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I would like to pick your brains for a minute. If you are willing to share your talent with me I'd like to know just how you take pictures of your cards to make them look appealing (not washed out by flash...etc) and just fantastic all around? I've seen lots of pictures of cards over the years and have taken some too. I've come to believe that I'm just not a camera person...lol
I use a collapsible light tent like this one: Amazon.com: Portable Studio Lighting with Studio Light Tent Kit: Camera & Photo
I don't use those lamps, I just use my desktop Ott Lite.
No flash, macro setting.
Then after I transfer the pics to my PC I edit in photo editing software. Fix the Color Cast, crop, adjust contrast, resize & watermark. I've gotten very fast with it, so even though it sounds like a lot of work, I do it so often, I zip right through it, lol!
HTH.
I take all my pictures in the middle of the night with no tent. I use a couple of Ott lights, and edit with Photoshop Elements. That program is amazing and I taught myself by reading blogs some basic editing. Try Lisa Spangler's blog for a few wonderful tips on taking photos. You can find her free tutorials here. Photo Tutorials � sideoats + scribbles
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
A light box would be ideal but if you don't have the space or any special equipment your camera and a good lamp with work. Photos of my cards turn out the clearest if I lay them flat on a white sheet of paper under my desk lamp, close up setting and no flash (snowman card)
If it looks better standing I take the photo under my desk lamp with white paper behind and underneath but I get a shadow (birthday card)
Any photos I take in a bright area without the flash seem to be fuzzy (sock card).
I have a very, very simple background setup. Basically a base and backdrop in black cardstock. I set it up facing away from the window and use a reflector to bounce light back on my card.
I also use photo editing to adjust contrast, brightness, sharpness, color cast...only if needed. Then I crop, resize, and add the watermark. Like Katarina, it has become routine and quick for me. Just a couple of minutes each...at most.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Misstreez
Without getting into any of the editing of photos, these are the few things I do every time.
I only take my photos in daylight.
I never use a flash.
I always use the macro setting on my camera, and get up real close to take my pics.
I'd love to hear some other tips, as there is always somethng new to learn.
What she said! I don't have a light box yet do I only take pics during the day. I do have a light I shine directly on my project from the side as well. No flash and macro are key. Photo editing is also a must. Makes all the difference for me. I use a free program called GIMP. You can google it. I'm no expert with it but I can make my pictures shine with just a few clicks!
I second this appreciation! Wow, I didn't realize there were so many ways to take a photo. I'm not naturally a shutter bug because of how horrible my photos come out...lol
You all have given some fantastic things for me to try. I hope to have more things in my gallery soon, hopefully looking better than ever!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RosieLP
I really appreciate everyone's input. I've yet to take a good photo of a card or scrapbook page.
I second this appreciation! Wow, I didn't realize there were so many ways to take a photo. I'm not naturally a shutter bug because of how horrible my photos come out...lol
You all have given some fantastic things for me to try. I hope to have more things in my gallery soon, hopefully looking better than ever!
Day or night, in the kitchen right under a fluorescent light.
Put it on a white pillowcase so the camera can take a white balance.
Use a tripod with no flash.
Manual setting AV (aperture priority) check the f number and take the shot
No need to make any changes for color or clarity in Photoshop, just resize
The only reason I know how to do is my son taught me. Do I really understand it? no, not so much. :lol::lol:
I'm still trying to get it right for taking those pictures, but I might have some of my trial and error ideas to offer. I've used two sheets of different (or the same) 12 x 12 cardstock propped up using my laptop and then angled my Ott light just right to take shots. That seems to work pretty well.
My latest experiment is to use an 11 x 17 white foam craft sheet as my back drop. That works pretty well for smaller objects, but if I have a card that's portrait oriented, it gets a bit tight. So my next idea is to grab a second 11 x 17 foam sheet and use it as a back drop. I'm back to having a seam, but it's worth a shot.
Oh and I only have time to take pictures and crafting sometimes until after the kids are in bed. So using my Ott light for lighting is amazing. The sun just isn't out anymore when I finally get some down time.
One more lesson I'm learning. I've been grabbing my little Cannon PowerShot pocket camera for these pictures. It does okay, but I think my big Canon SLR would do better.
Wow! Thank you for all of your generous posts. I have learned so much. I am now crossing my fingers and hoping I can put it all into practice. Not too sure on the white balance stuff though. I just got a light box for Christmas. No idea about how to best use it but I hope to stumble on more great threads like this to help light the way. Pun may have been intended. ;) thanks again. So exciting.
I'm a night owl so I always take my photos at night with a light tent. The only exception is when I photograph my scrap layouts...then I use daylight. I use Piknik from Google to photo edit.
Make sure to take your photos at the card's level. No weird angles or distortion that way.
Taking pictures of cards for upload?
