How do you guys take pics of paint defects?

[Kaban]

Hi

I usually never have time to fuss around with my camera when I am doing any detail work because I figured it would take too much time and would require too many breaks to stop and snap pics.

I have a Nikon D80 that I've been shooting with for years, I'm fairly decent with it (always in manual mode, etc.)

I tried taking some pics of paint defects on a car I am about to correct. It's silver (which of course makes things even more interesting). I can see the defects when I put a spot light to it (Brinkmann), but the camera won't capture what I am seeing.

I'm just wondering if anyone has a wide angle pic of their setup when taking pics of swirls and so on?

Anyone?

[Mike Phillips]

I have an older article that talks about how to capture swirls with your camera, no special tips for silver but if you have bright overhead sun or a bright light the tips and techniques work just as good...

From my article list...


Photography and Working with Pictures on the Internet

If you're going to be a "Forum Person" on ANY forum, help yourself by learning how to work with picture on the Internet (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/40083-if-you-re-going-forum-person-any-forum-help-yourself-learning-how-work-picture-internet.html)


How to resize your photos before uploading to a photo gallery (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tips-techniques-how-articles-interacting-discussion-forums/35250-how-resize-your-photos-before-uploading-photo-gallery.html) - Using Easy Thumbnails

Handiest little picture viewer tool I've been using for years now... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tips-techniques-how-articles-interacting-discussion-forums/26202-handiest-little-picture-viewer-tool-i-ve-been-using-years-now.html)

How to upload a photo into your Autogeek Photo Gallery (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-do-different-types-things-ag-discussion-forum/21295-how-upload-photo-into-your-autogeek-photo-gallery.html)

How to insert an image from your photo gallery into your message (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles-discussion-forums/21313-how-insert-image-your-photo-gallery-into-your-message.html)

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tips-techniques-how-articles-interacting-discussion-forums/26917-how-capture-swirls-scratches-etchings-other-surface-defects-your-camera.html) <-- This one

How-to work with pictures on discussion forums (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles-discussion-forums/21320-how-work-pictures-discussion-forums.html)

How to crop out the fluff and resize your pictures! - Using FREE online software! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tips-techniques-how-articles-interacting-discussion-forums/23918-how-crop-out-fluff-resize-your-pictures-using-free-online-software.html)

Photobucket and Missing Pictures (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/23699-photobucket-missing-pictures.html)


:Picture:

[Sick03stang]

Hi

I usually never have time to fuss around with my camera when I am doing any detail work because I figured it would take too much time and would require too many breaks to stop and snap pics.

I have a Nikon D80 that I've been shooting with for years, I'm fairly decent with it (always in manual mode, etc.)

I tried taking some pics of paint defects on a car I am about to correct. It's silver (which of course makes things even more interesting). I can see the defects when I put a spot light to it (Brinkmann), but the camera won't capture what I am seeing.

I'm just wondering if anyone has a wide angle pic of their setup when taking pics of swirls and so on?

Anyone?

Ive heard puting your hand by the paint defects help the camera focus on that area and capture the defects better.

[Mike Phillips]

Ive heard puting your hand by the paint defects help the camera focus on that area and capture the defects better.


Exactly... or a dime, or a piece of painter's tape, or piece of clay or even a business card...

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tips-techniques-how-articles-interacting-discussion-forums/26917-how-capture-swirls-scratches-etchings-other-surface-defects-your-camera.html) <-- This one




Due credit where credit is due
This article was originally written by me, (Mike Phillips), and posted to MeguiarsOnline on May 28th, 2006 and it can be found here,

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13318)

Sometimes I will try to re-write articles I have written on the Internet and sometimes it's really hard to re-write what I've already written, in these cases it's easier to share the original article and provide a link back to the originating site out of respect for the other site and the law, and for good reasons of good Netiquette. I don't like seeing my articles stolen or re-written by others and then seeing my worked presented as someone else's and wouldn't do that to anyone else.

-Mike Phillips




A few tips and techniques for helping your camera to focus on the surface so you can capture the defects in the paint you're hoping to remove.


Finger Pointing Focus Technique
Besides figuring out the right camera setting for your specific camera, another quick, simple way to help your camera focus on a defect you're trying to capture with a picture is to simply place your index finger close to the defect on or hovering over the finish then carefully captures a few pictures and in most cases you'll get a couple you can use on the Internet. This works for Swirls, Scratches, Etchings, Water Spots both Type I and Type II, Stains, Oxidation, etc. Basically anything on the surface. The reason you need to give the camera something to focus on is because often times when taking shots of a large, uniform, flat surface, once any focus points are zoomed out of the picture your camera has nothing to sense and focus on.

Detailing Clay
You can also use a little piece of detailing clay because in most cases you have some detailing clay around. If the paint is clean and it should when trying to capture pictures of surface defects, then when you're done taking your pictures you should be okay to put the little piece of clay back into the large piece you took it from or just through it away. A small piece will work fine. (See picture below).

Coin
A coin can also be used if the surface is flat and horizontal like the hood. Place the coin carefully onto the paint so as not to instill a scratch. If you already have a flawless, swirl-free finish then maybe stick with the finger or clay technique. If you're getting ready to buff the car out then as long as you're careful you'll be okay; remember you're going to be buffing out the paint and likely the defect you're trying to capture with a picture.


Cobweb Swirls or Cobweb-Effect
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2LimoSwirls007.jpg


Cobweb Swirls or Cobweb-Effect
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2VolvoHorrificSwirlsCrop.jpg


Cobweb Swirls or Cobweb-Effect
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2VolvoHorrificSwirls.jpg



Detailing Clay
Another way to help your camera focus on a surface defect is to place something on the surface of the paint, for example in the below picture we placed a small piece of detailing clay on the paint, then let the camera auto focus and wa-la, perfectly captured swirls, scratches and a bird dropping etching in the paint.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/649/PieceofClayFocusTrick.jpg



Random, Isolated Deeper Scratch
Scratch Removed using Ultimate Compound (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29753)
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1010/Jan10_2009OG_013.jpg




An Isolated Bird Dropping Etching
How To Remove a Bird Dropping Etching by Hand using M105 Ultra Cut Compound (http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25251)
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/797/M105RemoveBirdDropping002c.jpg


Photos courtesy of MeguiarsOnline.com


:)

[Mike Phillips]

Ive heard putting your hand by the paint defects help the camera focus on that area and capture the defects better.


Over the years, once in a while someone will post,

In your pictures, I always see you pointing towards the swirls?


And that's what it looks like, but that's just a secondary benefit, the real reason you see my finger pointing to pictures of swirls so many pictures because since I always have my finger with me... I simply place my finger on the paint and then frame up the shot, let the camera auto focus on my finger and by default I capture the swirls, or whatever the defect is I'm trying to capture.


In this article I used a business card to enable the camera to focus...

Hologram Free with a Rotary Buffer (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/43684-hologram-free-rotary-buffer.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1332/HologramFree11.jpg




In this article I used a piece of clay...

Bumblebee - Testing out the NEW DeWALT DWP849X (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/37831-bumblebee-testing-out-new-dewalt-dwp849x.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1202/49SedanDelivery004.jpg


:xyxthumbs:

[Kaban]

Thank you so much guys. Mike, thanks for all your efforts. Superb material as always.

[neat e34]

Have also been having trouble with this... Thanks for the tips!