Recently I have decided to take pictures of my collection to be able to show them, track what I got without opening the album and to know exact prices that I paid and for what conditions.
With that, I have faced a few issues:
1) Some stamps even after being in a binder for longest period of time, still tend to curl a bit which makes it had to take a good shot. This is especially true for older stamps, I have tried to flatten them out with some transparent plastic peace but it creates a light reflection or mirroring effect upon taking a photo... Have someone found the way to take a perfect picture and to avoid this issue?
2) I have been using Snupps app, which seems good for the majority of my needs, however, maybe someone knows a better way to track your collection?
Sorry if those questions have been answered previously, I was unable to find them due to lack of search on this forum...
Scans will probably be a better way than taking pictures. This is an example of one of my wantlists, I do have my collection the same way but nothing beats staring at the real thing!
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 29 Aug 2019 06:45:47am
re: How do you take pictures of your collection?
" .... nothing beats staring at the real thing!..."
You should open an album now and then to let the stamps and pages breathe.
At least I think that was something I read somewhere about old books.
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
I do take my collection out almost every day, it's just sometimes I happen to find some stamps that I already own or might own on the market and I need to make a quick decision if I should buy it or not. Going with the binders is a bit tricky.
If you have an advanced collection from any country, it will probably be easier to remember what you miss instead of what you have. This is my system, it works for me.
I use a digital camera, Kodak 6 mps. To avoid the light reflection, I place the stamps to be photographed on a black 1 inch three ring binder with a 1 inch wedge under the binder on the side where the rings are. The slop on the binder faces towards the end of the desk. The camera is mounted on a tripod (a must!) and is positioned directly above the binder. The light sourse is angled horizontally to the binder to avoid reflection. Use the camera's closeup (flower) setting and do not use the flash. Almost all my pictures are all from a camera, like this one:
Yup, I agree that a scanner is the way to go. I have a Canon multi printer / scanner that works very well. I use it for all my Auction items here on the board. I also have scanned my NJ postmark covers as they arrive. Those are all in an online album that I can access whenever I'm not home and want to check on something.
For a small group of stamps, I usually use an approval card (clear front, black background) as ikeyPikey noted using a scanner, You can align the stamp in the approval card then place flush against an edge to align. For multiple I use a Vario page.
For up close, I may use a DLSR since it has better resolution.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 30 Aug 2019 03:06:52am
re: How do you take pictures of your collection?
".... Go ahead, buy 100 pieces, and don't be too surprised
if you decide to leave some items in their approval cards "for now". ...."
You hit the bull's eye with that one Ikey.
It is easier to show someone 102 cards and
keep their fingers away from the stamps themselves.
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
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