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STUDIO 3D COLLECTS stereo images of every sort, but the main collection consists of
vintage (1950-1970's) stereo transparencies. These slides must be graded and categorized.
Both of these tasks are subjective, but we will here describe our system.
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GRADING COLORS and VALUES
3/4" ROUND stickers are wrapped around the top center of a stereo slide, showing grade. Grades are not permanent and can be up or downgraded at any time... there's often a "what was I thinking?" upon review! Or tastes are refined with a more mature collection... it's all subjective, anyway.
(No round Gold available, cut from 3/4 x 2 1/4" labels)
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A+
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GOLD
This represents perfection in stereo photography. Worthy of museum exhibition. Absolute faves of the collection. Extremely rare.
Value $25++
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A
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ROYAL BLUE
Excellent stereo, great composition and exposure. Engaging content. Hall of Fame worthy. Very rare.
Value $20+ |
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A-
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LIGHT BLUE
Really great image, may have flaws.
Value $10+ |
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B+
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GREEN
Great image, worth sharing.
Value $3-5+ |
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B
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YELLOW
Good image, worth keeping.
Value $2+ |
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B-
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ORANGE
Marginal image, just worth keeping or use as trade.
Value $1+ |
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C
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RED
Run of the mill, average amateur shot. Sell or trade.
Value $1- |
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Categories are tough to develop, since images may often fall into multiple categories.
We try to determine the strongest element in the image for category placement.
Categories may also be determined by one's own collecting interests. Our current category list:
- PEOPLE For people images that don't fall into one of the other categories.
- PORTRAIT
Mostly face
- KIDS
School, graduation, birthday (no adults)
- WEDDING
FORMAL wear
- CELEBRITIES
- ADULT PARTY
Booze, bars, adults acting badly, making out, birthday (no kids)
- PINUP Models, swimsuit (regular beach in Recreation),
skin, lingerie
- NUDES
Topless or less...
- WOMEN Usually young, feminine- features fashion, gown, hairstyle- pageant
- MEN
Single or groups
- FAMILY
Mom/dad with kids
- OUTDOOR SHOW
Parades, festivals, fairs, street performers, etc. (Rose
Parade is a special category).
- INDOOR SHOW
Generally stage or auditorium shows, circuses, musicians etc.
- FOREIGN Travel
Mostly vacation/scenic shots from around the world (non-North
America).
- AMERICAN
Travel Vacations at scenic U.S. and Canada destinations. (Places
separate category)
- RECREATION
A lot of fishing and captured fish, hunting, baseball, etc. Hobbies,
games, toys. Beach, pool.
- CHRISTMAS
Features Christmas decorations, presents
- COSTUMES
Including Halloween, not part of a show.
- PLACES
Tourist Attractions- Coney Island , Knotts Berry
Farm, etc Cities, Hotels (Disney and World's
Fairs are special categories, Zoo
in Creatures)
- TRANSPORTATION
Features autos, trains, planes, boats, gas stations, etc.
- HOMES
Interiors and exteriors, usually without people
- INDUSTRY
People at work, workplaces; military (Stores separate
category)
- RELIGIOUS
Christian and Jewish ceremonies (Bar Mitzvah, Communion), etc
- ADVERSITY
Hospital, Nurses, Dental other medical... Death related. Floods,
accidents, fires etc
- ART
Special effects and table tops, sculpture and drawing, floral
- 3D
CLUB SHOTS 3D Club winners, title slides, etc
- CREATURE
Features Animals, Birds, Fish, Insects with/without people, zoo, aquarium
- 3D STUFF
3D Camera, viewer, glasses, projector visible (2D, etc in Media)
- STORES
Store fronts or interiors, warehouses, merchandise (Commercial
separate category)
- MACRO
Ultra closeup
- FOOD
Diner, Kitchen, eating. Bar B Q
- MEDIA
TV or radio shown, movie making, studios- 2D cameras
- COMMERCIAL
Advertising and promotion via stereo slides
- PRINTED LABEL
Images marketed for sale with titles printed on mount (Realist
numbered Permamount separate)
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WHICH MOUNT IS BEST FOR STEREO SLIDES?
We have decided, after many years and millions (?!) of slides, that RBT plastic mounts are by far the best and most versatile. Near any slide pair can be accommodated, from Nimslo to full-frame.
IS IT BEST TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL MOUNT?
We do like to keep the original mount if the stereo window is well placed and images are aligned. However, many images benefit from precision mounting so many do get remounted. We do not like to store glass slides, so glass almost always is removed. (Glass adds weight and thickness, as well as inability to clean properly for scanning or viewing.) B quality slides are usually remounted in heat-sealed cardboard, while A quality are remounted in RBT.
HOW ARE DESCRIPTIONS TRANSCRIBED TO REMOUNTED SLIDES?
Descriptions add much to the value of an image so we like to keep any information from the original mount. If on a label, the label may come easily off (especially if under glass), and can be adhered to new mount with double sided tape. But if there is writing on the (card) mount or on a label glued to glass, we use a piece of clear packing tape to rip off the top layer of paper with the enscription hopefully still intact. Worse can scenario is that the words and date are simply transcribed to the new mount. (It's best, if possible, to get the original writing for personality and to match against other slides to see if same photographer shot them).
DO YOU OFTEN KNOW WHO DID THE PHOTOGRAPHY?
Unfortunately in most cases the photographers are unknown. If we are lucky enough to know who took the photos, we make sure the names are on the mounts- often we print author's name on labels when there are many by same person. Knowing the photographer also adds value to an image.
DO YOU TRY TO KEEP "GROUPS" TOGETHER?
Yes, and no. Very often one will get a series of images of the same situation or people. While we try to keep groups together, very often they are split due to grading differences or simply filing glitches. Also, when we run across very similar images, we will pick one to keep and put the other one up for sale or trade.
HOW ARE STEREO SLIDES STORED?
Good question! We were in favor of slide pages in notebooks for many years- especially when our slide shows were mostly 2x2 slide pairs. Now that we have shifted to 41x101mm single mounts for slide pairs, we have also shifted to drawers with boxes of slides. They just seem more easily transported and accessed. Pages or boxes? There's good reasons for either. We still use both.
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Slide pair mounted in RBT, original label
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Original slide mount with description, date
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Description, date transcribed with fine Sharpie
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Photographer's name on modern label affixed to back
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