How do you take scan of Dag?

[David Yates]

I’ve been making some Daguerreotype pictures and trying to scan them but it comes out blank just showing the reflection of the light, not the picture.

Here’s what I’m trying to scan.

 

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[Andy Stockton]

Hi David. How about sharing a few more details of your scanning process? Are you scanning in the frame? Or are your daguerreotypes directly on the glass? With or without the cover glass? What type of scanner and what are the settings you are using?

When I made my own first scans last year I was using an all-in-one printer/scanner/fax and it turned out not to have enough depth of field. I could see the image, but it was not in focus. Switching to a higher quality scanner and working with the cover glass removed made the difference for me. Your problem may be different.

[David Yates]

Yeah, I’m scanning them when they are already sealed under glass. There was no depth of field, only silver when I scanned the image.

I do have an all in one printer, but it takes really good scans of everything else.

I will probably start taking some high quality digital photos, but once again I can’t take them straight on because it shows my reflection.

Thanks…

[botticelli1972]

Taking pics of shinny things is easy once you know the tricks. Put the dag on a black surface. Use a tripod for the camera and then set two lights at 30% to the object to be photographed, this might cause shadow lines if the dag is framed, adjust as necessary. Next get a 18 x 24 piece of black card stock, FomCore from art supply stores works well, and cut a tight fitting hole in the middle for the lens. This will cover the camera body and anything else that will reflect back as long as you square up the shot. You will have no or maybe just a tiny reflection of the lens coatings. This is how the catalog photographers at museums do it.

A side note: I’ve been away a while from the list, still daging but enjoying our newborn.

Larry

[Andy Stockton]

Congratulations on the new family member. Have you taken a daguerreotype of him/her yet?

Re photographing dags, I believe that a polarizer would help as well, and some people even put polarizing material over the light sources in conjunction with the lens polarizer. I haven’t done that however so can’t comment as to details. Anyone willing to share more details?

[jgmotamedi]

I am confused. I have never had a problem scanning Daguerreotype plates. In fact I have found them much easier to scan than photograph. Normally–in every scanner I have used–the light reflects off the plate at 45 degrees, so it shouldn’t reflect at all. Is this a typical scanner in which the lens moves across the surface of the plate?

And congratulations to Larry! Make a plate while you can, newborns sleep enough so it is possible to do so. Between six months and the mid-twenties I don’t think it possible.

[jgmotamedi]

I am confused. I have never had a problem scanning Daguerreotype plates. In fact I have found them much easier to scan than photograph. Normally–in every scanner I have used–the light reflects off the plate at 45 degrees, so it shouldn’t reflect at all. Is this a typical scanner in which the lens moves across the surface of the plate?

And congratulations to Larry! Make a plate while you can, newborns sleep enough so it is possible to do so. Between six months and the mid-twenties I don’t think it possible.

[Author]

Posts