Beginner Help with a background choice

MikraCoils

MikraCoils

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Darren
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Ok guys Im struggling to find a suitable background to use for my product photos, the attached picture is the sort of thing that I will be shooting, its about as big as a 50p peice.

My main problem is that the backgrounds I have tried (paper/cloth etc) have shown fibres and are not smooth. I did try perspex, and while that was a lot smoother I dont always want something reflective.

Any ideas?
 

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I'm no expert but is it possible to stand the items on a plinth (small plastic or wooden block, perhaps covered in black cloth) and then put the background material a good distance (eg 0.5m+) behind the item, so it will be out of focus?

Dave
 
Tringa said:
I'm no expert but is it possible to stand the items on a plinth (small plastic or wooden block, perhaps covered in black cloth) and then put the background material a good distance (eg 0.5m+) behind the item, so it will be out of focus?

Dave
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I can give that a go, see how it does. Thanks
 
You could try taking a piece of clear perspex, spray paint it on one side with the colour of your choice and then carefully rub the paint back with some fine wet-and-dry. That should give a nice smooth matt finish on one side and with a bit of luck a glossy side on the other.
 
KernowChris said:
You could try taking a piece of clear perspex, spray paint it on one side with the colour of your choice and then carefully rub the paint back with some fine wet-and-dry. That should give a nice smooth matt finish on one side and with a bit of luck a glossy side on the other.
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Tried this already, my problem with this is 1. It scratches very easily as its small peices of wire that I am shooting, and also Im not able to bend it to get the "infinity" wall type background.
 
You thought of a light tent, cheap and does the job. HERE
 
MikraCoils said:
I have a lighttent already, the problem is im shooting things that at most is as big as a 50 pence peice, so all fabric (or at least the ones ive used) show the fibres
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Revealing surface textures is pretty much unavoidable at macro distances. And a surface that is really smooth is also glossy almost by definition, so will show reflections. You could reduce the textures with flat lighting, though that might not give you the effect wanted on the subject. Or you could blur them in post-processing. That's probably the method I'd try first, because it's easy in Lightroom with the local adjustment brush.

Another possibility is to kill those reflections with a polarising filter, and if you get your angles right, they should vanish. It's Brewsters Angle, roughly 30-40 degrees to the surface, and that looks like it might just suit. Then fiddle about a bit so that any reflections still present are out of focus? Suck it and see really. The other handy thing is polarisers don't work on reflections off metal, so the actual subject should remain unaffected (y)
 
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HoppyUK said:
Revealing surface textures is pretty much unavoidable at macro distances. And a surface that is really smooth is also glossy almost by definition, so will show reflections. You could reduce the textures with flat lighting, though that might not give you the effect wanted on the subject. Or you could blur them in post-processing. That's probably the method I'd try first, because it's easy in Lightroom with the local adjustment brush.

Another possibility is to kill those reflections with a polarising filter, and if you get your angles right, they should vanish. It's Brewsters Angle, roughly 30-40 degrees to the surface, and that looks like it might just suit. Then fiddle about a bit so that any reflections still present are out of focus? Suck it and see really. The other handy thing is polarisers don't work on reflections off metal, so the actual subject should remain unaffected (y)
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Thank you Richard, very informative. Quick look at cpl filters, seems to be worth a try.
 
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GreenNinja67 said:
Would this be any good?

http://www.penrynplasticsacrylic.co.uk/product_info.php?id=102
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Problem with plastic type materials, is because the item I am shooting has very sharp edges, it scratches the surface way too easily, and I would have to replace it every few days, or be forever trying to Photoshop scratches out.

sunnyside_up said:
Colorama ColorMatt? I find it quite effective...
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Just had a quick google of this Bethy, and im liking the first words in description "scratch resistant" I will look around more at this option
 
What about a matt finish floor tile? I would have thought you should be able to find one in a solid colour with no pattern\texture and you won't have to worry about it scratching
 
The problem is the proximity of the subject to the background so why not try hanging the coils away from the background using very thin invisible thread. Or glue, solder, stick, weld a rod to the coli so it can be positions sot there is no contact with backgrounds.
 
redsnappa said:
The problem is the proximity of the subject to the background so why not try hanging the coils away from the background using very thin invisible thread. Or glue, solder, stick, weld a rod to the coli so it can be positions sot there is no contact with backgrounds.
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oo I like that idea, I could always photoshop the thread out afterwards.
 
MikraCoils said:
oo I like that idea, I could always photoshop the thread out afterwards.
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Another variation on a similar theme, might be to support the item on a rod or stiff wire attached out of sight behind, that then disappears down through the background, again hidden out of sight and secured in flower-arranging foam underneath (or whatever). With a small item like that, you could probably do it with coat-hanger wire and BluTack, as least as a trial. These kinds of tricks are common in good product photography that often involves a lot more than meets the eye.

As I think you're going to be doing quite a bit of this, it would be worth experimenting and investing time building a little rig.
 
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String/wires is the way to go if you want the ability to position the item just so. If you just want non reflective/no fibers, look up "matt pvc" on ebay... ~ £5 for an A4 piece in about any color you might want.

I usually use those really thin flexible cutting boards I pick up cheap at local bargain stores. They also come in colors, often in multi mix packs (red/green/yellow/blue/white) ~£5 a pack. They have a sheen if the light hits just so, but not really reflective.
 
HoppyUK said:
Another variation on a similar theme, might be to support the item on a rod or stiff wire attached out of sight behind, that then disappears down through the background, again hidden out of sight and secured in flower-arranging foam underneath (or whatever). With a small item like that, you could probably do it with coat-hanger wire and BluTack, as least as a trial. These kinds of tricks are common in good product photography that often involves a lot more than meets the eye.

As I think you're going to be doing quite a bit of this, it would be worth experimenting and investing time building a little rig.
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yeah I need to play about, Im already thinking though some sort of frame with a small magnet on the end of it would work well, as I could just attach the coil to the magnet with no fuss.

sk66 said:
String/wires is the way to go if you want the ability to position the item just so. If you just want non reflective/no fibers, look up "matt pvc" on ebay... ~ £5 for an A4 piece in about any color you might want.

I usually use those really thin flexible cutting boards I pick up cheap at local bargain stores. They also come in colors, often in multi mix packs (red/green/yellow/blue/white) ~£5 a pack. They have a sheen if the light hits just so, but not really reflective.
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Steven, do you have a sample link, the ones Im getting on google are all foam?
 
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