Republic of Cuba Scanning Staybrite Socialism

[Guest Rick Research]

The one thing that my Wonder Epson scanner CANNOT do is accurately capture SHINY metallic surfaces...

which is what 90% of Cuban awards have.

Here is my latest medal, with the usual flashed on Staybrite type finish, scanned from an originally upside down position (left) and scanned right side up (right).

We're going to have "issues" comparing medals when details like the curved molding over the door under the blazing building "show" in one, but not in the other-- simply because of reflection. Such "differences" drive collectors in other specialties crazy, so be aware that our varying technologies are going to be behind most such "matching up" problems.

[Ed_Haynes]

Sometimes scanning with a black (= "infinity") background (which I klnow you hate so much ) works, but shiny things are a scanning problem. Almost worth dragging out the old CAMERA (that uses FILM -- can you still buy that stuff?).

[Guest Rick Research]

It just all comes out anthracite, black on more black. I've tried making the scans in Retro Tech black and white, and even "inverting" the colors for a negative effect, but the high, irregular relief and horrid cheap flashed finish defeats any version of the scanning process.

Camera shots probably would work best, but have neither the equipment nor the talent.

We of the Lonely Vanguard just have to be prepared for when the Happy Day comes and suddenly eBay is awash and everrrrrrybody gets interested (before the supply dries up, as it did USSR and DDR) that it will be particularly difficult to "match up" comparison scans-- when two of the SAME object can come out as different as the above.

[Guest Rick Research]

Here is another example-- the SAME medal, rotated 90 degrees each time. These were scanned top left to top right, bottom left and bottom right as:

right side up, upside down, left side up, right side up:

Rather alarming (especially that 1st one ) how much "variation" the shadowing produces on these wretched Staybrite finishes!