posted on April 1, 2001 08:07:29 AM
I picked up some lovely tablecloths and hankies at an estate auction recently and am at a loss how to get a good picture of them. One is quite large and has beautiful white embroidery on white linen. I have no idea how to get this to show up. I'm using a Mavica FD-71. Any ideas?
posted on April 1, 2001 08:45:34 AM
I would make a picture of the whole tablecloth with the camera, then use a scanner to scan the embroidry work and have two pictures in the auction.
posted on April 1, 2001 08:58:52 AM
The problem is that the linens are ALL WHITE ... and the camera is trying to make it look "average".
Try the exposure settings ... adjust them all the way up, then all the way down. One of them will give you the true color (or just go for sharpness and adjust the color with a graphics program).
Cover the flash with black tape or turn it off, and light the embroidery at a slant from the side to give it some shadows.
posted on April 1, 2001 09:09:19 AM
Thanks abacaxi. I never use the flash with this camera since it is soooo harsh! I'll mess with the exposure settings and see what happens. I use Photoshop 5.5 to edit my pictures but I need to learn more about the program. I was able to whiten many of the linens and get good color but the white on white is giving me lots of trouble! The embroidery actually shows up better when the color is dull and not white.
stan41 - I think the larger embroidery design won't fit into the scanner but I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
posted on April 1, 2001 09:28:27 AM
IB; when you scan the embroidery try looking at it in black and white versus color. I've used it pretty successfully on white milkglass to bring out the pattern.
Jay
posted on April 1, 2001 09:33:55 AM
If you have to change an image to "grayscale" to show the detail, do it. I just add "color is inaccurate, but shows detail best" disclaimer to heavily edited pics.
posted on April 1, 2001 03:29:49 PM
I have sold a few linens.....the best why is to darken.. NOT Lighten....the picture. I usually give 2 pictures the true picture and then the picture that I darken and explain the difference...Damask shows up much better when it's not bright white. A scan will also have to be darkened with your photo program....the scan will be even brighter than your camera picture. Good Luck!
