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Old August 8th 11, 09:47 AM posted to rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
Victor Manta
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Posts: 1,256
Default scanning watermarks

"Pedro" wrote in message
...
"Billns" wrote in message
...
On 8/7/2011 4:44 AM, Victor Manta wrote:
wrote in message
...
hello all,
I'm trying to get a decent digital image of a watermark with my
scanner.
My method is still not perfect although I manage to see the watermark
but
not very clear. I'd appreciate very much if anyone could help me or
provide directions in achieving this goal in a better way.

Thanks,
pedro

Found in the RCSD archive but Pedro won't be able to read this answer
due to
his killing instincts:
--------------------

Hi,

After a little trial and error I've found a way to get nice JPG's of
watermarks.

1) Place the stamp face down on the bottom of a watermark tray (the
smooth
side) and saturate with fluid.
2) Place the tray face up on the scanner.
3) Set the scan margins a little bit inside the borders of the stamp, so
none of the tray shows.
4) Scan at hi-res and manipulate the image as desired.

The images are very clear, although not as clear as in Scott, makes me
wonder if the wmk images they use are hand drawn or cleaned up somehow.

Anyone else do this?

--Bob Russell

------------------------------

What am I missing here? It looks like this will work only if the tray is
glass or at least transparent on the bottom. My watermark tray is all
black plastic.

Personally, I compare the watermark shown on the stamp in the tray with
the picture in the Scott catalog to determine what the catalog number
should be.

Bill



Hello,
Sit F. was probably talking about a transparent tray, like a petri dish,
for instance. The problem here is how to obtain good quality images of the
watermark using a scanner. That will allow me to send the result via
email, for example to discuss with other stamp collector fellows about
which watermark in the catalog corresponds to my stamp's. Many times
watermarks are not clearly visible, and identification could be very hard,
but with the opinion of others perhaps one can have a better idea about
which is it.

best regards,
Pedro


It wasn't Sir F. who was talking about the transparent tray but Bob Russell.
His proposal is relevant for the discussed topic. The advantage of using
computer readable images of stamps, watermarks, perforations, etc. is
obvious.

Just to notice that from the points 1) and 2) of Bob's posting I infer that
finally the back of the stamp should face, through the transparent tray, the
scanner's plate.

Here is another relevant posting from the archive, posted in 2006 by Jay
Carrigan:

"My technique is to dip the stamp in watermark fluid, slip in into an
oversized black mount and quickly scan it before it dries. No further
manipulation required.

Here's a scan of a Germany stamp with a reversed watermark variety:
http://www.jaypex.com/Germany/587Y.jpg. "

The link still works!

If a good soul comments on my posting then Pedro will be able to read it and
maybe think twice as well about his understanding of some things written
here as about who is losing what by "killing" participants.

--
Victor Manta, PWO, AIJP

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