption that was essentially an exhaust fan
mounted behind wire mesh (used for spraying fixative, but also ideal for
holding up paper without pins or tape)...

-s

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