HELP!! How Can I make my background Transparent??

[shahedkhan23]

Okay so I need to take some auction listing pictures, and I'm trying to create some professional white background pictures by myself, and needed your help..

I use a Sony CyberShot DSC-W150 with the normal settings ( I believe ).

These are some of the pictures of my surroundings, lighting, light-box, etc.

I have one light that is 200wt that goes in through the hole that is not covered with any paper.

http://i.imgur.com/m49Tp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Y6IAk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oIoH7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bzKdZ.jpg

The white sheets are basic printer paper, and the box is a priority mail box from USPS.


Please recommend me what I should use, which settings, what I should do different, what I should add/delete, etc. PLEASE, thanks!

[Mark1]

WOW, First off shrink thoes pics so it is a lot easier to deal with.

Second you are simply underexposed. I am not familiar with your camera. But you will need to be in manual mode if you have it. Or adjust the compensation up if you can. If your camera does not allow you to do either of thies you are stuck.

The meter wants it to be middle gray, not white. This is what is limiting you when in auto mode.

[shahedkhan23]

sorry cannot make it smaller. the pictures are off my computer.. can you please just give me advice? I need to know asap. Please...

I changed the settings and made the light to fluorescent light with white background and changed the brightness all the way up, and I need more light or brightness to get that transparency in the background.. Should I add a divider that changes the shadows or whatever? Please let me know!!

[TheBurningCrown]

Your camera is underexposing. For an old trick: point it at something darker in the room to meter (half press on the shutter) and then point it at the lightbox/subject to take a picture. See if you notice the difference.

In the meantime you can do a levels adjustment in Photoshop to fix the underexposed pictures. If you change your profile to" Image Editing OK" in your User CP (link (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/usercp.php)), then we can show you.

[shahedkhan23]

Alright so i'll try what you said. And I changed it in my CP. Thanks!

[shahedkhan23]

Your camera is underexposing. For an old trick: point it at something darker in the room to meter (half press on the shutter) and then point it at the lightbox/subject to take a picture. See if you notice the difference.

In the meantime you can do a levels adjustment in Photoshop to fix the underexposed pictures. If you change your profile to" Image Editing OK" in your User CP (link (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/usercp.php)), then we can show you.

How would I do the Photoshop part? I think maybe its just my camera? or the settings in my camera? or do I need to add some props inside of the lightbox?

[jwfab1]

Is this what your trying to accomplish?
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z42/jwfab1/whitebalance.jpg

[shahedkhan23]

Yeah, thats an example of something I'm trying to work on. Just showing where I'm currently at, and I want a white background instead of a light yellow/half white background.

[shahedkhan23]

Please someone reply, I need your help!

[shahedkhan23]

The picture you posted jwfab1 should have a white backgound with a light shadow.

This is an example where I'm trying to get at: http://i.ebayimg.com/15/!B9vP2c!!mk~$(KGrHqF,!g8EzeNlEHFqBM6qvn2l2w~~0_12. JPG

[jwfab1]

Use white tile board.
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z42/jwfab1/whitebalance2.jpg

[TheBurningCrown]

Use white tile board.
Also: try to bounce the light DOWN. If it's coming in from the side then there's going to be a greater shadow. If the light is coming at the object from many different angles there's going to be little if any shadow.

[jimmy_beaner]

For whatever it's worth... I have a lot more wattage of lights (and just more number) on my subjects than that. Also, I shine the light through muslin to help diffuse it. Some times, I'll even use a bounced flash for even more light if needed. It helps get that background to pop a lot whiter.
For instance...
http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz133/brianpinneyphotography/Macro/IMG_1796-1edited.jpg

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz133/brianpinneyphotography/Random/Chrysler.jpg

You can also selectively change the color of the background in PP. As was mentioned, try to move the light to more on the top of the subject to help light it up more... or selectively erase the background and replace with with a solid white. These both left the regular background as it appeared.

[MT Stringer]

The sample pic looks under exposed so an adjustment in post processing and setting a good white balance should help alot.
But, in your example, if I was a possible buyer, I wouldn't want to have to tilt my head to read the info on the product.

