The inclusion of a coin or soft drink can or bottle or other common object to gauge the size of an action figure is a long running practice.  It’s an accepted means of determining scale but it’s also incredibly inaccurate. Let’s investigate this problem and demonstrate a pair of  examples where it’s clearly failing. Of course during the course of this exercise we’ll also explore the most simple and obvious solution to this problem.

For this exercise, I’ll be using one of Super7’s range of 3.75 inch ALIEN ReAction figures – The Alien – and a pair of Australian currency coins. Keep in mind, this is the same figure, the only physical changes are the coins being used.

Clearly, the use of coins here is giving 2 very different impressions of the size of the actual figure.  Like I said, there’s 2 different coins being used here influencing this outcome.  On the left is an Australian 20 cent piece and on the right is a 5 cent piece.  Yet, clearly they are not helpful in establishing the true height of this figure on their own.  Instead a false result is delivered.

There’s a few things happening here that lend a false sense of scale in both images.  It’s got nothing to do with the figure – well not much, anyway.  That hasn’t changed but to anyone casually looking at this pair of images, the same figure could be perceived as 2 completely different items.  The figure on the left appears to be substantially smaller than the one on the right – that’s just not the case.

Let’s take a closer look at both of these images:

For the image above, I have used the 20 cent piece.  It’s a decent sized coin and has a diameter of a little over an inch across.  Placing it close to the figure and towards the camera makes it look more prominent in the image.  The high camera angle on the figure looking down on it also lends the illusionary effect of diminishing the figure’s size with the perspective foreshortening down the length of its body from the head to foot.  A small widening gap in my benching on the lower left of the image also enhances the message of the false scale of the figure.

The net result of the combination of all these features makes the Alien figure appear very small. Placement and perspective gives rise to a false impression of the actual size of the item.  In this image above, the figure could easily be perceived to be only 2 inches tall.  That’s substantially less than half the height of what it actually is.  Let’s take a look at the 2nd image for some extreme contrast in this simple exercise in  perceptive manipulation, shall we?

Here, the coin has been replaced and now the smaller 5 cent piece is being used along with a lower camera angle and a closer capture of the scene.  Unlike the image above, this one has been cropped to make the figure more prominent in the composition to aid the illusion.

Once again the figure’s true height is being influenced by very basic camera use and the prop placed next to it.  Note that the smaller coin is now placed towards the rear of the figure.  Not only is the coin smaller in size, but placed in such a way it’s also smaller in the frame as well.  Being shot at an angle reduces it to an elliptical form diminishing its size thus further emphasising and amplifying the figure’s height.  The full height of the Alien almost fills the entire image and it could easily be mistaken for being 6-8 inches tall.  Maybe even bigger.  Which of course, it is not.  This is completely false.

All of these perceptions are largely driven by the assumption you know the size of the coin being used and have faith in understanding its purpose within the image.  What’s more when you look at the top image where both images are laid side by side, there’s no indication that it isn’t the same coin.  Any coin appearing in that pair of images could be a dime, or a sheckel or a zloty or any other globally recognised denomination.  It makes no difference.  The information being conveyed by its presence is false regardless of the presence and currency of the coin.

The greater point I’m making (other than my crappy photos) is that denomination in any currency is inadequate to gauge the true scale of any item.  A coin and a wood grain surface is simply not enough.  While these are deliberate examples of how false information can be created and deceptively conveyed; the principles still apply to actions of good intentions.

Simply put, just placing a coin next to an item isn’t enough – it may be adequate for you but the rest of the world may disagree.

Here’s the same figure with a 12 inch ruler.  Surprisingly, the actual size of the figure is revealed to be 4.5 inches tall.  The Alien is the tallest item in a range of 3.75 inch figures representing a character that’s 8 feet tall so it’s scaled well with the other human characters in the series.  The true height is revealed.

There’s no ambiguity when a ruler is employed for this task.  The absolute easiest way to establish this measurement is to use a tool that is calibrated accordingly.  Coins just aren’t intended for this purpose.

Unlike dimes and quarters (which I haven’t used since I was in the US several years ago) rulers are calibrated in Metric and Imperial units. They are familiar and recognised international standards and anyone throughout the world will instantly be aware of how big your item is.  There’s no duplicity here – intentional or otherwise.  As inches are still the standard by which dimensions of toys are recognised, a ruler calibrated in Imperial units is preferred.  Of course, both Metric and Imperial is good, too.  Hell, any properly calibrated ruler or tape measure, really.  Unlike coins, soft drink cans, beer bottles and other common objects used to determine scale rulers have no variation in how they are calibrated.  Accuracy is global and assured.

If you really want people to understand and appreciate the size and scale of your item – whether it be for sale on Ebay or for demonstration purposes on forums or Facebook – a ruler is simply your best option.  If you’re adequately intelligent and canny enough to use the internet then you’re probably civilised enough* to have one somewhere nearby, anyway.

As an addendum to this item, here’s both coins I used for this exercise.  On the left is the Australian 5 cent piece; on the right is 20 cents. Above them is a ruler to establish their actual size.  One is an internationally recognised standard of measurement, the other two are local currency.  The coins are photographed heads up so you can understand and appreciate how different size coins can lead to ambiguity when placed individually next to an item.

Say, what?  you’re not familiar with Australian currency?  Well, guess what – most of the world isn’t familiar with the currency of your country, either.  I know that’s going to be a surprise to some people, but it’s true.   Besides, you don’t go shopping down to the local supermarket with a ruler – and potentially risk being arrested – so please stop using hard currency as a measuring guide.  😉

-Windebieste.

*Clearly, evidence suggests that’s not necessarily the case for many online users. lol.