Photo Color Accuracy/Lighting Questions

[BlackCatStudio98]

I have a point and shoot camera and for the most part it is pretty accurate for colors. But sometimes it is not, and I am unable to make the colors accurate on the computer either. So do I need a DSLR to get the most accurate colors or is there something else I can do? I can't buy a DSLR right now, so I'm hoping I can do something else.

What about studio lighting? I'm taking my pictures outside and I use a lightbox to diffuse the light. In cases where I can't get accurate colors outside, would I be able to use photography lighting inside and get different color results? And if so, what kind of lights would be best?

I'm trying to photograph a $75 necklace (the most expensive item I have had for sale) and the colors for part of the necklace aren't right. I'm so disappointed because the pictures turned out really good otherwise and I want to get this necklace listed, but I can't have someone pay $75 and have the item look different when they get it. It doesn't look better or worse in the pictures vs in person, it just looks different.

Thank you for any help you can give me!

[StuckOnSilver]

Amy I love your work and would love to see your next necklace. I have a Coolpix point and shoot. I am constantly trying to capture the beauty of jewelry. My "lightbox" consists of white poster board on a chair near a window.

[LittleAcornToronto]

I'm a big fan of shooting my items in front of a north facing window... I have a very good camera, but all things said and done - I still have to colour-correct in Photoshop

[Former_Member]

Do you have an auto mode on your camera? I play with my shutter speed and such until the image on the camera screen looks like color I'm looking at in my item.

[ManmadeKnitting]

Using a lightroom helps, although I do like taking photos, products shots I can't seem to get right, the color of reds are the hardest to do at the best of time.

I would play around with the setting on your camera and then use editing software like photoshop.

I wish you all the best will it.

[CozyDawg]

I find natural lighting to be the best. My lights inside will either make my photos too yellow or too blue.

[TooSplendidSupplies]

I use a photo box with GE daylight fluorescent bulbs and edit with GIMP. There's a good tutorial on how to do a one click color correction on there as long as you have a white background. You just click on a part of the picture that should be white, and it adjusts all the other colors accordingly. It fixed the pink background that I get sometimes because the lamps I use have a red paint inside.

I would strongly suggest making sure that you get spotlight style lamps with a white or gray interior so it will affect the color less and the spotlight will direct the light at your lightbox.

[Former_Member]

For me, I've used a "real life lightbox" technique to get great photos. Basically, I photograph in a room with light colored walls and windows on at least two sides of the surface I'm photographing.

I've found that it helps to have something "true" white in your photo so the camera can register that for color balance. Your photos are all taken on dark surfaces, so that may be throwing off the colors.

For example in another shop of mine, the white here is the wall: https://www.etsy.com/transaction/115786273?

The white here is a roll of thread: https://www.etsy.com/transaction/125257780?

[BlackCatStudio98]

Bev, thank you so much, that's so sweet!

SeismicShop, I will try having something white and see what happens.

Thank you for the tips everyone!

I have tried a few editing programs, but have never tried photoshop. Is it worth paying for? Would it be better for color correction?

[Former_Member]

I use a point and shoot camera and I shoot my items indoors on a clear day by a window on a large piece of white cardboard. The colours stay true but I do edit for brightness just using the photo editing programme that comes with Microsoft Office. Works great

[TooSplendidSupplies]

I think Photoshop has a trial option so you can see if it's worth it for you. Personally, I get all the functionality I need from a free program, and Photoshop has just as steep of a learning curve. But I know a lot of people who swear by Photoshop.

[Former_Member]

I do the same thing as bev (first page, first post)! I just use a poster board on a chair near my glass door. I get plenty of light, but I've been working on capturing that better... It is quite difficult!

[ManmadeKnitting]

Photoshop you can use for 30 days for free from Adobe then you can make up your mind whether to buy it or maybe take out a monthly subscription. I pay $9.99 a month for Lightroom and Photoshop.

[BlackCatStudio98]

Thanks Kevin!

[PreciousReikiGems]

A photographer from out local gallery suggested I try Photoshop Elements, which he said is much easier for a non-photographer to use, and which is much cheaper than full Photoshop. I've got it downloaded and it is pretty easy to use, but I haven't explored all the options yet.

I didn't see if your camera has a white balance function - if so, you might want to try using a gray card when setting the WB.

What is the color that isn't coming out?

[miloglass]

I first started with a point and shoot camera. I then downloaded PhotoScape a free program which is very user friendly. I still use it, When looking at your pictures I notice a lot of them have a blue hue. This program allows you to adjust.

[Former_Member]

An alternative to Photoshop is GIMP. It has most of the functions and should be more than sufficient for color editing, and it's free. :)

[Former_Member]

Photoshop Elements has pretty much all you need without the big photoshop price :) I use a Nikon Coolpix but will get another brand next year as it has trouble with capturing fluorescent colours and getting fine detail in the dark. Using a T5 daylight bulb on a plant stand ( I have the "Jump Start" kind) helps when you have no daylight to work with. Keep in mind that not all monitors look the same, the issues you are having may not appear the same to other people so check out your shop on different machines. Happy sales dust to you :)

[Former_Member]

I struggle with this too Amy. Artwork can be difficult to photograph. The use of White paper in your photo will help. Also, if you can set the white balance on your camera, it can also help. However, I am in the market for a USED Dslr :)

[BlackCatStudio98]

Alicia, I tried Gimp and it is just what I needed! I downloaded Gimp a long time ago, but didn't know how to use it. I figured it out tonight and it gave me more flexibility with color adjustment. The program I was using that is on my computer would change the color of the whole picture, so background and everything, but gimp lets me change the colors that are in the jewelry. It isn't perfect, but I was able to get the colors a lot closer to what they are in person. Close enough now that I can list my necklace, so thanks!

Pat, I don't think my camera has a white balance adjustment. It has brightness, vivid, and warm and cool adjustments which I use. I was photographing an agate pendant that has a spring green base with turquoise bands running through it. My camera seems to have blended the green and turquoise and made a bright aqua color that almost glows, and has lost most of the detail of the agate. Gimp helped a lot though. I will look harder on my camera for a white balance adjustment though because it would be nice to get more accurate colors from the start. My camera also has trouble with some purples.

Paula, I tried to download PhotoScape, but it seems to have downloaded a bunch of unwanted programs (that I was able to uninstall), but I couldn't find PhotoScape on my computer.

Lorraine, thank you for the happy sales dust!

Robin, I think that will be what I do eventually, buy a used dslr.