How to do copy photography

[js_chia]

Hi, recently my wife took out our old wedding photograph and ask me to scan them into digital. My scanner bed is too small to scan those photographs. Went out to photo lab to ask if they could scan them for me.

The price they quote me is rather high. They said they will do copy photography instead of normal scanning.

I was hoping if any of the CSers could be kind enough to show me how to do copy photography instead.

Thanks in advance.

 

[fotoudavid]

recopy, not easy explain leh.....u must tell me how big the photo is.

 

[catchlights]

basically, this is how the set up looks like

 

[js_chia]

recopy, not easy explain leh.....u must tell me how big the photo is.

Different sizes. Bigger than normal A4 size. 2 pieces of A4 paper can cover whole picture.

 

[Sion]

I have done it several times with a DSLR and macro lens with a DIY softbox containing flourescent bulbs.

Make sure you keep the camera back perpenticular and not tilting it as it would cause distortion.

You can also shoot it under a shelter with diffused daylight. Main thing is to get even diffused light.

If the photo curls up put a piece of glass on top to hold it down so that you can keep sharpness in one plane.

You can put the photo on the floor or a low table. Of course shoot it with a tripod.

 

[js_chia]

basically, this is how the set up looks like

So I must buy a copy stand. Where and how much will it cost? Photo lab quote me $300 for 2 albums. If stand cost more than that, must as well let they take for me.

 

[js_chia]

I have done it several times with a DSLR and macro lens with a DIY softbox containing flourescent bulbs.

Make sure you keep the camera back perpenticular and not tilting it as it would cause distortion.

You can also shoot it under a shelter with diffused daylight. Main thing is to get even diffused light.

If the photo curls up put a piece of glass on top to hold it down so that you can keep sharpness in one plane.

You can put the photo on the floor or a low table. Of course shoot it with a tripod.

Thanks. Is a macro a must to do copy photography? I only have the kit lens for Nikon D70. Will it work too??

 

[fotoudavid]

basically catchlights link is good enough for u already.

to me, ensure camera and subject must be parallel and lighting even. i dunno how to explain, english too poor liao......practical i can show u.

 

[js_chia]

basically catchlights link is good enough for u already.

to me, ensure camera and subject must be parallel and lighting even. i dunno how to explain, english too poor liao......practical i can show u.

It will be great if you can show me in practical. Hope that I am not too much of a trouble for you. When will you be available? I can go down to your place if it is convenient for you.

 

[Sion]

Thanks. Is a macro a must to do copy photography? I only have the kit lens for Nikon D70. Will it work too??

It should be okay if you're not too fussy about edge to edge sharpness. Work out the sweet spot of the F number of your lens which normally is somewhere in the middle and also stay away from the wide-anlge end of the zoom.

Good luck.

 

[js_chia]

It should be okay if you're not too fussy about edge to edge sharpness. Work out the sweet spot of the F number of your lens which normally is somewhere in the middle and also stay away from the wide-anlge end of the zoom.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the advices. Will give it a try.

 

[LittleWolf]

So I must buy a copy stand.

For a one-off, you can just as well use a tripod and some desk lamps.

 

[catchlights]

with a copy stand, you can work faster.
but you also can use a tripod with horizontal column to shoot.

you can use table lamps, as long you make the lighting even and no reflection, not forgetting to do a custom WB.

one tip for how to get the camera perpendicular with the subject is place a mirror on the subject, so when you look thru the viewfinder, you know where to adjust.

like sion said, best use f8~f11, and you should be using normal lens focal length to shoot. some zoom lens has barrel distortion at wide angle, and pincushion distortion at the tele angle.

hope this help.

 

[js_chia]

with a copy stand, you can work faster.
but you also can use a tripod with horizontal column to shoot.

you can use table lamps, as long you make the lighting even and no reflection, not forgetting to do a custom WB.

one tip for how to get the camera perpendicular with the subject is place a mirror on the subject, so when you look thru the viewfinder, you know where to adjust.

like sion said, best use f8~f11, and you should be using normal lens focal length to shoot. some zoom lens has barrel distortion at wide angle, and pincushion distortion at the tele angle.

hope this help.

Thanks guys for all the advices. Will give it a try.

 

[Hitman]

Most have given you valid and useful suggestions... I'll give you one more.

Get those 3M sticky notice boards and stick it to a wall, then you can 'paste' the photo that you want to 'copy' on it and take it from your tripod-mounted camera. No need for horizontal column or taking the photo from top-down.

However, lighting is still the key to get a good 'copy' photograph.

Good Luck!!

 

[Optodexine]

how about just scanning the photos half by half on an A4 scanner? then use photoshop to simply merge them together?

 

[js_chia]

Most have given you valid and useful suggestions... I'll give you one more.

Get those 3M sticky notice boards and stick it to a wall, then you can 'paste' the photo that you want to 'copy' on it and take it from your tripod-mounted camera. No need for horizontal column or taking the photo from top-down.

However, lighting is still the key to get a good 'copy' photograph.

Good Luck!!

That's a great idea!!!! Worth trying this technique. Thanks...

 

[js_chia]

how about just scanning the photos half by half on an A4 scanner? then use photoshop to simply merge them together?

My scanner not fast and not very sharp also. By using this method will take a very long time to finish 2 albums. Thanks for your advice. Will use this as a last resort.

 

[Andy Ang]

Faints. Want to use my scanner or not.

 

[js_chia]

Faints. Want to use my scanner or not.

Please advise on how to use your scanner. Will be more than happy if can save all these hassle.