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Stamps: scanning, blowing up, framing....

  • 24-06-2014 3:23pm
    #1
    King Ian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭


    I'd appreciate any advice that anyone had on this, particularly anyone who has done it before.

    I've managed to acquire a rare(ish) stamp which is of significance to my family because a long-deceased relative of ours is depicted in it. I was hoping to somehow scan it, increase it in size (to about A5 at the very least, if not bigger), and then to print it on photographic paper, and frame it.

    The obvious problem is that because stamps are small buggers, the resolution of even a high-tech scanner (eg. a professional place like Hackett's on Baggot Street) would have difficulty in blowing it up in size without a significant loss of resolution.

    I've seen online that it can be done using a macro-lense camera (the kind of camera they use to film and photograph things like insects) but I've no idea how to go about doing this......

    I'm guessing that I'm not the first person to ever think of doing this, so I wonder if anyone has managed to do it successfully or has any advice or a suggestion of where I could get it scanned properly? Many thanks


Comments

  • #2
    King Ian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭King Ian


    This is what I hope to do (if you ignore the ghastly ducks.....)

    duckprint2.JPG


  • #3
    hexosan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,740 ✭✭✭hexosan


    Which stamp is it


  • #4
    King Ian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭King Ian


    hexosan wrote: »
    Which stamp is it

    What difference does that make?


  • #5
    hexosan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,740 ✭✭✭hexosan


    Well someone on here might also have a copy and email you a scan.


  • #6
    King Ian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭King Ian


    hexosan wrote: »
    Well someone on here might also have a copy and email you a scan.

    No offence, but that seems like quite a long shot!


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  • #7
    hexosan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,740 ✭✭✭hexosan


    King Ian wrote: »
    No offence, but that seems like quite a long shot!

    Well don't bother then


  • #8
    Blade
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Music Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 4,499 Mod ✭✭✭✭Blade


    King Ian wrote: »
    The obvious problem is that because stamps are small buggers, the resolution of even a high-tech scanner (eg. a professional place like Hackett's on Baggot Street) would have difficulty in blowing it up in size without a significant loss of resolution.

    The original stamp might only have a resolution of say 300 DPI when it was printed. So if you scan that in 300 DPI or greater you will NOT lose any quality. You do not need a professional scanner as it will make no difference. If you look at your stamp under a glass you'll see the dots of the printing. Of course when you enlarge it you'll see the dots as all you're doing is making them bigger. Using a camera will make no difference, a good scanner is perfectly capable of picking up what's there. You cannot get any better quality than what's actually there to begin with!

    That's all you can do, then perhaps edit it in Photoshop to smooth out dots, I'm sure there's plug-ins or filters you can get especially for that. Actually there's lots of things you could try in Photoshop to 'join the dots' and get a nice picture out of it.


  • #9
    King Ian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭King Ian


    Blade wrote: »
    The original stamp might only have a resolution of say 300 DPI when it was printed. So if you scan that in 300 DPI or greater you will NOT lose any quality. You do not need a professional scanner as it will make no difference. If you look at your stamp under a glass you'll see the dots of the printing. Of course when you enlarge it you'll see the dots as all you're doing is making them bigger. Using a camera will make no difference, a good scanner is perfectly capable of picking up what's there. You cannot get any better quality than what's actually there to begin with!

    That's all you can do, then perhaps edit it in Photoshop to smooth out dots, I'm sure there's plug-ins or filters you can get especially for that. Actually there's lots of things you could try in Photoshop to 'join the dots' and get a nice picture out of it.

    Belated thanks for these points. Very useful


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