Shooting product images - How

[chadaw]

I guess this question will show how new I am to shooting inside. So with humilty, I come forward and ask how do I shoot an product and show no background. Okay I know how to outline and pull out the product in Photoshop, but I am looking for an easy way to use the "magic wand" in photoshop to select just the image. What is the best way or setup for this. Right now I only have my dRebel, good enough lens, and tripod, with no other professional gear. Please bear with my newness in indoor still photography.

Thanks.

[Gucci Cowgirl]

why dont you try placing the item on a sheet of material of a colour that compliments the product/object you are trying to shoot? have the sheet draped up the back of something, so that it creates a backdrop and also a foreground/base...

[Digital Prophet]

My understanding is that this most people use a tent similar to this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30079&item=3827525 110&rd=1). It diffuses the lights that are aimed at it from the outside and creates a evenly lit environment with little or no shadow.

But I don't recommend buying one unless you will be doing alot of this type of shooting. If this is a one time thing or a lark check this link (http://bermangraphics.com/coolpix/jewelryphoto.htm).

- Digital Prophet -

[chadaw]

I haven't seen the "tent" thing before and it makes some sense thanks. I have done the sheet thing before and its just doesn't do as well as I like because of the lighting and perhaps the fabric. I appreciate both your comments. If anyone else has something to add, its greatly appreciated.

[Penguin_101_1]

I think there are free lessons here: http://www.bhwebphotoschool.com/

[chadaw]

I think there are free lessons here: http://www.bhwebphotoschool.com/

Thanks, at a glance that looks like what I was wanting to do :)

:) :)

[Lamplight]

For the background on this shot, I just attached a role of white gift wrapping paper to a wall and unroled it onto a table where I planned to place the bottles. It's not the best shot, but that's how I made the background basically white. :D

http://community.webshots.com/photo/127013504/153111568tPxzfa

[Ronin]

I work for www.hardcoreware.net, writing articles on computer hardware so I have to do product shots often. I didn't feel like getting one of those tents or getting real equipment just for this purpose since I will only be using it for product shots. Later on, if I actually use the background for something else, I might want to spend some money but I put together my "ghetto studio" for less than $15 with some plywood from Home Depot, a big, wide roll of paper I stole from work and a couple of $5 lights from IKEA (plain Tungsten...no fancy mirrors or reflectors or diffusers).

I think the results are decent and are good enough for simple tasks.

http://ronin.forwardhost.ca/ghetto.jpg

http://ronin.forwardhost.ca/cdr1.jpg

http://ronin.forwardhost.ca/cdr2.jpg

[mdude85]

sometimes I have to photograph products at work...what I tend to do is use the light table we have -- it is cheap but does the trick. It has four large bulb lamps on the overhead and is lit underneath by halogen bulbs that are diffused by a plastic panel. I use a D30 and a prime lens. Set your aperture value pretty high, because you don't want the product to be blurred as your depth increases. I personally set my white balance setting to halogen because that is what is shining...AWB doesn't seem to work very well, and manual is always an option. I do an AE lock on the product itself and turn up the EV so that I am able to get a nice proper exposure but super blown highlights all around. Then I check my histogram to make sure it leans to the right mad far and that my LCD preview is blinking that the highlights have been blown around the entire perimeter of the product. I only have to do very very minor Levels adjustments in photoshop because there can sometimes be a little bit of light vignetting similar to what you see in Ronin's shots.