Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I find scanner a very necessary tool in collecting United States stamp, esp. revenues.
Is a scanner of any use to foreign stamp collectors.
How do you use scanners in stamp collecting?
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My primary uses of a scanner (Epson V600) are scanning stamp images to post online and scanning all my album pages for record keeping. Scanned images can be used to use software tools to examine stamps.
I think any collector could use one. However, those with phones often use the camera in the phones. The quality varies widely,
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Maybe it's my unsteady hands, but I don't have much luck with using my iPhone to take pictures of stamps. I have been using a scanner (Brother 4way) for years with excellent results.
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I love making great images from stamps, and use a scanner for that purpose.
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I use my scanner to:
1. Make detailed copies of selected individual high-value stamps and of album pages containing high value stamps. This is documented proof of possession that will be needed in case of an insurance claim.
2. Copy every PSE, APEX, and PF certificate I receive.
3. Copy paperwork and accompanying stamp(s) sent for certification (same reason as #1). Stored with postal mailing receipt, Certified Mail receipt, etc.
4. Copy representative samples of homemade album pages or selected stamps requested by (or to show off to) other collectors.
All copies are stored as either pdf or jpg files on both my computer AND a backup thumb drive.
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I like to use my scanner to show the back side of postcards and covers that I add to my album pages.
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Scanners can also act as very good magnifiers. I use high resolution scans to look at pages of the early and complicated Siam surcharges to identify the stamps. No shaky hands this way.
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I've been muddling my way through with an iPad Pro camera. The picture quality of the camera is surprisingly good, though. I can quickly snap a pic then zoom in on any flyspeck details I wish to examine - much faster than firing up a scanner.
Sadly, My old laptop is a dinosaur. I suppose I should breakdown and set up a PC with all the peripherals, but I'm really enjoying all of the extra space on my desk.
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I use my scanner
!- make copies of my fancy cancel pages
2- enlarge stamps to check for double transfers, I then make a copy of the double transfer to keep with the stamp
3- make scans for posting on web sites
4- make scans when using Image Sleuth
5- I send scans to fellow collectors
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I consider a scanner an essential tool for any collector who communicates with other collectors via online methods and a very useful tool for inventory and enhanced detail images for stamps.
I like the idea of using my iPhone for portable and quick copies of pages in albums although I often find that the lack of consistency in my holding of the iPhone over the object to be imaged makes the quality of the content captured somewhat questionable.
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"I consider a scanner an essential tool for any collector who communicates with other collectors via online methods and a very useful tool for inventory and enhanced detail images for stamps."
Well said and exactly right.
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Please add your images of how you capture capture stamps (phone. camera, other)!
I decided to make this a general image capture discussion since no one was really responding to poll.
There are commercial stands for mobile phones. I am sure someone has tried to make a homemade one. I also use a DSLR for capturing images under UV light. I also have a USB microscope for up close work.
Scanning has the advantage of being able to hold the stamp flat if you have a curly one.
phone stand
From amazon, If you had any wookworking skills, you could make something like this
A camera with light... this is not my setup (looks better than my DSLR setup). I love the light,
If you tether the camera or phone to your PC via USB, it is no issue to copy the file to your PC (rather then email or upload to cloud to download).
With any close up, having the image device parallel to the subject. good light, and depth of field is important. A scanner depth of field is around 3 to 4mm. (little more than 1/8th inch)
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I use my iPhone. The picture quality is excellent. Since I bought additional cloud storage all my stamp pictures are easily accessible. God forbid anything bad happens to my collection, but at least my pictures are safe and sound for the insurance company.
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I scan everything, for all the reasons already stated. The only time I take iPhone photos is when a cover cachet has reflective gold or silver that scans as black. Even then, I’ll use scanned images in the eBay listing with a photo of the cachet and explain it’s true color.
The other time I’ll use the phone camera is for items too large for the scanner.
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Over the years I've found a scanner essential to create images for online posts here and elsewhere, and occasionally when listing stamps for sale.
However, I think my main benefit has been in seeing clear details of stamp designs that I wasn't aware of until I saw them in large images on my computer screen.
This is true both for my own stamps that I had often seen but not examined in detail and, even more so, for the many, many stamps, covers and cards that other members have shared.
More than ever before I've been able to appreciate the skills of stamp designers and engravers.
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I use my scanner all the time ,everything I put up on this site is scanned .the only time I use my camera is if the item is too big for my scanner I use it with Photoshop which allows me to increase or reduce the size of my images .
My original printer scanner a Canon MP640 which I had for years gave up the ghost a few weeks ago I now use a Canon TS 8360a much quieter than the 640.
Brian
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A scanner is definitely useful. I, too, put almost every item that I want to present online, or send an image of, on the scanner. It also reduces, perhaps almost removes the need for a camera stand. A handheld camera may still be helpful in getting an overview of very large items. On some sites, however, freehand pictures are actually frowned upon and are only accepted if scanning would be too difficult. Among them is the German postmark archive where I frequently submit images.
Martin
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07:42:28pm
I know some collectors don't use scanners. To each their own!
I find scanner a very necessary tool in collecting United States stamp, esp. revenues.
Is a scanner of any use to foreign stamp collectors.
