Postage Stamp Chat Board and Stamp Bulletin Board Forum

I recently misplaced my perf gauge, but found this on the web:

http://webspace.webring.com/people/md/dakshina_kan_pa/download/perf.pdf

Not perfect, but will do as a stand-in till I find mine.

I was worried about it printing off on the correct scale, but it seems to be spot on.

I scanned my SG perf gauge into the computer at the same res I scan stamps to check for faults (600dpi)

Then I overlay the perf gauge over the scanned stamp images to confirm the perfs while looking for errors!

Saves staring at itty bitty dots when I can look at it on screen nice and large!

I've got some auto perf detecting software "EzGrader" - but havent tried it yet.

Hi Allanswood,

Tried EZ-Grader myself - I think your idea of scanning in your Perf guage would be far superior to the EZ-Grader software. Didn't find it very easy to use or useful.

D.

Well I'm still finding faster and faster ways and it depends I guess on your software.
I have about 10 photo editing software programs but normally just use PhotoImpact as it was free a few years ago.

I also have Photoshop Elements which I think allows me to "Ghost" or layer one image lightly (transparent) over another. I'm still playing with that one.

Anyway I've put a couple of reduced images here as my actual Perf Gauge scan is about 2,500 pixels tall.




same shot large size screen grab:





For now I slide the stamp over the gauge (take a copy and paste it to the gauge and move it abut, but don't save the picture).

Ultimately I'm working on just having the gauge as a "transparency" (25%?) to slide over the scan of a page of stamps and just make notations as I go.
Or I can "erase" the white areas of the gauge away just leaving the lines to move over the stamps.

It also saves worrying about damage to dragging a stamp over the gauge or bending due to positioning using the tweezers.

And if you eyes aren't to good then having a stamp the size of an A5 sheet of paper is so much easier!


Actually I just had an idea! When I get the transparency idea working right I''ll just load a jpg picture of it here ( and if anyone wants the large format one or I'll email it out) and then anyone can use it themselves. Just remember to use the same scan setting of 600dpi. (Don't use the gauge above as I shrank it)

Greg -

They sell transparancy sheets for projectors; you could print the gauge on that sheet and overlay it on stamps.

Yes I know Erik,
It will make for a good comparison to the orginal.

But I'm thinking along the lines of an "On Screen" digital transparency - imagine just moving that around a sheet of scanned stamps!

600 dpi On Screen Perf Gauge for Computers

Here is a Proof of Concept!
It works.





The actual size at 100% on screen measures 300mm wide (that's 12 inch's).

When I have finished cleaning up the rest of the spaces on my "on screen perf gauge", I'll post again and if anyone wants one I can email it to you! As a JPG it will be 730kb in size.

Tim Tam's gratefully accepted as gifts!

Actually I'll start a new thread with a catchy title.

Allanswood,

thanks for the offer - I'll take one please !

Darrin.

p.s you should sell them

what a great idea. would you email me that jpg?