Being new to THR, I'm assuming that at some time there's been a thread like this...but another can't hurt!
Just general tips, things you do that are just simple, cool ideas. I'll start the ball rolling with one of my own.
Being an amateur photographer, and a one-time digital imaging consultant, I notice that a lot of people take pictures of their guns for posting and/or insurance purposes, with mixed results. If you have access to an average flatbed scanner, try just doing a direct scan of the gun. I do this for all mine, and make sure they're included in backup files for insurance documentation. Depending on how much resolution you use, you would not believe how detailed the scans can be! Long guns can be scanned in sections and then just stitched together with any picture editing program. Besides the great detail, you never have to worry about lighting.
Here's an example, and keep in mind that this is a reduced copy of a .jpg which was a reduced copy of a .bmp file. You can make it as fine or simple as you set the scanner.
[This was a shot of the 4566, the only change to it has been a set of S&W logo Hogue rubber grips. Serial number purposely blurred.]
The 10/22 was scanned in sections...Quality suffers from downsizing for web, but you "get the picture" on sectional scans. That was done right after resanding/refinishing a brand new stock on a brand new rifle. [Later refinement was a rubber butt pad to give my long arms another inch or two of distance.]
I've scanned and printed pictures of guns so lifelike, that pictures on the wall in my den have been mistaken for the actual! Two reminders...place it easy on the glass, and make sure it's clean and dry, relatively free of solvents which can cloud the scanner glass. Finally, after placing it, just cover with any old suitably colored material for the background...obviously the cover won't close with a gun in there!
Just general tips, things you do that are just simple, cool ideas. I'll start the ball rolling with one of my own.
Being an amateur photographer, and a one-time digital imaging consultant, I notice that a lot of people take pictures of their guns for posting and/or insurance purposes, with mixed results. If you have access to an average flatbed scanner, try just doing a direct scan of the gun. I do this for all mine, and make sure they're included in backup files for insurance documentation. Depending on how much resolution you use, you would not believe how detailed the scans can be! Long guns can be scanned in sections and then just stitched together with any picture editing program. Besides the great detail, you never have to worry about lighting.
Here's an example, and keep in mind that this is a reduced copy of a .jpg which was a reduced copy of a .bmp file. You can make it as fine or simple as you set the scanner.
[This was a shot of the 4566, the only change to it has been a set of S&W logo Hogue rubber grips. Serial number purposely blurred.]
The 10/22 was scanned in sections...Quality suffers from downsizing for web, but you "get the picture" on sectional scans. That was done right after resanding/refinishing a brand new stock on a brand new rifle. [Later refinement was a rubber butt pad to give my long arms another inch or two of distance.]
I've scanned and printed pictures of guns so lifelike, that pictures on the wall in my den have been mistaken for the actual! Two reminders...place it easy on the glass, and make sure it's clean and dry, relatively free of solvents which can cloud the scanner glass. Finally, after placing it, just cover with any old suitably colored material for the background...obviously the cover won't close with a gun in there!