How do you use scanners in stamp collecting?
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re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
My primary uses of a scanner (Epson V600) are scanning stamp images to post online and scanning all my album pages for record keeping. Scanned images can be used to use software tools to examine stamps.
I think any collector could use one. However, those with phones often use the camera in the phones. The quality varies widely,
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
Maybe it's my unsteady hands, but I don't have much luck with using my iPhone to take pictures of stamps. I have been using a scanner (Brother 4way) for years with excellent results.
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re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I love making great images from stamps, and use a scanner for that purpose.
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Login to Like.
12:50:20pm
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I use my scanner to:
1. Make detailed copies of selected individual high-value stamps and of album pages containing high value stamps. This is documented proof of possession that will be needed in case of an insurance claim.
2. Copy every PSE, APEX, and PF certificate I receive.
3. Copy paperwork and accompanying stamp(s) sent for certification (same reason as #1). Stored with postal mailing receipt, Certified Mail receipt, etc.
4. Copy representative samples of homemade album pages or selected stamps requested by (or to show off to) other collectors.
All copies are stored as either pdf or jpg files on both my computer AND a backup thumb drive.
3 Members
like this post.
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re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I like to use my scanner to show the back side of postcards and covers that I add to my album pages.
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
Scanners can also act as very good magnifiers. I use high resolution scans to look at pages of the early and complicated Siam surcharges to identify the stamps. No shaky hands this way.
4 Members
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re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I've been muddling my way through with an iPad Pro camera. The picture quality of the camera is surprisingly good, though. I can quickly snap a pic then zoom in on any flyspeck details I wish to examine - much faster than firing up a scanner.
Sadly, My old laptop is a dinosaur. I suppose I should breakdown and set up a PC with all the peripherals, but I'm really enjoying all of the extra space on my desk.
3 Members
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re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I use my scanner
!- make copies of my fancy cancel pages
2- enlarge stamps to check for double transfers, I then make a copy of the double transfer to keep with the stamp
3- make scans for posting on web sites
4- make scans when using Image Sleuth
5- I send scans to fellow collectors
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I consider a scanner an essential tool for any collector who communicates with other collectors via online methods and a very useful tool for inventory and enhanced detail images for stamps.
I like the idea of using my iPhone for portable and quick copies of pages in albums although I often find that the lack of consistency in my holding of the iPhone over the object to be imaged makes the quality of the content captured somewhat questionable.
Login to Like
this post
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
"I consider a scanner an essential tool for any collector who communicates with other collectors via online methods and a very useful tool for inventory and enhanced detail images for stamps."
Well said and exactly right.
Login to Like
this post
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
Please add your images of how you capture capture stamps (phone. camera, other)!
I decided to make this a general image capture discussion since no one was really responding to poll.
There are commercial stands for mobile phones. I am sure someone has tried to make a homemade one. I also use a DSLR for capturing images under UV light. I also have a USB microscope for up close work.
Scanning has the advantage of being able to hold the stamp flat if you have a curly one.
phone stand
From amazon, If you had any wookworking skills, you could make something like this
A camera with light... this is not my setup (looks better than my DSLR setup). I love the light,
If you tether the camera or phone to your PC via USB, it is no issue to copy the file to your PC (rather then email or upload to cloud to download).
With any close up, having the image device parallel to the subject. good light, and depth of field is important. A scanner depth of field is around 3 to 4mm. (little more than 1/8th inch)
5 Members
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re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I use my iPhone. The picture quality is excellent. Since I bought additional cloud storage all my stamp pictures are easily accessible. God forbid anything bad happens to my collection, but at least my pictures are safe and sound for the insurance company.
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I scan everything, for all the reasons already stated. The only time I take iPhone photos is when a cover cachet has reflective gold or silver that scans as black. Even then, I’ll use scanned images in the eBay listing with a photo of the cachet and explain it’s true color.
The other time I’ll use the phone camera is for items too large for the scanner.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
Over the years I've found a scanner essential to create images for online posts here and elsewhere, and occasionally when listing stamps for sale.
However, I think my main benefit has been in seeing clear details of stamp designs that I wasn't aware of until I saw them in large images on my computer screen.
This is true both for my own stamps that I had often seen but not examined in detail and, even more so, for the many, many stamps, covers and cards that other members have shared.
More than ever before I've been able to appreciate the skills of stamp designers and engravers.
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Auctions
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
I use my scanner all the time ,everything I put up on this site is scanned .the only time I use my camera is if the item is too big for my scanner I use it with Photoshop which allows me to increase or reduce the size of my images .
My original printer scanner a Canon MP640 which I had for years gave up the ghost a few weeks ago I now use a Canon TS 8360a much quieter than the 640.
Brian
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03:14:00am
re: Poll: How Important are Scanners in Stamp Collecting
A scanner is definitely useful. I, too, put almost every item that I want to present online, or send an image of, on the scanner. It also reduces, perhaps almost removes the need for a camera stand. A handheld camera may still be helpful in getting an overview of very large items. On some sites, however, freehand pictures are actually frowned upon and are only accepted if scanning would be too difficult. Among them is the German postmark archive where I frequently submit images.
Martin
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