Hope this helps.
Mike

[shahedkhan23]

For whatever it's worth... I have a lot more wattage of lights (and just more number) on my subjects than that. Also, I shine the light through muslin to help diffuse it. Some times, I'll even use a bounced flash for even more light if needed. It helps get that background to pop a lot whiter.
For instance...
http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz133/brianpinneyphotography/Macro/IMG_1796-1edited.jpg

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz133/brianpinneyphotography/Random/Chrysler.jpg

You can also selectively change the color of the background in PP. As was mentioned, try to move the light to more on the top of the subject to help light it up more... or selectively erase the background and replace with with a solid white. These both left the regular background as it appeared.

This is what I got: http://imgur.com/XVMC6

I can edit it in photoshop and use the Magic Wand Tool, and erase everything except the little shadow underneath the battery. Why on earth is my picture pink? o.O

My cameras setting are set all the way to 2.0 for brightness, and it's all on White, when I take the picture everything's fine, the picture looks good in the camera, but when I upload it, its all pink?

[shahedkhan23]

Please, someone reply... Bump

[Wallpap3r]

Youre probably turning the screen brightness up on your camera. Just edit the picture you got before in some type of photo editor (photoshop, GIMP, paint.net, etc) to bump up the brightness or exposure and shift the white balance

[MT Stringer]

Please, someone reply... Bump

Have you read the responses? Good info has been posted, as well as examples.

Change your light source position so your shadow is minimum. Adjust your exposure and correct your white balance in post processing. That's already been said.

What else is there. Am I overlooking something?

Here is a link to what I have. Works great.
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent

[shahedkhan23]

Have you read the responses? Good info has been posted, as well as examples.

Change your light source position so your shadow is minimum. Adjust your exposure and correct your white balance in post processing. That's already been said.

What else is there. Am I overlooking something?

Here is a link to what I have. Works great.
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent

I've already moved my light that was coming in from the side to the top. Also, on my camera I changed the settings from auto to white balance.

What else do you want me to do?? Why do I get the pink color?

[MT Stringer]

I say, change the camera setting to auto white balance. You probably will wind up with a yellowish cast if the light bulb is the household variety.
Then you will have to change the white balance in post processing.

What editing program are you using?

In Photoshop Elements and in Lightroom, you can use the white balance tool to pick a white, black or gray portion of the image and it will change the Kelvin to produce a white portion of the image that is supposed to be white. If it turns out grayish, increase the exposure and see if the white looks better.

Hope this helps.

[ReubenH]

What else do you want me to do??

Lrn 2 google


Harsh yes, but i've always been one for tough love.

As for the pinkness, that's just you getting the white balance off. It happens. Maybe just try the incandescent preset, and from there, fix in photoshop, or whatever app you are using.

[shahedkhan23]

I say, change the camera setting to auto white balance. You probably will wind up with a yellowish cast if the light bulb is the household variety.
Then you will have to change the white balance in post processing.

What editing program are you using?

In Photoshop Elements and in Lightroom, you can use the white balance tool to pick a white, black or gray portion of the image and it will change the Kelvin to produce a white portion of the image that is supposed to be white. If it turns out grayish, increase the exposure and see if the white looks better.

Hope this helps.

Okay, I'm using Photoshop, which tool do you want me to use to edit the picture?

[jimmy_beaner]

Can you shoot in RAW? (I will admit I don't remember what you're using to shoot)

[MT Stringer]

Okay, I'm using Photoshop, which tool do you want me to use to edit the picture?

Check out the help section for "White Balance". I don't have Photoshop so I can't help there.
I should be as simple as selecting the white balance ink dropper and clicking on an area that should be white.

Hope this helps. Maybe someone else can chime in. The help section should guide you through the white balance changing part.

[howzitboy]

in photoshop, go to image ->adjust->levels. in levels u see the eye droppers on the bottom? pick the one on the right (white balance) and click on the whitest part of your picture. see one in middle, click on the shadow of your item (thats grey balance), and lastly pick the one on the left to set your black.