Scanning Stamps

The human eye is far more complex than any scanner and enhancement programs.
I like to see on a scan (monitor) what I see in reality and we should not forget that important part of "vision" and color (colour) shades or varieties.

I am presently watching a "film" (video) on Netflix, done by Dysney, the people who manipulate images (or creates them) the most.....I do like the results..........but is it ""real"" ?? !

In summary, following Don's (Studebaker) comments, we have to keep a raw perspective of what we want others to see and not a "flaw" or technically manipulated

Now you need to understand that I am French Canadian, bilingual, but my opinion in writing is based on my "French" heritage + "English" experiences through years of working bilingual.......

Well some people seem to not like manipulation software..It has its place and if reputable companies like Unitrade to enhance pictures for more detail and or appeal then it cant be so bad.

Realize these are not developed by chance..They are needed and used by many professionals...Programs like:

Adobe Lightroom CC
Affinity Photo
GIMP
Pixelmator
Photoshop Elements

And many, many more..

I realize there are collectors that do not use these programs because of fear or lack of knowledge about what they can do or just their dislike ..And I respect their dislike for these types of software,

But when a new person comes on the forum with a love for stamp collecting and uses these to hopefully enhance the excitement of stamp collecting, please be patient with them..They are collectors that deserve respect and help in this great hobby we all say we like...

Bottom line for me though is I use and like these programs..Just saying.

Robert

Hi Robert,
Of course folks like image manipulation, especially for camera images. They can remove grandmother's red eye or crop out unwanted things in the background. But we are talking about stamp images. Images where we often want others folks to comment on a detail, stamp color, or some other stamp element. In other words, accuracy counts.

When we show images of the family vacation we do not really care about details or accuracy. Over saturating the colors of a fishing trip is no big deal. But if I want or expect other folks to invest their time and effort on an image I post, than they deserve an accurate image and not something that I have overly tweaked and manipulated. If I do significant manipulation then I should post what I have done to the image so others can understand what they at looking at.
Don

Edit: If folks want to additional spend time with their scanned images, the first thing they should do is calibrate their scanner.

Hey Don


Absolutely..



Correct my friend..correct, correct and correct.



And I agree Don, that is where most people lack the knowledge or capability to do so

Scottamer



I agree, I use a cheap Canon LiDE 60 scanner and it does the trick for me,,And yes people, visit the FlySpecker.com site.

I deal with minute detail in stamps. Re-entries and constant plate flaws especially in the Pence and Cents issues. The old books, that I still use have the flaws over drawn in ink. They are useful in initial identifications. I then turn to the more modern books that have actual images (I hope unenhanced) that show what these flaws actually look like on the stamps. The draw back to these books is not all the varieties are pictured in them but they are a great back up reference for the ones that are.

For example I have 145 envelopes of the 5c Beaver stamp sorted and identified by state and position using Whitworth's and Kershaw's books and have several 100 to sort yet. I also use actual plate proof images when available.

I have done the same for my 3d Beaver collection with Kershaw's books an Proof images when available. I have sorted these by 1, 4, and 12. Then by pane A or B and position. Even have a few by state of plate.

The early hand enhanced image books are a nice starting point but one can not beat and actual unenhanced image of an actual stamp for reference unless he has another actual properly identified stamp to compare.

Early on I actually caught one of Flyspecker.com's enhanced images. A stamp listed as a certain variety wasn't showing some details that should have been on the stamp. He e-mailed me back letting me know it was an enhanced image and it was replaced with the proper stamp showing all the detail. I believe he is showing correct images for all the stamps now. He is also a good friend and I enjoy his web site.

I use flyspecker.com and re-entries.com as reference sources also. They have excellent images for identification.

Enhancement has its place but I feel an unenhanced images is best for stamp collecting.

Mike...
I am now writing the Newfoundland "Dog scratch" variety for you as promised..

Question...Enhanced or unenhanced pictures of the variety...haha

Hard decision isnt it.

Robert

Hi Robert, Enlargement of an image is not altering the image in any way. Enhancement is the changing or altering of color or detail to make it stand out. To me this would be wrong as it would not show the detail in its original state. Enlargement I use all the time to show better detail but I never enhance an image in any way.

Mike

Hey Mike

Just for argument sake (haha)..One on the left..no enhancement...One on the right..enhanced...If controlled and thought out correctly, it can (most of the time) make a difference.

Just saying buddy..But enough senseless quibbling.
I just like showing what can be more defining for the eye..I know it is not a good thing..But it helps see maybe something that is there, but I revert back to the original..always

Robert

Hi Robert
I think that the issue here is trust and consideration. When someone posts an image can you trust it is accurate? If a person bothers to add 'hey, please beware that I applied additional color saturation or I increased sharpness by 25%' then the trust goes up. Without additional information on what the heck someone has done to an image, other folks may feel they are wasting their time trying to analyze it. The point here is to give everyone consideration when asking them for an opinion on something.

Of course, if the point is really to 'sell' others on something that a person thinks they see, then un-described image manipulations are ideal. All I need to do is tweak the image enough make my point and presto, I have others verifying I have a 'rare' stamp. This is why I feel it is important to limit image manipulation and to note it when it has occurred.*
Don


*Note: Of course some small, minor, image process like a 'rotate' by 1 degree is not significant enough to cause real problems for others. I am talking about heavy sharpening, over use of 'colorize' (saturation) and other 'make my image look better' processes.

you got it buddy..Hit the nail on the head.




And that is all I ever try and do Don..Not trying to pull the wool over any ones eyes, but trying to show what I think people should or would like to see..

Don, you know me and my software programs over the years..I love them and we have had talks (good talks) and minimum is good, at least enough to show what you are trying to show collectors.

Robert

We just have to remember that the capturing sensor (scanner, camera, etc) is not perfect and in order to make a viewable image some processing is done even when you use default settings. Sensors can be non-linear, add noise, alter exposure, white balance, etc. and the so all this is handled during the processing. JPG is a processed image. Even camera RAW images require some assumption to view them. Then you have to add variables like different brands of monitors, viewing conditions, etc.

As said. the question is when tinkering is intended to deceive.

Understood. And of course there are no forum rules that define what folks should or should not do, everyone can post images any way they want. I was only trying to offer some advice for everyone, especially if they are seeking to maximize the amount of input and feedback from other folks.
Don

Just a call out, if any member is using an Epson V700 (Circa2012)
I have just risked $50 on a used one I can use on my second computer.
I think I can get most drivers (win7 or 10) online,
Just wondering how you find it ? Tips, tricks?

I comes with Epson Stylus Pro 3880 Printer
I don't use ink jet, so shall donate to charity.
Rather bulky Items, things have slimmed down nicely in the 9 passing years.

That sounds like quite a deal - where'd you find that? I've been looking for a v7xx and haven't found prices close to that, except on what appeared to be a dodgy website I've never heard of.

Hi James,
part of my town's community centre,
They advertised as collecting dust in back room
I just did not want to see it go to the tip.

It's 9 years old, so it may or may not work
I'll pick it up tomorrow, and let you you know if it works in due
course. Surprisingly it has 4800 6400 dpi as a max.
Quite a bulky thing, the lid scans slides etc.

PS: cheapest V700 I saw in a cursory search was $345 US

Noted bad reviews on the "Silverfast" bundle