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Need non-glare glass for photo coping old large books
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Jan 26, 2015 10:42:20   #
RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas
 
rkb wrote:
Does anyone have experience or know where I can get quality non glare glass or glass film to help in copying large old record books? Any that I have tried show reflection of copy stand and lights. Thanks in advance for any help.


Hello rkb.

The light you are using are they copy lights on the right and left side of what your copying if so I did this some years ago and had the problem with glare so I used steady defused light if I remember I got a hold of some milk white plastic sheets that were 12X12. I placed them in front of the lamps and shot straight down. I had no more reflections or glare.

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Jan 26, 2015 10:48:42   #
rkb Loc: State College, PA
 
RichardSM - I will try more diffusion as you suggest. Thanks!

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Jan 26, 2015 11:22:40   #
jimedge Loc: Wrexham, north Wales
 
If you are seeing a reflection of the lights they are too close to your lens axis. You need two identical lights placed either side of the document being copied away from the lens axis and angled at about 45 degrees and preferably incident light metered. Try using black card with a hole cut for your lens, and take the pics in a dark room. This has always worked for me.

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Jan 26, 2015 11:25:34   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
jimedge wrote:
If you are seeing a reflection of the lights they are too close to your lens axis. You need two identical lights placed either side of the document being copied away from the lens axis and angled at about 45 degrees and preferably incident light metered. Try using black card with a hole cut for your lens, and take the pics in a dark room. This has always worked for me.


Absolutely the best and least expensive way!

:thumbup: :thumbup:

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Jan 26, 2015 11:27:27   #
RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas
 
rkb wrote:
RichardSM - I will try more diffusion as you suggest. Thanks!


What you're looking for is flat and even lighting. I used 5200K lamps if memory serves me right? I got them from Freestyle in Hollywood, Ca I think they are still in business and I believe they have a Web page too.


p.s. I did this back in the 70's

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

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Jan 26, 2015 14:18:59   #
RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA
 
rkb wrote:
Does anyone have experience or know where I can get quality non glare glass or glass film to help in copying large old record books? Any that I have tried show reflection of copy stand and lights. Thanks in advance for any help.


With polarizers on the lights, you can use ordinary glass to hold the pages flat.

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Jan 26, 2015 15:26:23   #
WereWolf1967 Loc: Knoxville, TN
 
SheriB wrote:
did you try using a polarizer while shooting? Should help to tame any reflections


Be careful if using a polarizing filter on the taking lens, especially if you are using polarized glass to flatten the pages. You could wind up with some unusual rainbow images or find that the photo is black. That is known as cross polarization. Do not ask how I know this, just realize that I am a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the school of hard knocks and Dumb A**.

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Jan 26, 2015 15:28:33   #
WereWolf1967 Loc: Knoxville, TN
 
rkb wrote:
Yes, I tried a polarizer and it did almost noting to remove the reflection of the camera and lights from the glass. I will try and get museum glass and see how that works. Many thanks to all who respond!


Did you have a proper angled copy set-up?

Lights out both sides at 45 degrees to the subject and camera directly above at a perfect 90 degrees to the page. There should be no lights visible in the photo.

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Jan 26, 2015 15:45:12   #
JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco
 
It may be that the copy stand is just too small for the size of the books you are shooting. The lights should be at 45 degrees, but if they are too close to the subject, you will still get reflections.

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Jan 26, 2015 15:53:57   #
RJarvis Loc: Seattle, WA
 
GoofyNewfie wrote:
Before scanners, I did a ton of copying with slide film where I worked.
Non-glare glass helped a bit (also lost some sharpness), but I found the best solution was to use black posterboard with a hole that fit tightly around the lens, blocking the camera, user and anything else that reflected. We painted the ceiling black in our copyroom.
You may want more than one size, smaller for close-up (this will allow the lights to illuminate what you are copying easier) and bigger to cover the larger area that may be reflected when shooting something larger.
Longer is better, but use at least a "normal' length lens, ie: 35mm for APS-C, 50mm for full-frame. A longer lens will allow you more room to light the subject, reduce the angle of view and what is reflected in the glass.

Polarizers were not necessary.
Before scanners, I did a i ton /i of copying wit... (show quote)


All good advice, but what you need to do first is to ensure your only light sources are hitting the glass at an angle (from either side of the camera) while your camera is directly over the glass-covered page.

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Jan 26, 2015 16:28:10   #
rkb Loc: State College, PA
 
THANKS to all who have contributed for your shared experience and knowledge. I will be making use of your thoughts and advice as I proceed. It is not just the lights that I get a reflection of it is also the camera and lens on the stand, here I'm hoping that the black foam board will help. Images are great when the pages lie flat by themselves. Again, I will be making use of your helpful replies.

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Jan 26, 2015 16:56:45   #
GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City
 
rkb wrote:
THANKS to all who have contributed for your shared experience and knowledge. I will be making use of your thoughts and advice as I proceed. It is not just the lights that I get a reflection of it is also the camera and lens on the stand, here I'm hoping that the black foam board will help. Images are great when the pages lie flat by themselves. Again, I will be making use of your helpful replies.

If you can't get a tight fit with the foam or poster board, use a lens hood to help hold it in place.

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Jan 26, 2015 17:06:08   #
rkb Loc: State College, PA
 
GoofyNewfie - great idea - THANKS!

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Jan 27, 2015 05:38:00   #
Terpen
 
My wife owns a custom frame store. Consider museum glass. It is virtually invisible but is conservation proof.

Terry

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Jan 27, 2015 06:24:58   #
timothyf7
 
Here's an article that includes some of the suggestions here and some other info that may help...http://news.smugmug.com/2014/05/14/the-art-of-copy-work-photographing-artwork-accurately-without-glare/

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