What are you using as your white background?

[Former_Member]

I know everyone is loving white backgrounds these days, but I am having a hard time finding a good white background. I have used fotofuze for a few of my photos and do not like the way it makes my item look like it's floating in space. I've tried lace, cardstock, wood, everything and can't seem to find a good balance between warmth and professional. Anyone have anything they use for a background that works well for them?

[StepOriginals]

Since everyone uses white I have to be different and use stone. I take most of my photos against my fireplace.

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

A piece of white poster board on the floor and one taped to the wall. $1 total at Walgreens.

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

P.S. The trick to keep it from floating in space is keeping a shadow in the photo, so the item looks grounded.

[Former_Member]

I just use a white poster board that I got at Walmart. I take it outside and lean it against a wall so it curves slightly and I lay my hats on the floor of it.

If you are wanting it to float in space, how I do that is to make sure the entire board is in a shadow on a fairly sunny day (indirect lighting). Then use a grey card to set your white balance on your camera. Then just shoot your picture (you'll probably have to over-expose it because the white background tends to trick the camera).

[Former_Member]

You are right, most people like white background here on etsy. I use my white linen tablecloth.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/111015657/halloween-witch-multi-color-tutu-skirt

Some items doesn't look so good on the white background, so I just trying to find something else. Here, for example, photos were taken on my patio chair
https://www.etsy.com/listing/111206016/maternity-bridal-sash-maternity-photo

[Former_Member]

Wow Jamie! Your pictures look great! Do you use any photoshop like programs? Or just great light?

[Former_Member]

I have a studio set with a white backdrop! :)

[LunasLuxe]

white posterboard or tile

[Former_Member]

I cut out the sides of a box, and lined the bottom and two sides with white foam board. Sometimes I also prop up "handwriting" lined white erase boards, for a schoolish kid feel.

[TOMgirlApparel]

White posterboard in full sunlight and keep the shadows in Fotofuze :)

[DecorDesignsAndMore]

For smaller items under about 6" square you might want to checkout the "Cloud Dome" - one mounts it to the front camera lens and uses 2 desktop lamps with daylight temperature bulbs - the dome is a milky white that helps correct white color balance. Nice, but it does cost a bit; yet if one takes a lot of smaller close up photos it could be a real time saver.

Hope this helps; thanks for reading.

Mike M. WOWPhotos

[Former_Member]

I use 2 old tin tiles painted white. I like a little texture in the background.

[Former_Member]

I don't use white backgrounds anymore, but when I did, I used the poster board trick, too.

[RockAndHardware]

I use white foam core board that I purchased at Michaels. The one I purchased is small and actually folds in half, perfect for shooting my bracelets. I shoot outside with natural light but not direct sunlight as it's too harsh. I adjust the background color (it sometimes photographs dark) in Photoshop using the curves option. I'm really happy with how my photographs look. Previously I photographed them on stepping stones from my garden :) these can be seen in some of my extra shots as I ran out of motivation to redo everything!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/110896404/beaded-stretch-bracelet-handmade

[GildedNotes]

If you use posterboard/paper and set a really slow shutter speed, you might not even need to use a photo editor after the fact! If you can help it, try not to use a high ISO because it makes the pictures bright but grainy.
That's what I do anyway, sometimes with a little fiddling in Picassa!

[Former_Member]

I've used two sheets of wood instead of poster board because it gives a steadier base & backboard. I've experimented with different colored papers behind the jewelry base for necklaces. I think it accents the colors in the jewelry nicely. What do you think about the color to highlight OOAK merch?

[TerraRhapsody]

I have a large light tent I put all my things into, but as a base, I use a piece of foam board with a small sheet of perspex on top of it to give a bit of a reflection. I really need to replace my foam board at some point as it's gotten a bit grubby!

[LovesYouCrafts]

I use a light box and white card stock for the white part of my pictures, but I like to add a bit of personality to my pictures (so you know they are from my shop) and have several different pieces of scrapbooking paper for the "bottom" of my pictures. I use different ones for each line or season instead of props because I could never really get it right with my stationery and this way my shop has variety but looks cohesive.

[Former_Member]

I simply used white poster board, however, I only take pics while there's enough sunshine coming through the window. Otherwise, the white background will turn dark and dray which doesn't look good in the pics.

[EridaneasBoutique]

I take my photos on a white drawer cabinet I have in front of my window.

[Former_Member]

I use a piece of white textured scrapbook paper. I really like it, I might try a variety of textured whites to see how they turn out. I have a mac so I just use Iphoto and use the lighten button.

[Former_Member]

I use a white wall and white poster board on a table. Then fotofuze sometimes.

Like Jaime said, the key with fotofuze is including the shadow.

[adfabinidaho]

I use my roll of interfacing. The decor bond is just wide enough for my items and it's nice and white without looking dull. I hang it over a chair and take the picture, it does show the shadow from the item.
Although some of the poncho's I'm selling were taken from either my backyard or front yard. The look nice with the trees in the back yard since some of the leaves are changing color.

[Former_Member]

I put a piece of white poster board from Walmart on a glider chair. I have a normal standing light that I point towards the chair. I put my cell camera on brightest and take the pictures. :)