White Background HOW TO

[ATreasureHunt]

I do lots of jewelry and I am noticing that lots of people use a white background and it looks really good in the photos. I am doing my best with a cheap camera and I am wondering two things. If the white background will work for me and how to make one.

Thanks,
Auna

[Former_Member]

I use fotofuze (it will do black or white backgrounds). Directions are there on how to do it.

[Former_Member]

Yes White Background will look good for most of your pieces. For The ones with SIlver color grey /black background will look good.

If you would like to make perfect white background first take all the items in natural light with white background for your products. Then upload it to fotofuze.com and you can make it perfect white background. If you need any more help convo me. I can help you.

[Former_Member]

I made myself a light box, essentially a box with all the sides cut out and tissue paper taped over. I love mine, it allows me to take pictures without much glare and reflections and I can easily change what backdrop I use.

Here is a great example.
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent

I then use daylight equivalent fluorescent bulbs (full specturm). You can get them on amazon. This prevents the lighting from being a weird color.

http://www.amazon.com/Square-Perfect-Professional-Fluorescent-Photography/dp/B000UCKP8U/ref=sr_1_3?i...


I then touch up the pictures in an editing software but at that point its very simple and only takes a few seconds for each picture.

[Former_Member]

I think white backrounds will really bring out the sparkle in your jewelry! I use white posterboards, next to a window, about 12 noon to 3:00 pm for the best lighting. I work with a cheap camera, too! I also edit my photos with Picasa. Just google it. It's free to download and it works great!

Hope this helps, good luck :)

[Former_Member]

I made a light box and bought some daylight bulbs, which made a huge difference. I also have found that setting the white balance results in less need for photoediting. If you don't have your camera's instructions you can probably find them on the internet.

Bulbs: http://store.tabletopstudio-store.com/spiral.html

[Former_Member]

one more vote for fotofuze.com

so easy!

[Former_Member]

I mentioned that I use photo editing software as a final step, I thought I could clarify that a bit better if anyone is curious. Essentially I do exactly what the blog I linked describes. I adjust the photo's histogram until my background is white. Very simple to do. The free software GIMP allows you to do this (although that's not what I use).

http://blog.muddyboots.org/2009/02/adjusting-curves-by-photos-histogram.html

Hope somebody finds that helpful. It really helped me to know that my background wasn't white if the spike wasn't all the way to the right on the histogram...

[Former_Member]

Kristin - great light box diy link, thank you for sharing that!

[Former_Member]

I'm actually using FotoFuze right now to touch up the few white background photos that I already have. I intend to take more pictures of my other items that I think could benefit from this. (I just discovered FotoFuze today from a tip given by another Etsian.) I'm loving how my pictures are turning out!

[Former_Member]

Just found fotofuze -- thanks to all who suggested it! What a great feature! Working on converting all my photos now...

[theDelhiStore]

currently i'm using picasa but it doesn't change background color to white or black (as far as i know). Going to give fotofuze a try!

[aLilBiteOfCute]

Thanks to the ones who suggested fotofuze! I adjusted most of my pics and I love how they turned out.

[Former_Member]

Hello,
I know that a lot of people use fotofuze that is an excellent free software.
In my opinion this software is good for a lot of items but depending on the material it's better to have a great capture.
Use the sunlight and try to put your item on a white surface (white paper, your bathroom, etc). If the capture is good, the result is already fine. But you can even use fotofuze after that.
Good luck I know it's difficult. I am also working on that at the moment :-)

[Former_Member]

Cut two sides off a large box. Line the remaining two sides plus the floor with white card stock or foam core board. Place the box in a place in your house or outside where you will get reflected but not direct light (you don't want harsh shadows). Use regular photo editing software, no need to use fotofuze. Boom. Done.

[JudyStalus]

Sunlight and a white background, but NOT fotofuze - it is too extreme and stark and very unnatural looking.

[Former_Member]

I do the same thing as Katie, and use posterboard. It has worked great!

[Former_Member]

THANK you for the gfreat tips with fotofuze! I started using it immediately! If it feels like it gets too extreme and unnatural I still can fix the light a bit on some other picture manager programme...

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the fotofuze recommendations! I just finished my first session, and I'm so pleased. :)

[EmmaDickieDesign]

I just use natural light and white board - I've heard a lot about fotofuze and people seem to love it or hate it. I personally like a bit of natural shadow behind my pieces as it softens the image...but that's just me!