Specific product photographing question

[george]

We have to scan/photograph a number of enamel badges each week and those with a large amount of gilt always seem to cause hassle and wasted time.

I'd to handy to have something set up so I just put a badge into the area/set-up/light tent/NASA wind tunnel/whatever and clicked the camera, and pow, job done every time. (regardless of the natural light that I rely on at the moment). Also would like these taken `flush` with the camera lens, not at an angle (which tends to give a better image).

So. What do I need?

[RuralWeb]

There was a big thread on this at the end of 2006 - but I use a Canon 350D with light tent in a studio with tranparent roof and daylight bulbs. Picures taken in RAW and edited.

[george]

Yeah, often have a read of that thread actually. Just wanted it a little more precise answer this time sir.

What kind of light tent Mal? A cheapie wee one, or a pro quality jobbie?

[RuralWeb]

I use a pro one but to be honest I have seen some pretty cheap ones that do the job just as well if not better. I got a big pro one off ebay the other month for next to nothing - there are lots on ebay and if you are doing little things then £20ish should get you one

[Mike Hughes]

For enamel badges I'm assuming you want to be quite close and that can run into problems with the camera creating shadows.

For close ups flush to the camera what you really want is a ringflash. These tend to be quite expensive to buy but you can make your own for next to nothing.

See http://stanfordphoto.blogspot.com/2007/11/diy-macro-ring-flash-1-introduction.html for an explanation.

Mike

[TraceyHand]

For enamel badges I'm assuming you want to be quite close and that can run into problems with the camera creating shadows.

For close ups flush to the camera what you really want is a ringflash. These tend to be quite expensive to buy but you can make your own for next to nothing.

See http://stanfordphoto.blogspot.com/2007/11/diy-macro-ring-flash-1-introduction.html for an explanation.

Mike

woohoo...Blue Peter, eat your heart out!
Might forward that link to hubby as we sometimes have a similar problem with flash/close up work

[RuralWeb]

you really want is a ringflashDont forget the macro lens if you are doing closeups

[Mike Hughes]

Dont forget the macro lens if you are doing closeups

True.

I have seen the same thing done with compact cameras and most decent ones will focus very close these days.

Mike

[george]

Lighting, or rather, lack of it, is what seems to cause problems.

Usually best results have been achieved with 100% natural light but today its very dull for example, so it'd be a huge step forward to have a mini studio set up on a pernament basis.

Focusing is not usually a problem, although certain colours seem to be a little problematic (usually reds and greens).

[leehack]

I use a camera setup on a tripod, pointing into a photo cube through the zip up door (zips top and bottom so close right up to lens). Only the lens points through and i have faint markings on the backgrounds on where to place products.

The only thing different from already mentioned is that i do not use the camera's flash, i use them lamp thingys (forget the technical term) that are activated by the camera. At the start they did cause burn out, but if you actually turn them away from pointing directly at the cube, they do a good job.

Shadows are a big issue i found, so a light either side solved this, you do come out of the room with green dots on your retinas after you have finished though.

[RuralWeb]

use them lamp thingys You can get low voltage daylight bulbs for these now so you can leave them on for ages - low carbon footprint

[andym]

I sorted myself out with a mini studio for £47!

1 x smallish lighting tent from Ebay from a company claiming to be in Manchester but were in HK so when they said all orders dispatched in 48hrs, it still took 7 days to get here.

4 x daylight bulbs from http://www.ukrdesign.co.uk/Daylight_Bulbs_Prices.htm which make all the difference. I bought some daylight bulbs from Tescos which are meant for craft work but they just don't have enough oomph. These bulbs are vital for decent shots.

3 x cheapo desktop lights from B&Q's because all my lights have bayonet fittings and the bulbs have screwy in ones.

1 x standard lamp I had which did have a screwy in fitting turned on it's side!

LOTS of cardboard covered in tin foil to stop the light escaping and it the light is bouncing from every angle then it looses it's directness.

Read http://www.tabletopstudio.co.uk/Pages/Product%20Photography%20Tips.htm for some terific advice but seeing as their after £49 for 2 bulbs rather than the £13.50 I paid, their prices are a bit steep.

