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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2014 23:02:57 GMT -6
There's a lot of competition on the internet with not just how many sellers there are but how many of the same products are out there and having a nice picture can "help" to set you apart from the rest. I'm in a cramped space myself when it comes to taking pictures and I prefer to take them indoors, especially during the winter. I read around the internet here and there for quite a while about making a light box (tent) for taking pictures. One day I thought what am I waiting for and checked out a link on Etsy someone had posted about. I happened to have everything with me right then and there to make it, which really was hardly anything and the same stuff I use just about everyday for packaging customers' orders. It was easy. Note that you can use PVC pipe but you can just as easily use a regular cardboard box making the project very inexpensive. If you are like me, maybe you've been thinking about making a light box for quite a while. If so, go for it. I've started off with a smaller light box that is a size of 6 x 6 x 6. I plan to make 2 to 3 more boxes at larger sizes. I have one overhead light that is up on the ceiling and one light that stands beside the light box. Sometimes I turn the light off that is beside the light box and sometimes I keep it on. It just depends on the item and its colors and how the flash is having an impact on that item with the other lighting conditions at the time, etc. I've been learning to go ahead and take a lot of pictures of an item all at one time because what I see come up on the screen of my camera is not necessarily going to be what appears on the computer screen when downloading the pictures to my computer. So, I take lots of pictures at different angles and different levels of lighting to include the lamps and the flash of my camera. Here are a few links to making a light box (note, I used the first link to make mine): digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tentm.wikihow.com/Create-an-Inexpensive-Photography-LightboxAnd here is a photo I took using the light box:
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Post by kenoticket on Feb 7, 2014 23:57:06 GMT -6
You're picture came out nice and bright.
I think I'll look in to this tomorrow since we're projected to have rain for the next week or so and I'm low on photos of items to list.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 0:38:28 GMT -6
Keno, I wish I had a before and after of this stand up plaque. I could not get a good picture of it for anything before, trust me. I was about ready to get rid of this item because you just could not see the beauty in it to the point of getting a decent price for this plaque I felt. You'd think that by looking at the photo now, how could the plaque not show its own beauty because it is a cute plaque but I just could not get it to prior to using the light box. Good luck with it. If you get a chance come back and tell how it went. Editing to add: kenoticket , I just added another link to another URL that gives instructions on making a light box. I used the first link to make my light box with white tissue over the top of the box. I may try out the second link and use the other type of material over the top for my next box. Also, like said above, I only have one light that stands beside my light box and plus the overhead light on the ceiling. I'd like at some point to try a light on each side of the box and to turn my overhead light off...things of this nature. I think we have to play around with light because light will fall differently at different locations.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 8, 2014 1:41:35 GMT -6
I've always used a project board that I already had on hand for doing jigsaw puzzles. You can work on the jigsaw puzzle in the middle section and then fold the two sides over it when you need to move it, so everything is covered and stays in place. I know that's unrelated to the topic, but it's a great tip for avid puzzle-doers. LOL Anywho, it has a white side and I figured I could use one of the side flaps as the background. Of course, this only works for smaller items. I have it set on the cabinet sewing machine, which is in front of the window so I could use the natural light. Depending on where the sun is in the sky, I adjust the blinds to give the brightness without the glare, so it doesn't cause problems with the camera facing the light. Before we moved, this worked out even better because it was set up in front of a north-facing window that gave light all day without the sun ever shining directly into it. Where we live now, the window faces west, so my window of opportunity is quite narrow, especially since the sun starts to shine directly into the window at some point. Not only does it affect the camera, but it also gives off that yellow/orange hue, so it changes the colors of the product. To lengthen the window of opportunity, I've been trying to think of a better way to do this, but using my lamp stand always gives off that yellow hue, even using a soft white bulb, as well as a noticeable shadow that's difficult to get rid of. So, I need to have a thin white sheet between the lamp and product, but haven't figured out a way to rig that. So, when I have some time to try it out, I'll see if what you posted can provide a solution. I have all sorts of boxes I can use, but would need to cover with white paint or something. Although, there are some things I need a dark background for because they get lost in a white background. Anywho, I couldn't sleep thanks to this crazy cough that suddenly got a lot worse not long after I laid down. So I'm just going to try and get some work done while in bed. Later taters!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2014 18:16:37 GMT -6
