View Full Version : Website Images...
I know I've asked about this before, but I'm really struggling to show a clear image online!!!! I have taken the photo with a clear white backdrop the image looks okay, the dpi is up but the final product doesnt look too hot! Ive practiced cutting the image out using photoshop, with mixed results, but overall Im not happy with them.... When I looked at Alligators new site, I notice the images there a clear, concise and presented very well! How is it done pleaseeeee?
I also have a mug in cellophane wrap that doesnt photo well...could this be because of the wrap?
Cheers...again...!
:confused:
John G
20-04-2011, 12:51 PM
What kind of camera, are you using macro, flash & camera settings please - is it camera shake.
Need to know all of above to give you any advise!
John G
20-04-2011, 12:52 PM
Website is slow causing double postings - oh!, whats occurring!
Hi John - Im using a Canon digital, yes to macro, removed flash as founf that because I have to get close it rebounds and affects to picture...camera settings was the highest, think it was 2400x? (cant chk until later)...
I think the image itslef isnt too bad, prob more when I display it at a reduced size online...I will try to upload a photo here...
Thanks!
hopefully this works!!! Maybe its when I try to change them to show online?
John G
20-04-2011, 02:01 PM
You need more light, I use natural light but Paul suggested using a flash but covering the flash with one sheet of white paper to defuse the light. Set your camera to macro and get in close. Take red eye off and anything else that might effect the focusing - use a tripod if possible to avoid camera shake or brace your hand/camera against something to keep steady. You do need a good clear shot to start with but remember your going to take the file size right down for web usage. Can your shot not be adjusted in photoshop - (Levels) you'd rather have an under exposed image than an over exposed as once the detail has been blown there's no chance of getting it back.
Paul may be along later on and he will be able to give you good advice.
hi. As i can see you photo is under exposed as you did bot used flash to not ruin a picture with hot spot reflecting of the mug. You can fix that by bumping you iso value up. Regards to size reduction you dont use crop function in photoshop do you??? Better off use edit/image size and there change option for size reduction.
Or another solution is to get the pro tog to do it for you and they all will look lovely.
Thanks John, I do take tend to take them at night with no natural light - I'll look into this - I also think the way some other sites display images look very sharp - perhaps that it their photoshop skills as well though!
smitch6
20-04-2011, 02:49 PM
There was talk that Paul would do some PS tutorials ;)
if you want nice, sharp pictures this is down to the camera sensor and lens used with the camera. you can sharpen up images in PS bu sharp them up not make sharp. so there is only one good solution for this issue. better enviroment for your photos. it would be handy if you got some sort of light tent. you can knock one up in 10 min from old box. just cut large windows in the box and cover them with some white fabric. bed sheet will doo. place some white fabric inside and taaaa daaa light tent ready.
did you try bump iso up???
There was talk that Paul would do some PS tutorials ;)
I can do it but i thik majority know how to sharpen images up ;)
hi. As i can see you photo is under exposed as you did bot used flash to not ruin a picture with hot spot reflecting of the mug. You can fix that by bumping you iso value up. Regards to size reduction you dont use crop function in photoshop do you??? Better off use edit/image size and there change option for size reduction.
Or another solution is to get the pro tog to do it for you and they all will look lovely.
Thanks for the advice Paul - I do turn the flash off not to ruin the image as I have to be close - but not sure what ISO value is...? I resize the images using Ctrl+Alt+I.... to approx 175 pixels high whilst retaining the constraints.. The photo resolution is about 180 once loaded in photoshop...
I'd love a pro to do it, but as I'm new and making no money at all (yet!) I've got to keep the costs down where possible... I toyed with the idea of not actually printing the mugs etc and just trying to photoshop the image, but then I felt it wasn't real, plus I want to be sure I could produce what I was selling...
I will have to play around with it again tonight... Maybe I shouldn't cut around the image but just resize the mug and background....? I just liked the way some are displayed on other sites, such as alligiftors for example...
