Watermarks

**BobHarding** · 01 February 2015, 01:45 PM

Hi all,

does anyone know of good ways to highlight watermarks? I have this image:

Click image for larger version.

Name: Watermark.jpg
Views: 191
Size: 108.4 KB
ID: 105925

that shows a watermark fairly clearly but can Xara be used to sharpen it any more?

(the scan was taken of the back of the stamp with a black backing, the stamp is a grey/green colour)

Bob

**Egg Bramhill** · 01 February 2015, 02:54 PM

Hi Bob,

Here's the best I can do. It may have the number 69 (Circled) but other than this I haven't a clue. I reversed it to see if this helped. Ocasionally I see a cartoon tiger but it's like reading inkblots!

**Acorn** · 01 February 2015, 03:09 PM

Probably reading a lot into it but I would say George V 1912-13: http://www.stamp-collecting-world.co...mps_1911d.html.

Acorn

**gwpriester** · 01 February 2015, 04:40 PM

Bout the best I can do.

**Acorn** · 01 February 2015, 05:01 PM

Click image for larger version.

Name: Stamp Watermark.jpg
Views: 139
Size: 47.6 KB
ID: 105928

Acorn

**Egg Bramhill** · 01 February 2015, 06:15 PM

You may well have hit it there Acorn. I can see it in your attachment.

EJ · 01 February 2015, 08:59 PM

Acorn,
I presume your image is a superimposition of the 'real' stamp onto the watermark image?

If you enhanced the image how did you do it? My efforts have been no better than the others shown already.

If you have the stamp then using a UV lamp may bring up something. Don't know about stamp watermarks but that works for a lot of dyes.

Erik

**Acorn** · 02 February 2015, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by EJ

I presume your image is a superimposition of the 'real' stamp onto the watermark image?

Yes it is a superposition to show what I though was there - it all lines up.
I don't know what the OP needs but back in the day I used Benzene to reveal translucent watermarks.
Benzene is a hazardous substance - don't try this at home!

Acorn

EJ · 02 February 2015, 08:29 PM

Hi Acorn,
thanks for the reply. I trawled Google and found that watermarks usually do not fluoresce under UV and that most people use a patent liquid enhancer to bring them up. Benzene and other solvents are used of course since they are cheaper but as you note they are hazardous.

It intrigues me that I could not find much on software enhancement of watermarks since other hard problems such as enhancing faded cave paintings, aboriginal art etc have been successfully brought out. Anyway thanks for bringing up the issue. I'm going to keep it in the back of my mind and I'll bring it back if anything surfaces.

Erik

**Egg Bramhill** · 02 February 2015, 08:45 PM

EJ

It intrigues me that I could not find much on software enhancement of watermarks since other hard problems such as enhancing faded cave paintings, aboriginal art etc have been successfully brought out.

That's because cave paintings are 40,000 years old whilst stamp watermarks are less than 100 years old so developers have had far longer to perfect the cave painting software