Author Topic: Isolation or just on white? (Read 6861 times)

CaptainYoung · « **on:** April 11, 2014, 20:57 »

In these days I am trying to make some pictures totally isolation on white, it means without any shadow at all. But I'm wondering if it is necessary to spend time to remove all the shadow on the background in post-production?

The question is that I want to know which will be sold better? with shadow or pure isolation?

I will be very thanks for your sharing your experiences

This is one of my works, just sold in 3 times...

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1678576/182436932/stock-photo-delicious-chocolate-cookies-isolated-on-the-white-background-182436932.jpg

rimglow · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2014, 08:47 »

If it is an image of a single object, then I isolate it completely. If it is an image of a group of objects (i.e. your cookies) then I tend to leave in the drop shadow. You have to consider the first visual impression that your thumbnail makes. Also, remember that a lot of stock photography is dropped onto a white background, so a floating group of objects, not grounded, just looks like cut and paste. My sample includes a clipping path, so the buyer can easily remove the shadow.

StanRohrer · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2014, 08:56 »

Do you load both, with and without shadow, images to the same web site? Hence a choice for the buyer?

StanRohrer · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2014, 08:58 »

Quote from: rimglow on April 12, 2014, 08:47

If it is an image of a single object, then I isolate it completely. If it is an image of a group of objects (i.e. your cookies) then I tend to leave in the drop shadow. You have to consider the first visual impression that your thumbnail makes. Also, remember that a lot of stock photography is dropped onto a white background, so a floating group of objects, not grounded, just looks like cut and paste. My sample includes a clipping path, so the buyer can easily remove the shadow.

Istock provides the clipping path to the buyer at the various buyer pixel sizes (well on-again, off-again, through the years of software updates - some times it was only found in the largest size download). Do other stock sites pass through the clipping paths to the buyers?

rimglow · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2014, 09:30 »

Quote from: StanRohrer on April 12, 2014, 08:56

Do you load both, with and without shadow, images to the same web site? Hence a choice for the buyer?

No, it wouldn't pass inspection cause it's the same photo.

Most sites include clipping paths. In fact they encourage them.

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2014, 12:58 »

Rimglow's answer is spot on, and he would know, since he's an expert at selling isolations.

When I started I was stuck doing complete isolations because I lacked the technique and equipment to shoot isolations in camera that included subtle shadows. Once I had the studio space, proper lighting, and experience to be able to do objects and people on white in camera, I found that they look much more grounded and sell better. I think that with people especially there's a bit of the feeling of the "uncanny valley" about pictures of people just floating on a sea of white. The shadows attract our eyes, ground the subject, and somehow register as "normal" to our brains, IMHO.

Rimglow's suggestion of including a clipping path offers the buyers the best of both worlds.

CaptainYoung · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2014, 20:30 »

Quote from: rimglow on April 12, 2014, 09:30

Quote from: StanRohrer on April 12, 2014, 08:56
Do you load both, with and without shadow, images to the same web site? Hence a choice for the buyer?

No, it wouldn't pass inspection cause it's the same photo.

Most sites include clipping paths. In fact they encourage them.

Thanks a lot!

You mean that I should keep the shadow on the ground and just remove when there is only one object in the picture?

And I also want to know which brand or kind of background paper you used? I found if I zoom the shadow into 100%, it looks very coarse and makes me very uncomfortable, I think the perfect shadow should be smooth and evenly, so I shot these isolated pictures by the PMMA（organic glass board), it's very easy to isolate.

And you referred the clipping path stuff, how does it works? the format is Jpeg or something?

Thanks again

rimglow · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2014, 12:47 »

Quote from: CaptainYoung on April 12, 2014, 20:30

And I also want to know which brand or kind of background paper you used? I found if I zoom the shadow into 100%, it looks very coarse and makes me very uncomfortable, I think the perfect shadow should be smooth and evenly, so I shot these isolated pictures by the PMMA（organic glass board), it's very easy to isolate.

And you referred the clipping path stuff, how does it works? the format is Jpeg or something?

Clipping path tutorials: http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=89
http://www.seanlockephotography.com/2008/09/29/clipping-paths/

For background paper, I use cheap poster board from the grocery store, or Michaels. I swap it out often as it gets damaged easily. I eliminate any shadow coarseness by using a soft fill light from a big umbrella. Since I backlight my shoots, I'll often stick something dark behind the subject to make it easier to mask.

CaptainYoung · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2014, 04:06 »

Quote from: rimglow on April 13, 2014, 12:47

Quote from: CaptainYoung on April 12, 2014, 20:30
And I also want to know which brand or kind of background paper you used? I found if I zoom the shadow into 100%, it looks very coarse and makes me very uncomfortable, I think the perfect shadow should be smooth and evenly, so I shot these isolated pictures by the PMMA（organic glass board), it's very easy to isolate.

And you referred the clipping path stuff, how does it works? the format is Jpeg or something?

Clipping path tutorials: http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=89
http://www.seanlockephotography.com/2008/09/29/clipping-paths/

For background paper, I use cheap poster board from the grocery store, or Michaels. I swap it out often as it gets damaged easily. I eliminate any shadow coarseness by using a soft fill light from a big umbrella. Since I backlight my shoots, I'll often stick something dark behind the subject to make it easier to mask.

Add dark board behind the subject, good tips! I will try it! Thanks!

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Author Topic: Isolation or just on white? (Read 6861 times)

CaptainYoung

rimglow

StanRohrer

StanRohrer

rimglow

lisafx

CaptainYoung

rimglow

CaptainYoung

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