Nice picture Tiptop and thank you for your post.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2014 20:34:06 GMT -6
I've been experimenting again. I made a new light box, a larger size than what I had. I want to share some step by steps using a few different techniques to show the difference. This is not an easy item to photograph due to the pieces being clear. As you can see, having a black background does not help out much either. These sets of pictures were taken to show you what my light box looks like with one single lamp beside it and to show you what it looks like with the lamp directly over the light box, each way has been photographed in this post so that you can see the difference in each technique. I cannot remember what bulb I purchased, though I had looked it up online so I had a reference to go by when shopping for one. Having only one light beside the box is not the way to go. I need another one as well. But for now, this is what I have to work with. The first set of pictures (part 1): So, here is my light box with the flash to my camera on while in zoom with the light beside the box. I've also made sure to keep the same flash strength throughout all the below photos in this post. This was taken while I had the necklace laying flat against its surface, which is a necklace stand.The second photo is the same image as the first, only cropped.********* Part 2 of the first set of photos taken. From here on out on all the below images in this post I started to use the flower setting on my camera along with zooming in. My camera in particular says in order to obtain the best image, I should have a mix of zooming in and using the flower icon setting on my camera. As you can see though, this is just not enough to obtain a good photo. See more info on part 2 below these photos. So, here is my light box with the flash to my camera on while in zoom and my flower setting on with the light beside the box. This was also taken while I had the necklace laying flat against its surface. The second photo is of the first image, only it is cropped.______________________________________________________________________ The second set of pictures: The first photo still shows the full view of the light box with the light right beside it. BUT, this time around, I leaned the necklace stand forward so that the necklace was not laying flat against the surface and instead was hanging sort of in mid air. Note that by doing it this way, not only is the picture of the borealis crystals more clear but the necklace also reaches down to the earrings more closely and so this takes a better picture.
The second photo is a cropped image of the first. The third photo was taken at a closer angle and then cropped more closely while the jewelry was still in the same position as the first photo. The second one is passable as a main image to a listing. But I think the third one would be much better. These photos were also taken with the light right beside the light box.______________________________________________________________________ The third set of pictures: The first photo was taken this time with the light over the box while me holding it. The second photo is the same as the first image, only cropped. I do not know why I left out the earrings in this one...I guess I forgot about them Note that in this photo you can see the borealis crystals bouncing off of the background a little more. In person these reflect a lot of different colors. They are meant to do this. However, a little more light on each side of the box may solve this problem... ____________________________________________________________________
And this last photo directly below is actually one of the first photos I took the other day. Notice that I had the necklace posing on the back of the necklace stand because the first one I took just did not come out good with the necklace laying flat against the surface. However, I cannot use this one in reality because the back of the necklace stand is not a pretty site and takes away from the beauty of the necklace. This photo is what prompted me to put the necklace on the front of the necklace stand and instead of having it flat against the surface, to lean the necklace stand forward so that the necklace is sort of hanging in mid air.
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So, this wraps it up. My next step will be to purchase another lamp, preferably the type of lamps that I can clamp onto each side of the table and not just have the one lamp the way I have been. I'm not sure yet about having a light hanging over the light box along with a light that is clamped onto each side of the box. For now, money wise, I'll stick to experimenting with a clamped lamp on each side of the box. I am hoping that by doing this, I can get rid of the little bit of shadowing that is taking place and possibly at some point of being able to turn the flash to my camera off. Also, I still cannot get that darn bottom borealis to come out good like the others....I'll have to see about that. lol.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 23, 2014 23:41:36 GMT -6
One thing you can do that's quite cheap is to get a black piece of cotton fabric that doesn't shine and place it over the necklace stand so you have a dark background for the necklace. Having something light colored on a light background just makes it blend in, while having the black background will help to bring out the colors of the borealis crystals like it does for the earrings.
