Hi again and thanks ahead to everyone who is taking time to post
info.
Lisa - he light box was just a “figure of speech” - what you have
described (your tent setup) is possibly similar to what I will be
making as well. I like your idea of having it on wheels and tucking
it away when not in use - good one. To save you online searching time
For your interest - when I did the professional photo shoot this past
summer, I had some clean, new white and also new black plexi (sticky
paper still attached) with me and asked the photographer to run an
experiment. As I recall the white plexi gave some interesting
reflections - very 3d effect. The black plexi background became a dark
gray in the result - somewhat consistent - but the tone did change
with the light changes. (2 of those images are in the LJ Nov
article.) I’d like to mess around with the plexi background again
when I get the home set up going.
Thanks for the making of slides input, Cathy, Etienne and Carol.
Will check into it for sure. Will check out the local processing
options and do a price comparison. Thanks for any remote (by mail or
email) leads on any processing sites that you have been happy with the
results. Glad to know the potential is there for results. I don’t
think my learning curve will involve a 35mm camera as well - so, will
have to be selective if the digital image results seem workable for a
slide.
Carol - I found that the scanner is fine for documenting some things
- but with a reflective piece - it doesn’t work well at all - gives
rather interesting, though unwanted, “special effects”! I do use the
scanner now for quickly documenting work - it is better than the xerox
machine. However, before owning a scanner, the xerox machine was
better than no documentation!
Speaking of reflective pieces, once, there was mention of putting
reflective pieces in the freezer (to tone down the shine?) and that
there are commercial freeze sprays (something like that) - that I
haven’t looked into yet. Am just stretching the memory from having
read many bits of info in the past. Any feedback on that idea? Also,
there are cans of “air” spray that are great for blowing away specks
of dirt and dust in the image field.
Just for your amusement. . . when we took the images for the Nov LJ
-JJ article - my husband was so far away, that I made sure I had all
the safety gear on - to be a good example . . . however, little did I
know that the image would be strictly fingers! In fact the resolution
was so amazing even from the distance the image was shot at, that if
you zoomed in in photoshop - you could see the dirt under the
fingernails. ie: check out the spiral of metal on the drilling the
hole image. The camera macro feature is a must, I would think, in
keeping the reflection of the camera itself out of the image of the
jewelry - as was mentioned as being a problem.
Thanks also, Dan for the input on the Olympus and lighting feedback.
Too bad about the interchanging of lenses. Shucks, guess I’ll find
out what the limitations will be. Major learning curve ahead, I can
tell. I’m quite sure that the lighting factor and angle of the
light is extremely critical for the results. So, am crossing my
fingers on the results of the home setup!
Thanks ahead for any other new input on taking digital images from
those who are knowledgeable. . . I’m 'a taking notes.
Aloha, Cynthia