what do you use for the white background in your lightbox?

[spacefem]

just curious! I know a lot of folks just give up on white and use another color, but I really like white. right now I'm using curtain lining fabric. It looks as white as anything, but my photos all turn out kinda gray:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/93937548/ladybugs-5in-wallet-card-holder-coin

and that's AFTER a little "retouching" (I always bump up the brightness & contrast in an attempt to make up for my crappy camera).

anyway, maybe it's my background material... what are you using?

[MyDistinctDesigns]

I have tried core board, poster paper, white scrapbooking paper, white fabric and all had a gray tint no matter how I tweeked my white balance. So I gave up on white and started using gray.

[Former_Member]

I'm trying to ease myself into the all white background gently. It is not easy for me and I can't seem to completely get there! But so far I have tried poster board, a white jeweler board (leatherette) and snow!!!! :)

[Former_Member]

I just use a cotton/polyester blend of plain white fabric that I got at Wal-Mart for $5. I found that the trick to avoiding gray backgrounds is LOTS and LOTS of natural light from a window. Like, when the sun is at the very highest in the sky and shining right down onto my object. And using the natural light setting on my camera with macro active. So I only have a period of about 3 hours to take photos to make them look at their best. That's what works for me anyway! Good luck!

[Former_Member]

White poster board and snow. lol
Snow makes the best background, no adjustment needed but inless I move to the North Pole I have very little of it to work with, especially this year, where we had little to no winter in Northern Indiana.

[Former_Member]

I just started using white and black poster board for my backgrounds, and it has made a huge difference. I also started using a full spectrum light because my house doesn't get a lot of natural light inside. Now I have to go back and re-shoot all my stuff which I am not looking forward to.

[WryghtDesigns]

hi spacefern

I use a big pad of watercolour paper

Have you tried a light box to bounce around the sunlight? http://strobist.blogspot.com.au/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

[Former_Member]

Natasha...I will gladly sacrifice some of mine for you ; )

[Former_Member]

I have a large white box that I can collapse any one side for different angle shots.
I sit it under a nice sunny window otherwise I end up with the grey background you're experiencing

I'm in the process of transforming all my backgrounds to white, although I do like a bit of staging and color.
I must confess I'm not very good at the staging thing!
My camera takes great shots but is a bit temperamental with color and lighting.

[Former_Member]

I use a white cloth that I double up so there's a few white layers (to keep it as bright as possible). I brighten up my photos with the white balance and image exposure settings on my camera, then do even more tweaking with levels in Photoshop. They still end up with a grayish tint or pick up the colors from the jewelry. Photos are so tedious. :/

[Former_Member]

Book pages are good for photos but kind of hard to work with. I'm going to look for scrapbook paper that resembles a book page or sheet music. I know there's music paper out there.

[TaphiaDesigns]

I gave up on colors because I find it alters the colors of the gemstones, I started using a sheet of white foam from the craft store and I think its great.

[Former_Member]

I use painting canvases. :]

[Former_Member]

I use a few pieces of white tissue paper which I think makes it look a bit different than the typical white background but with out adding anything too distracting to the picture. I have a window that faces the sun with it rises to I always set up my photos right in front of the window which has an ivory curtain hanging in front of it to filter the light a bit. It gives my photos a golden hue.

[Former_Member]

I use a white poster board and hope for the best!

[WintergreenDesign]

For some I use a white sheet, for some I use a white plate, and for some I use a white foam board (like the displays for a science fair) : )

[spacefem]

maybe I'll switch from fabric to poster board?

Just for more info, I am using a light box with white ripstop nylon on the outsides. And for lighting I have clip on lamps with full spectrum daylight bulbs color temp 6500.

Taking pictures outside just wouldn't work for me, I have a day job, lol. I did it for a while, scheduling "photo shoots" on the weekends. But if it rained on the weekend that meant no listings for two weeks! I tried setting up a photo supplies in my car to take pictures on my lunch break, but was like "this is insane, I need to be able to photograph indoors". So that's where I'm at. I take my photos at 4 in the morning.

[AVelvetLeaf]

I use whitewashed barn wood attached to pieces of thin plywood....love it

[Former_Member]

This is the best article I've seen on using a lightbox and editing the photos. I prefer natural light, but this has helped me get better shots if I don't have a choice.
http://community.theswitchboards.com/tutorials/article/8-taking-professional-looking-photos-without-...

[Former_Member]

Currently I use the backdrop that came with my lightbox. Before that I did use a piece of white poster board and it produced pretty good photos, but I'm much happier with the photos I have now.

[Former_Member]

I set my items on white fabric right by a window and use a white tri-fold science fair board as a reflector

[AlbracaDesigns]

I use fotofuze.com to get my backgrounds really white.

[Former_Member]

Brandi, Thanks for the great tip!

[wildwomanbeads]

I have a table top painted in a light cream color. I dust it off and lay everything there for photographs. That allows me to have some occasional photo props in the photo too. Edits beautifully. Rarely get a background tint from it.

[Former_Member]

A light box with white posterboard or foam core board would probably be best. I read an article here on Etsy about making one, so maybe you can do a search and find it.

I personally haven't made one yet, but I've been shooting my new items on a metal cabinet we had painted white, as I transition my photos to that. It sits next to our biggest window and I also hold an Ott lamp over the item. I really don't want to find storage for a light box in our small place.

Happy picture taking!! :)