Good luck

[pinbrook]

i wait for a sunny day and take the pics outdoors using white card background

[george]

Right enough, there's loads of light tents on eBay. Already got a couple of tri-pods, one of them microscope standy things look like a requirement too.

"cheapo desktop lights" as in the bendy stemmed ones?


Quite a large area needed for a badge image! I will rejuggle our entire store I think.

[andym]

[QUOTE=george]

"cheapo desktop lights" as in the bendy stemmed ones?

[QUOTE]
The very same. When sitting on a box at the side of the tent, sometimes you have to put a weight on the base of the light if the stem is bent off to the side. It takes up a fair bit of room to set it up especially when the tin foil covered cardboard is held together with tape but the results are surprisingly good.

The more I describe my set up, the more I realise why my wife objected to her dining room being converted into a studio

[Buzby]

We use a canon 400d with 60mm Macro lens, Tungsten light and Cubelite tent.

This is an image that I took today with this set up.

This is all very new and still finding my feet but am happy with the first lot of pictures. Total cost about £1000

[chris ashdown]

Jason

Try a bit more contrast and play with the colours, I think mine looks a little better 3245

Also if you tilt the item slightly away from you you will be able to reduce the flare from the silver and be able to see the broach as a piece of silver and make out the left white stone better

With metal and lights it is very tricky and easy to make the object apear flat. do you have your lights inside or outside of the tent, I would suggest you try with them outside

Also maybe use a coloured background cloth the help show the edges up sharper

[RuralWeb]

canon 400dTry using the RAW settings - these will allow you to process the image after taking it which you cannot do if you take pictures in jpeg

[Jan]

We sometimes use our scanner to 'photograph' things, we have a epsom perfection v350, which is a 3D scanner. Examples can be seen here :

http://www.jobangles.co.uk/acatalog/Butterfly.html

All of the keyring watch pics were done with the scanner. They are much better than the same pics taken with a light tent and camera.

I know about the problems with some of the section pictures by the way, before anyone points them out, I'm training someone up ATM.

Regards,

[Duncan Rounding]

We've taken pictures of rings by placing the ring on perspex with a dark or light sunken paper background, allowing a slight reflection.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/drounding/Z101c.jpg

[Jan]

That is a lovely image Duncan, very nice indeed.

Regards,

[chris ashdown]

I would be dead chuffed, if I could duplicate that one Duncan

Also had a look through your ring site, they all look so proffesional, well done

[freakmode]

Taken in our light box with a standard Canon A620 on a remote arm so you can get right inside.

Nice thing about the Canon stuff is they have remote shooting so you can see the image on screen (Tweak the settings) and shoot it via the mouse.

[george]

4 x daylight bulbs from http://www.ukrdesign.co.uk/Daylight_Bulbs_Prices.htm which make all the difference.

Great post Andy.

Ordered some bulbs from these people yesterday and despite their site saying small stuff was sent Second Class they were actually posted out using First Class and arrived this morning.

Goat Point awarded to both Andy and the ukrdesign peeps.


*goes to try and clear a desk for playing on(!)....*

[TraceyHand]

*goes to try and clear a desk for playing on(!)....*

Blonde bird still work nearby, G?
:p

[george]

Blonde bird still work nearby, G?



Sure is. Good idea T, she could help get the `exposure` right eh?

:D

[TraceyHand]

Sure is. Good idea T, she could help get the `exposure` right eh?

:D

well, she might be able to give you her opinions and advice on putting things in the right place....from a female perspective....

[Cheapprices4u]

just had a mail shot from maplin

hope it helps people

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=a03bl&source=15&SD=Y

Portable Soft Lighting Studio


• For digital and analogue photography
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Ideal for web page and internet auction product photography
• Tripod straps attached
• Folds into handy flat pack
• Extended size: 40(w) x 40(h) x 40(d) cm

This portable lighting studio is the ideal low cost solution for taking professional looking images of products etc for internet auctions, web sites or catalogue productions. Take it around with you and turn any table into a studio.

£9.99

[NicolaUK]

:D @ the FAQs on the product above

Q) Is this studio big enough to take peoples pictures? - Heather Smith
A) No, this is not suitable for that.