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

[Mike Maginnis <maginnis@tarnover.org>]

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 03:23:01 GMT, email@DELETE_THIS.luddite.no-ip.com
(Simon Williams) wrote:

>Mike Maginnis <maginnis@tarnover.org> wrote:
>

--<snip>--

>
>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

I'm going to go get a piece of plexiglass tomorrow and play with that.
I've got a sturdy tripod and shutter release cable, so that's not a
problem.  Glare shouldn't be a problem either, I've got several
softlights which will negate the need for a flash.  I agree that a
flattened page will produce a more even tone, though the center fold
will still be somewhat visible - these issues are old and have been
folded for a number of years.

The newspaper is starting to yellow somewhat as well, so it's good
that I'm getting to them now.

- Mike
maginnis@tarnover.org

The Computist Project
http://www.computist-project.net