White studio backdrop

Aruffell

Aruffell

Aruffell

Soldato
Joined
29 Dec 2004
Posts
5,653
Location
Chatham, Kent
I'm getting sick of trying different things and failing at it.

Basically i bought a light tent and placed objects into it with some halogen work lamps and the shots came out ok but not fantastic.

I'm wanting to take pictures of items on a white background and have them come out like professional photos like you see in catalogues (clear crisp white background)

I've also tried using a blind as a backdrop but that doesn't work fantastically either.

I've used the above lights (halogen work lamps) which i got from Screwfix Direct and the bulbs blew after using them twice and i've also tried natural lighting as a few people i have spoken to said that they put their backdrop by a window and get brilliant lighting from it but i can't get the same effect.

I'm mainly going to be using a Sony HC35e camcorder and recording video of the items in question and taking a few high quality shots on a Nikon D40 SLR camera.

What is the best thing for me to use as a backdrop and lighting for as little money as possible.

Thanks,

Andy
 
you need diffusors mate. try getting a cheap umbrella off ebay and fire your flash into that instead. failing that put a net over your window when its sunny, that will diffuse the light for you.
 
Aruffell said:
(clear crisp white background)

What is the best thing for me to use as a backdrop and lighting for as little money as possible.
Andy
Click to expand...

It sounds like your white balance is off to me, if so with those lights things will look a little orangey and warm, am I right?

You have a light tent, and daylight is best if it is bright enough, it's a nice day so either put the light tent by a window on the sunny side and away you go.

Alternatively take it outside if you have a garden, patio, balcony etc.

Then what software are you using - in PS it's easy to set the white point - use a point on the light tent, other software is likely to have a similar option.

Re the clean backdrop - you need to light the subject and then ensure the background is well lit too, perhaps use reflectors - big white card will do to bounce more light onto the backdrop than the subject, if a white background is a bit overexposed so what, you don't want detail in it do you?
 
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Have you got some examples of the 'ok' shots, it might be just where you have the lighting, type of lighting, aperture, location of product from the back of the tent etc.
 
Will try and get some pics sorted tomorrow.

I was thinking of getting a green screen to use instead and then using chroma key to put it white instead of green. Would that work?

Mainly be for the video and a few photos.

Using Photoshop CS3 and Premiere CS3.

Andy
 
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