Early American Glass Cup Plate Photos, Cupplates.org

Photographing Glass Cup Plates by Arch Doty

Photographing Cup Plates can be difficult because of the many variations in their design, color and opacity.

In the case of Opaque Plates a black background may be advisable.

As is often the case, the simplest method is usually not the best. Much better results will be attained if the Plates are photographed against a Light Box.

When using a light box the plate may be placed directly on the translucent surface of the box.

Usually better results will result from locating the Plate a few inches above the surface of the light box.

The above pictures were made using a fixture that provides maximum flexibility when photographing Cup Plates.

As shown below, the top of this fixture is a piece of translucent plastic, while the bottom is a transparent sheet of the same material. Dimensions ( which are not at all critical ) are 8" x 9" x 15". All of the materials needed to construct a fixture of this kind may be obtained in a single trip to Home Depot, or an equivalent hardware store.

The fixture is shown sitting on top of a light box, but any desired source may be used. For correct color balance, however, any artificial light used should have a "color temperature" of approximately 5000k ( sunny daylight at noon is 5500k, or "kelvin" ).


Plate on translucent side	Plate on transparent side

Usually either film or digital cameras provide adequate Cup Plate pictures. However, digital cameras offer unequaled advantages in most cases. Modern software, such as Adobe's Photoshop or Microsoft's Picture It make it very easy to crop or enlarge the image to correct the brightness and contast or to enhance the focus. Most of these software programs are intuitive in operation and do not need reference to manuals or instruction sheets. Best of all is that all of this tailoring of a Cup Plate image may be done on any home computer and finished pictures may be printed immediately.

Digital cameras are particularly suited to identify minute differences between Cup Plates. To accomplish this the two Cup Plates to be compared are first photographed with a digital camera - being sure that they are both in identical locations when being photographed. The resulting images are then enlarged ( about twice normal size is usually preferable ) and printed. However, instead of printing on the uaual inkjet photographic paper they are printed on transparentcy film of the kind used to make images for use in overhead projectors.

When the two images have been printed they may be compared by placing them on a light box and stacking them one above the other. This method will enable the viewer to see tiny differences that may be missed by viewing a Cup Plate with the naked eye. Note: This is particularly good for comparing variants

Most digital cameras offer the ability to take Macro, or extreme closeup photographs. This feature, plus a light box, allows examination of very small features on Cup Plates. The following examination of very small features on Cup Plates. The following macro photographs shows the minute differences that Bilane found between a LR 642 plate and his 642AX1


642AX1	642

If camera equipment is not readily available, Cup Plate images may be made by the use of copying machines or computer scanners. Although effective, neither is better when compared to cameras. The following images were made of a Cup Plate on white and black backgrounds using a computer scanner. Both images were enhanced by the use of a computer software program ( Picture It )

Notes:

Light boxes are readily available from artist's supply and photographic stores, or on the Internet. One of the many kinds suitable is the 10 x 12" model manufactured by Gagne and available for approximately $55.00 from many sources ( see www.calumetphoto.com for example ). Be sure to buy a model equipped with 5000K color corrected bulbs. A box which uses two bulbs ( such as the one referenced above ) will provide more even illumination than single bulb models.

Transparency paper may be obtained at any computer supply store ( Appolo "Transparency Film for Ink Jet Printers, No. CG7031S' is one of the many kinds available ).