You should make sure the fabric is also large enough to drape over the back and bottom of the lightbox. Having the dark backdrop and bottom with the white sides will help make lighter colored items stand out since you'll have the contrast while also getting a little more light bouncing off the white sides.
Also, when you get the two side clamps, you might try experimenting with just one clamped to the middle of the backside of the light box so it's directly over the object. That should do away with the shadows, while having one on each side might cause two sets of shadows.
About the lightbox, it's hard to tell, but do you have an opening at the top? The top should be open with a white sheet over it to soften the color of the light and do away with any yellowing. It could be held in place by the light clamps or you could cut holes large enough to fit the clamps through, but I think not having the holes would be better.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2014 3:14:35 GMT -6
Actually the black background has exaggerated the coloring to the earrings. It makes them so that it looks like it is one constant color combination and darker. In person, clear borealis is lighter and the different colors come about when they are moved around, which makes this hard to capture with a camera. My light does look yellow in the photos when looking at the bulb. When taking a look in the box it is clear other than for how the borealis is bouncing off the white some in the third set of photos (the photo off to our right).
Yep, the top is open with a piece of tissue over it. Where the cardboard was cut out there is a piece of it left at the top front, which is what the necklace stand is learning forward against.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 24, 2014 4:13:50 GMT -6
These two pictures are among the best ones. The first picture would have been better if the main crystal on the necklace was in front of the black background: I don't know if it's just me, but the colors seem to come out better when they're on the black background. When it's on the white background, you can't really see much of anything other than shadowing, if anything at all. This next picture actually isn't too bad when it comes to showing the colors of the crystals, but necklace still looks washed out on the white background. Of course, the shadowing doesn't help either: So, if having the necklace positioned as in the last picture is the best way to get the colors of the crystals to show, then here's what I suggest to give the customer a better display: - Take a picture of the main crystals up close, one at a time, dangling in front of the white background with the light directly overhead so there's no shadowing. Don't zoom in, though. You need to actually get physically close with the camera where the crystal fills up much of the view, making sure you're not causing any shadows. Try photographing it with and without the flash, but I'm thinking without the flash might be better since you'll be so close -- that's just something you have to test.
- Then take a picture of the whole necklace by itself on a black background so the chain itself can be seen. Do the same for the pair of earrings. On these pictures, you can stand back far enough to fit the whole necklace or pair of earrings in the camera's view.
For items like these where it's difficult to catch their features, I wouldn't rely on zoom or cropping to produce the best picture. The fine details need to be as close to the camera's lens as possible without causing any shadows in order for the camera to pick up on them better. Also, taking the pictures on both light and dark backgrounds will give the customer a better view of the whole picture. You just have to provide the whole picture via multiple pictures since different backgrounds are required to show everything as clearly as possible. While you still might not be able to catch the true beauty of the crystals, you'll at least catch as much of it as you can this way. One thing you might also try, if you have the equipment, is to take a video of the crystals, moving them back and forth in the light to show how they change colors. You can even move in between the main and smaller crystals to show how they all have the same affect. If you have a webcam or phone cam with video capabilities, you could use either of those. If using a smart phone, you can download the Photobucket app so you can upload the video directly to your album there. I would suggest using a phone cam because none of the webcam videos I've ever seen were of very good quality, especially since they cut out frames and don't produce a fluid video. Anywho, just throwing some ideas out there for you to try. I know how difficult it can be to take pictures of jewelry and clear items. It took me forever to get a good picture of a clear glass platter with a Christmas motif etched into it. While that's partly because I didn't have a tripod to keep the camera steady at the time (LOL), it was mainly because of trying to catch the details. I finally got a good one using a plate stand, having it about 6-8 inches in front of a dark background, with natural light coming through the window behind it, and not using the flash.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2014 20:23:58 GMT -6
It might be that the bottom borealis was still slightly dangling around when I took the pic. I'm not sure. When leaning the necklace forward it took a little bit for it to quit shaking. I'm sure the very bottom would have taken longer than the rest...If this is the case, then I'll find out the next time I go to retake the pic.
