Digital Camera Question (with attached photos) for Everyone..Please Help.

[Gerry in Idaho]

I get lucky once in a while and make a nice find. My question is a 2 part.

What is the easiest software (for a dummy like me) out there that can allow me to take 2 photos (front and back of a coin) and then some how cut/paste both photos into 1. That way, when I post a picture of the coin, I do not have to post 2 photos, I can easily do one. It would also save time and space when I email photos as well.

Can that same software be used to downsize more than 1 photo at a time, but still keep great quality?

The photos below are of a couple Hammered Silver coins I found on my Colchester, England trip in March. I arrange for detectorists each March and Nov. for week long trips and since I have many finds to photograph, I thought I better try and learn some shortcuts to make life easier and faster.

[attachment 76497 1.JPG]
The back side of the coin just as it came out of the ground, still has mud and sand attached. Found with a Minelab X-70.






[attachment 76499 1Front.jpg]
She is Elizabeth 1st and it is a 1567 Hammered Silver Penny






[attachment 76505 1Back.jpg]
Close up of the back side with the Cross going through the Shield.






[attachment 76506 12Front.jpg]
Venetian Soldino hammered silver coin from 1501-1521. Christ is holding a cross.






[attachment 76507 12Back.jpg]
St. Mark of Venice with staff stands above Dode.






[attachment 76509 1Merc.jpg]
As you can see in this photo, these hammered coins are quite small and very thin. I could bend them with my fingers if I tried. A US Mercury dime is there for size comparison.

Please email me direct at gerrys1det@cableone.net or call ( 208 ) 345-8898.

Thanks and Merry Christmas, Gerry

 

[Gord SW Ont]

Nice finds Gerry!

I use a couple of Minelab detectors myself but they've been put into storage for the winter .... yechhhh! 8^( ;^)

As for your question ... probably almost any image processing software (including some free ones) can do what you want. It may take a little effort to get the hang of it but really the porcess is fairly straightforward.

I use photoshop and usually use two images of the same size (one of the front and one of the back-side) and take one of these images and use "Canvas resize" to expand the canvas either to the right or below and add a layer. Then "select all" on the other image, copy and paste to the new layer on the original image. You can adjust as required and save to web (or whatever the software uses) to resize the image and select the required resolution. It sounds more complicated than it is and after you do it a couple of times it becomes second nature and, in addition, allows you to make adjustments to improve the photos of your finds.

Here is a couple of examples:

[attachment 76530 dime1a.jpg]

[attachment 76529 ring_md.jpg]

Good luck!

 

[RM]

n/t