Well. In my opinion cutting edges on photos for web site if this is main source of the busines is pointless as people eat with they eyes. If they see nice crisp image and their like it then more likely they goig to buy it. Is like in restaurant. Will you eat if cheff make a mess on your plate? :) regarding ISO you should have button on the camera body or under menu. Have a look there. You should see something ike 100, 200. 400. 800 and so on. Try 400 firtst. If still to dark then then bump it up up to 800. If to bright go lower. Regarding to resizing pics it does not mater how small you resize them they still should be crisp ans sharp. Whats importend isalgorytm you use. In ps Under edit>image size you should see small window. Somwhere on the bottom of this window is drop down menu where you can chose algorytm. I think is called bicubic sharpen but iam on my tab now so will confirm this when back home. Will post some screen shot. Alternativly to this all, you can post me up to 2 items and i will photograph them for you free of charge and then post them back with your pics edited. i can do min. 2 photograps of each item.
edit:
sorry for the confiusion: option in PS is not in Edit. is in Image>image size
http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/1160/screenno01apr201914.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9312/screenno02apr201914.jpg
Paul - thanks again for going the extra mile!!!! I have found my camera manual - and found the ISO setting! Its the one I was referring to earlier but I highered it instead of lowering it :| I have also found the bio setting on PS show I'll play around with that....!
The reason I was cutting images, was because I have struggled and struggled to get a decent back drop apart from white paper - I was looking for desktop size photo backdrop but havent located anything yet...plus I thought it seemed to be common practice looking at other things...
And thank you for the offer to photograph and prepare a couple of images, but I guess I need to learn a suitable way of doing this in the long run..... (I'll proberly eat my words!!!)....
Here are the difference of images with the background I used, anf then cutting it...
199 200
None look good compared to other sites...!
ok. if you dont want me do this for you then you can get more tips :) first of all. Background. in your case white. it need to be much more farver from the mug so there is more chance to miss the shadow. 2nd. try lit background itself with something. desk lapm should do. And also try to use your flash on camera but fire it tru yogurt pot or bit of plastic from milk bottle. it should defuse light a bit so there wont be any hot spots. dont worry if your background is grey. always will be if not litet with some light. but make sure it is this same grey every where. not bit darker on top and lighter on the bottom. is easy to make it wite in PS :) also when you useing white paper as a background make sure you got another sheet on the bottom too.
Thanks Paul - I'll try these tips again...! Regarding changing the background on PS - how can this be done without cutting the image and laying it on something else... because that would enable me to put a consistent backdrop behind the mug wouldnt it? Also, is white better, or would a different colour make the mug stand out more?
:-))
I think white is best and most clean color forsites. unfortunatly is not that easy just to change background. is much easyer to create proper picture :)
but trust me. do what i said and i am sure you will find out improvment. if you got descen exposure then go to curves. there you can change f=grey background for white.
"go to curves. there you can change f=grey background for white." hmmm, might have to pick your brains on this one again!!!!!!
Whenever you're fed up - just start to ignore me!!
lol :) sorry. go to: Image>Adjustments>curves
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/7828/unled1fe.jpg
click this eyedroper thingy and then click somwhere on your grey background. but as i said you need pretty good exposure first. ;)
edit:
thats what you can do with curves. your old pic:
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/294/photomug.jpg
is not perfect as exposure was too wrong but much lighter now...
Superb - I've just had a play around with ths, looks like a really useful tool! You thought about creating a tutorial for people like me and maybe selling it as a download?
my help is for free ;) not for sale lol
and its definately appreciated!
;-) fingers crossed on the results! I'm aiming to get a good white background then no cutting will be required! Hopefully I'll be able to post an good image tonight!
I use my bath for taking photo's of mugs and smaller items, works a treat :-)
John G
21-04-2011, 02:56 PM
I use my bath for taking photo's
That must be some bath - I use a camera :wink:
OK - I'm sorry, I've got me coat and am out the door.:redface:
lol :) bloddy good bath! I bet it cost fortune! :)
Doh!
Shouldn't post and run, lol
You know what I mean
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