Pure White Background

[haku]

Hi,


I would like to take product pictures againts a white background. So, basically, I want a pure white background for the picture, just like in many websites such amazon.com.

I have been trying to use an ordinary white cloth for the background. However, it gave a greyish background, and I need to fix the picture (delete the background and adjust the brightness, intensity and contrast) using image editing software.

Is there anything I can do to create a pure white background for the product pictures, without doing a lot of fixing using the software ? I heard about a special cloth or super white paper, will it help ?

Btw, I am using a pretty old digicam, Epson photoPC 700 ...

Thank you very much,

-Haku-

[JCW3]

The key to achiving a white background, is exposure.

No mater what your subject is, you will have to slightly over expose the background to make it pure white, but its fairly easy to do with the right setup.

I would recommend giveing yourself some working distance between the background and subject. The take a light or maybe two and shine on the background. This bright light focused on the background, will aid in blowing the whites, to what your refered to as pure white.

Also you can use spot meter and meter then subject. Sometimes matrix will pick up the white cloth in the back and try to adjust it out to be a nutural gray. Which is probably why your backgrounds are looking gray...

In this case, exposure is everything. If it does not turn out white enough then pump enough light on the white subject to make it.

hope this helps

[haku]

Hi JCW3

Thank you for your answer, I'll try to put more light on my background. Btw, what is spot meter.

Thanks,
-Haku-

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[JCW3]

When your camera sets the expsure, it has to meter (look at it and decide what to set it at) the area.

Matrix meter looks at everything in the frame. Spot meter only looks at one spot which is usually in the center of the frame. You also may have center weighted, which will also fit your needs, since it only uses like 25% of the frame to give a exposure.

Do quick search online, there is alot of info on this topic.