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Thread: Making a Photography Background

  1. #1
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    Default Making a Photography Background

    I thought this quick explanation of how to make your own graduated
    background in Photoshop (or similar) might come in useful to people.
    It'll save you £££'s against buying one!

    You need:
    1 x Sheet of Matt Photographic paper (ideally A4)
    1 x Ink-jet or Laser-jet printer
    1 x Photo programme (e.g. Photoshop)

    Instructions:
    1) Set your paper size to A4 (210 × 297 mm)
    2) Use the Colour selector to select the Colours you'd like your gradient to be (e.g. Black & White)
    3) Select the gradient tool (on photoshop it's behind the paint bucket tool)
    4) Fill a selection by clicking and dragging the pointer across the canvas or selection.
    The larger the drag the more gradual the gradient will be. All of the control of the tool lies in the dragging of the pointer.
    Pressing and holding the shift key will create perfectly aligned gradients.

    Have a play with whatever programme you're using their are normally a few options for different gradient styles.....

    When you're happy print it out onto the photo paper and voilà
    you have your own professional looking photo background!

    Here's an example of something I took using mine (I selected the darker area of the gradient
    but by using an A4 sheet you can also select a lighter gradient)

    For comparison the same jewellery item has been on a white background and a graduated background


    The pics aren't up to studio standard but with the help of a cheapo ebay light tent and some good lighting
    you can get some great results....

    Nic xxx
    Monthly FREE entry giveaways on Blogs!
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  2. #2
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    Default

    That's a great idea, thanks

    I also buy papers from craft shops like Hobbycraft, there are some beautiful yet understated ones that would be perfect!

  3. #3
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    Thumbs up

    Thanks for the tips, I've been struggling with getting enough light on my work (3 lamps pointing at it doesn't seem to work!) so the light tent should be perfect... I never really thought about what the jewellery was being photographed on, probably because the lighting is more of an issue, but I'll definitely remember it for the future!

    I usually get my geeky partner to do the rest. He uses a free editing programme called GIMP... If you can't afford photoshop its just as good, you should be able to find a download if you search it in google (its perfectly legal, don't worry), and there are some good tutorials on how to use it on youtube.

  4. #4
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    Default

    normally the graduated background (an infinity curve in photography) is simply caused by the fall of in light against a curved white background and the way the camera registers light.....

  5. #5
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    Default

    True = but I'm cheating
    Monthly FREE entry giveaways on Blogs!
    Shop Blog: http://muranosilver.blogspot.com/
    Silver Clay Blog: http://pmctips.blogspot.com/
    View images of my work on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/muranosilver

  6. #6
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    Red face

    All this photography stuff is very timely for me. I'm in the process of setting up a website and want the pics to be 'just so.' My (sometimes) better half has just stopped me from spending 300 quid on a jewellery-photography set up! That's 300 quid we haven't got, I hasten to add.

    Di x

  7. #7
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    Default

    I have been using my Planishing block for a background of late and alot of people have been commenting how nice it looks! So much so that I'm going to go and find some brushed aluminium to use instead of my block which will only become more worn in time and lost it's appeal photography wise

  8. #8
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    Default

    Just took a look - and, yes, your planishing block does make a neat background

  9. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Moon Cottage View Post
    Just took a look - and, yes, your planishing block does make a neat background
    Thanks

    I did it by chance just once and loved the look and then so did everyone else so it's stayed!

  10. #10
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    Default

    the planishing block was a good effect perfect for earrings

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