I used my gift card finally from Target today and got a shelf for my office and two lights that will clamp on either side of the light box. When you take a look on the internet on light boxes, one may show a lamp over the box while another will show a lamp on either side of the box. The lights were cheap enough if they do not last since they were only $5.99 a piece and yet they were the style that I was looking for...clamps and the main metal area that extends in between the clamp and the bulb can be bent in a few different ways.
I know the bulb in my lamp looks yellow from the picture but it is not like that in person. I'm sure it is just because the camera also was focused on the bulb that you see in the pics, too.
Anyways, for clothing that I've taken in the past, many times I've had to also scan the material because the coloring will be different when I used the camera. Sometimes the scanner will do a very nice job at capturing the true color...other times the camera itself does a nice job all on its own. But there are those times when either one does not do the right job. What I tell the customer in the listing is that the true color will fall somewhere in between the two in this type of situation.
If I have to do this with a different color background...using both white and another color background similar to what I do when this happens with clothing, this is what I will have to tell the customer...that the true color will fall somewhere in between the two. We'll see after I take a picture with the light box set up differently. The longer version of the necklace is definitely not the first one that I'd have the buyer seeing...that would be further into my list of pictures.
I prefer to have the necklace displaying similarly as you saw in the third set of pictures, second image (you posted this one further above) with the earrings off of the black background cushion, displaying nicely with the necklace somehow.
I really was just trying to show how each picture can progress differently while moving things around such as with the camera settings and the lamp, etc. Not one of these definitely would not have been my final picture to show as the first picture for my listing.
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 24, 2014 23:38:33 GMT -6
Yeah, it's tricky trying to get the lighting and position right, huh? LOL What's odd is that it seems that my newer printer doesn't scan colors anywhere near as well as my old printer did. My dad is using my old printer now. I don't know why, but the colors on the newer scanner are faded out and I don't see a way to adjust the quality. That's why I had to start taking pictures of books instead of scanning them, but will have to play around with it more when I get back to listing the books that still need listing. Anywho, can't wait to see what you come up with using the new lights.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2014 1:04:07 GMT -6
The pictures are now coming out better, though not perfect. They just will not be able to with this type of item....once in a while there is a particular way in which a piece is made, the way the colors fall and without being a professional photographer with all the real good stuff it cannot be photographed with a real bang. But I do believe someone will be able to appreciate this item a lot more than when I first started.
Lol. I feel at this time I've wore out the talk on these borealis crystals.
My last post on this item will probably be just posting the pics that I decided to use, though not perfect but will be able to portray them nice enough while at the same time not adding an accidental false presentation in them looking more colorful, etc, than they really are. Most importantly though, these clamp lights work and have helped out with this item and I do not believe I would have been able to do the pics without them.....as evidenced here in this thread.
Talk about picking a hard one to post about. I'd much rather just go back to the original picture I talked about in this thread lol. That one was soooooooooooo much easier.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2014 21:48:13 GMT -6
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Post by cindybear on Feb 26, 2014 5:33:28 GMT -6
though I know google wants white backgrounds...I have found that dark or black backgrounds inside a box is just better to show the colors of certain items... all of these, I could not get to look decent with white background so I experimented in a semi-transparent box with light on the outside...with different color backgrounds. or
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Post by PickyChicky on Feb 26, 2014 6:47:58 GMT -6
@tiptoptreasures Those came out quite good on a white background. I guess in the case of this particular necklace, the dark background just takes away from the reflective light needed to display the color effects of the crystals. cindybear Those are awesome images, too. I don't care what Google says because you simply can't have a white background for everything if you want to provide quality images for customers. It amazes me how these places that have no experience selling online tell us how to do things and what is and isn't good for us -- and that includes Bonz.
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