MicrostockGroup

Hi MS Group,

Could anyone tell me what is 'Improper Image Isolation'? I am getting a lot of rejections with these comments. Most of the shots include my hand holding the object such as a dollar bill with say a cup of coffee in the background.

Thanks.


Tom

Try this link for photos in question-

http://static5.depositphotos.com/thumbs/1042606/image/503/5039026/thumb_380.jpg


Thanks.


Tom

You don't understand. Link to a High resolution photo. The one you posted is way too small to tell anything about it.

You guys are a very good photographers! I am having some serious issues with photographing objects with the white background. I've attempted doing tricks such as using the magic wand and blasting the background via the Levels or curves. Also using the dodge but the Stock editors blast me on this! They can see everything that I've done. I've been told to just take good photos out of the camera and don't do much on the photoshop. If I do that all my photos come out with a grayish background- they look horrible. I see the good images that are selling and the white background is so WHITE. How do they do it?


Thanks.

Tom

It's NOT done in Photoshop...it is done when photographing the object.

You should have a pure white background for a true isolation.. You should make sure you have enough light in the background on the white and your exposure just right to do this best.. Then if you need to get it better in photoshop you can use levels to tweak it, and or use the Burn tool on 60 or above to move over the white areas to get them to pure white.. make sure you do not go into the objects too much either, but you do not want to leave a line or discoloration on the edges.. Or another mor tediouse way is to draw around your objects with a pen tool..

 If you are going to isolations it's really best to get it as close as possible with your lights and camera so minimal is done post processing, it will save you time and rejections for sure..

You really should be lighting the foreground and background independently to get a good isolation.

all my pics that I used the magic wand got slammed! One editors told this would fly maybe a few years ago but not by today's standards!  Here is a sample that I sent in using the wand


http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/view?id=2460795

The rough edges around the bottom of the ribbon is what got you nailed. Unless the wand is set to 1 or 2 you arent going to get perfect edges.

Better yet don't use the wand, use the pen tool.. or even better, get enough light to do it right..

You don't need expensive equipment, just knowledge.  Go to your local hardware store, buy six or seven clamp lights (like used in the shop), buy a set of bulbs (all exactly same type).  Get some sticks (1x2 or 2x4); put them in buckets or gallon cans with dirt or concrete.  Clamp lights to the sticks.  Use four lights to light the background-make the light even; meter it so it is at about f11 or a bit higher.  Use couple lights to light the subject; meter it to be about f8. Don't put the subject to close to the background or you will get spill light hitting the back of the subject making it hot.   You can use a white bedsheet pulled tight for a white background.  Get a translucent shower curtain to use as a diffuser.

Take your time with the setup and you will save time with post processing.  Set your white bal. according to the lamps you are using.

All this equipment can be purchased new for $100.

you can buy a cheap chinese flash off ebay for about $35 and then a cheap wireless trigger for about $25 bucks and thats basically a $70 setup... thats how i built my cheapo studio for about $200 bucks with 3 flash and lightstands and stuff.... its really cheap and my photos look pretty pro from just poverty gear

I always use the pen tool and then might do some retouching if needed (when cutting hair for instance). The magic wand only if Im doing a quick job just to see roughly how something would look isolated.
Sometimes a too crisp border doesnt look good either so you have to do some feathering to the selection before taking out the backgroud. For me a good isolation is something quite hand made,no magic formulas or fast tricks if you want good results!
you dont nessesarily have to uplad the images on perfect white, you can let the buyer know in your photo description it has acutting path in case the client iinterested in isolatingthe image.