Taking Pictures of Buttons

[Former_Member]

Hi!

I'd like to start a thread for photo taking tips since it is an area that I struggle with. I invested in a photo box but I still get glare. If anyone has ideas to share, that would be awesome!

Thanks!

Jolyn

[SoleDeVita]

Hi, Jolyn! :)

All I can say about this, is 1 word. --> Photoshop.

Step 1. Drag picture in to Photoshop window
Step 2. Ctrl+Shift+B (Auto Color)
Step 3. Ctrl+Shift+L (Auto Levels)
Step 4. Filters -> Sharpen -> Unsharp Mask.
Step 5. Ctrl+Save

That is what I do. ;)

[Former_Member]

Your pictures look great! I will definitely try that out! Thanks so much!

[Former_Member]

Glare is your worst enemy when it comes to buttons! I usually take photos in natural light (excellent in summer, not so good in winter). Makes a huge difference.

[Former_Member]

Natural lighting is everything...just make sure when you are taking pics to not let your shadow hang over the buttons.

Photoshop is def the way to go to fix blemishes, lighting, and sharpness.

[PeriwinkleDzyns]

I'm a big fan of Gimp, easy to use and free photo editing software
I use a light box, my schedule is too busy to wait for the perfect natural light conditions

[BayleafButtons]

I use photoshop & a piece of cardboard.In coordination with photoshop I have this piece of cardboard, if I see a glare on my button as I am photographing it I put the cardboard in front of the glare-sometimes it helps. Otherwise natural light is the best :)

[SayItInASnapJewelry]

Totally, don't even try taking a picture...nightmare!:-) Photoshop!

[huee]

i prefer natural lighting and i like the glares on my buttons. but i been working with white energy saving light for a while because im busy during daytime.

[theartfulbadger]

I use an Epson scanner. I cut a square out of cardboard just a bit thicker than the buttons I am scanning, place that on the scanner bed and then place the buttons (usually about 4 at a time) directly on the scanner glass. I then lay a piece of coloured paper over the square in the cardboard so that it makes a coloured background and then scan. I do try and take photos and have taken some and Photoshopped them, but I'm never happy with the result. I think the scanner works really well, however it doesn't really make for an artistic presentation....Easy though, and by changing the colour of the paper I can at least have a bit of variety.

[Former_Member]

I usually move my desk/table to the closest window to get a lot of natural light, and try different angles. I recently tried this technique, http://www.handmadeology.com/creating-a-white-background-inside-a-cardboard-box/, with the latest set I put on and they turned great!

[BayleafButtons]

@Katy
That is really handy! I will have to try that. I've got a really messed up setup right now.. I'd take a picture of it but it is sad :P

Welcome to the team!~ :D

[Former_Member]

nothing works as well as daylight. Even with a mediocre camera, daylight makes ALLLL the difference in a picture. I take my pictures with my iPhone camera so just so you know, it is possible to take good pictures without having to apply filters or anything. I don't photoshop anything except for the watermark that I add onto the image. Just make sure the sun is behind you when you take the picture.

[Former_Member]

@Katy - I read the article and built one this morning. I'll need a lot more time with it to get the sort of shots that I want, however it did help to really cut down on glare and secondary reflections.

@Melissa - I totally agree but ... I have a house surrounded by trees, so I am pretty much forced into using a color corrected CFL... shooting buttons is such a pain lol :)

[studiopop]

I use photoshop's circle marque tool, then drag the levels to white twice. It gives a white background around the button very quickly. I also find that when using a digital camera, using the macro feature, but not any zoom helps. I get better photos when I stopped using the zoom. I heard that it works, and for me it did.

[badgebliss]

I usually take 6 photos, hold my breath and hope for the best!!.

[BigDogLittleDog]

photos are like my nightmare. I have tried everything from alpha to omega (meaning, natural daylight to the cardboard box). I think my most interesting shots happen entirely when I futz around with the buttons and objects or fabrics around my house.
I guess the best success happens when I just hit the right light on the right day and the pictures all come out great.
When that happens, I start reshooting all my buttons, or at least the ones with pictures I don't like very much.
I edit my pictures with the macintosh photo up-loader.
If anyone is super proud of their pictures, let me know how they handle it. I'd say I'm a mediocre photographer.

[Former_Member]

I have also struggled to take good photos of my buttons (they always come out blurry!). I have had GREAT luck putting the actual buttons on a scanner and scanning them.
Here is an example:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61884597/buddha-pug-magnets
I have also had good luck with the zoom on my new camera: Canon Powershot SD1300 IS, it has a 4X zoom lens.
Here is an example:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76496546/mushroom-magnets-set-of-4
Good luck!!! :)

[Former_Member]

I always use natural lighting. And if I am getting too much glare, I set up a white posterboard on the side that my light source is on and the glare is pretty much eliminated :)

[Former_Member]

I use paper as a background, snap a pic with a kodak, edit the saturation and contrast in windows, and whiten the background with fotofuze.com

Brann :)

[SmilingBlueDog]

Wow, some great tips here! Sorry I don't have any of my own to add... it's a struggle for me.

[Former_Member]

I like to take the picture with the pin taken out of the button, that way it lies perfectly flat and I find it helps with glare a bit. After that, it's just angling some cardboard to cut out the rest of the glare/taking the picture in nice, natural light. Then a little bit of photoshop to crop and adjust the brightness etc.