A brighter photograph does not necessarily mean an engraved sample has stronger contrast. Camera exposure can change the appearance of both the mark and the surrounding surface.
Keep the capture conditions visible
For a comparison, place samples under the same lighting and use a consistent camera position. Where the camera permits it, keep exposure and white balance consistent. Record any adjustment that was needed rather than presenting an edited image as directly comparable with an untouched one.
Include a whole-sample photograph as well as a detail view. Retain the original files and identify crops or brightness edits in the working record. Avoid selectively darkening the engraved area to make the result look more decisive.
Describe appearance without inventing measurements
Write what can actually be observed in the saved images and explain the capture conditions. If exposure changed between shots, say that visual comparison is limited. A photo does not measure engraving depth, durability or repeatability. Treat it as one record of one specimen, and keep any separate physical observations attached to that specimen's identifier.
Browse related planning notes in /updates/.