Hello there,

As a jewellery retailer, I would like to take pictures that really sell my jewellery to a customer.

Just when I thought I had the technique down, I get sent this from a guy who wants to be paid to produce the following images (see below)

If anyone could please have a look and them and advise a step by step guide to get the same effect please?

I've tried using curves but the contrast doesnt look like right... and using levels burns out the highlights and makes the shadows too black rather than reflected.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2189893929/ (Before)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2190682024/ (After)


Help please!

there doesn't seem to be any attachments...

I'm having errors when I try to attach :( The files are under 100K each... why do I get an upload error??? Doh!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2189893929/ (Before)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2190682024/ (After)

The reflection of the ring is wrong.
It should the a mirror image of the ring not a copy of the ring.

Look at this example (http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11642394/Diamond_Ring.jpg) or this example (http://www.greatvaluejewellery.com/prod_images/04DM791.jpg)

Besides that it looks ok. Could use some sharpening.

[edit]

I took another look at your "before" image and it seems to be underexposed by one stop. A properly exposed picture would make it much easier to get you there.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2189893929/ (Before)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2190682024/ (After)

yeah, I forgot to mention that I realised the reflection was wrong, but how do I actually get from the "before" to the "after" ????

Help! Thanks

So, you are someone who needs retouching for your business, but don't want to pay for it. You come here to ask pros and advanced amateurs how to "do" this? Right? For free?

So, you are someone who needs retouching for your business, but don't want to pay for it. You come here to ask pros and advanced amateurs how to "do" this? Right? For free?
Right, but he's asking how to do it - not if we can do it. I mean, it'd be nice if he supported the community by paying, but that's his decision.
Just when I thought I had the technique down, I get sent this from a guy who wants to be paid to produce the following images (see below)
Actually, just read through this quoted and... that's pretty awful, but predictably business-like. I'm sure the individual quoted will find it's not very easy, and a new process has to be learned for every new step.

Perhaps they'll end up going with the person who offered their paid services?

e: Bah, I dunno. I'm torn on this one - if you're selling jewelery there's a decent markup, even if it's a new shop... but I can understand trying to save the $$$ by doing it yourself. But if we help this person, we're taking out of another person's pocket - another person which, as a retoucher, is in the same shoes as I am.

Guys,

Thanks for your opinion about my request.

I'm quite happy to pay for having my pics done, however, after investing about $2000 on a light box and camera, I don't really want to fork out more money to edit my pics.

I have experience in photoshop, and I have some knowledge about photography. I should have made my first request clearer. What I really want to learn, is not only learn how to get from before to after but how to do it quickly to process the X number of rings I have in my shops.

High margins on jewellery?? Maybe you should look at the margins bluenile.com make on their loose stones and see what I'm up against.

Thanks

High margins on jewellery?? Maybe you should look at the margins bluenile.com make on their loose stones and see what I'm up against.
Hah, I should have been more specific - higher profit from the margins (as compared to photo bags, for example).

Post what you consider to be your best attempt at the look that you are after.
Many members here will be more than glad to give you guidance.

Guys,
I'm quite happy to pay for having my pics done, however, after investing about $2000 on a light box and camera, I don't really want to fork out more money to edit my pics.

what kind of light box did you buy that was so expensive?

what kind of light box did you buy that was so expensive?
He got a light box and a camera - could be a high end camera :P

I bought the MK Digital Direct lightbox with all the bells and whistles (LED, halogen, tube light from all panels)

Canon G9 with x6 close up lenses

I was told to over expose for WB compensation as whites are perceived as grey bay the camera, then use levels to ad contrast and bring out the whites. Dodge the sparkle and burn the reflection to add more contrast.

I'll have a go this evening at posting my own before and after pics.

Thanks

I was told to over expose for WB compensation as whites are perceived as grey bay the camera,



White Balance and exposure are two entirely different beasts that have nothing to do with eachother, prem.
Nevertheless over exposing to compensate for the white in the image is the correct thing to do.

If you shoot RAW you can adjust both the WB and the exposure conveniently after the fact in PP.

The specular highlights require very subtle use of point-shaped light sources with your light box (LEDs or holes in the box?).
OR you can fake 'm in PP like so.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/RokcetScientist/Fakesparkle.jpg

If you know photoshop(not just curves), then you should be able to get the "look" you want or possible(considering your knowledge and equipment), since you are in industry as i am, you most likely know how is that look...and there many ways to get those looks,
but the vision is personal so only you know what right for you...here is my sample
http://photo.net/bboard/big-image?bboard_upload_id=41025084

I don't mind folks who ask for help sometimes without pay because most time when they figure out what pain in the ass it all is they give me the work anyways. I have done a lot of jewelry work in my business but I must explain to the poster that Jewelry photography at its finest is usually done by someone who dedicated their photo careers to shooting nothing but jewelry. There are so many little secrets and tips it would take forever to teach someone. I appreciate your interest in our process and will help you whenver possible but I keep one thing in mind too. I have worked for some of the biggest business people in the world and by and far jewelry makers, sellers, owners, whatever can be the biggest pain the the kahunas EVER. Not saying you, just an educated obervation.
:)c

I was told to over expose for WB compensation as whites are perceived as grey bay the camera, then use levels to ad contrast and bring out the whites. Dodge the sparkle and burn the reflection to add more contrast.

You need to buy a hand held exposure multimeter to get the right exposure for your image, usually the WB need to be set at flash or daylight on the camera 'cause the lightning simulates this kind of light, try both. But if you want to get a good image spend $170 dolars more to get a multimeter, this way you only need to balance the image and the pic will be better than the ones that you have now and the whites will be whites and won't need to over expose!!!!

Hope this help!

Silvia.

P.S: buy a piece of white acrylic to place the jewelry when taking the pic.

I have worked for some of the biggest business people in the world and by and far jewelry makers, sellers, owners, whatever can be the biggest pain the the kahunas EVER. Not saying you, just an educated obervation.
:)c

even bigger pains than food or clothing ads?

Jewelry is for sure more of a pain than food. Outside of auto and beauty it is as challenging as it gets.

I do not want to deter you from shooting but if you want to have pictures that really sell your jewelry to a customer, you need to hire a photographer that is good at jewelry photography. I have been retouching jewelry for a while and have seen the good the bad and the ugly. The best money you can spend is on the photographer IMO. I think what may be good is to hire a professional to shoot the stuff and ask to be on set. Learn what they are doing and how they do it. It is actually pretty cool to watch them shoot. Then try to reproduce it.

Reproduce? I think it’s not going to happen just like this, believe it or not…
A while ago I had little training (jewelry) from the photographer of world famous auction house In NYC, the best thing I have learned is how to be proactive…
I think you are making strategic mistake by concentrating on how to take pics and retouch them (unless it’s hobby or creative desire).
Well it’s not up to me what should you do.
Best regards,
-

http://www.edgarmaivel.com

As far as post processing and the before/after image I think they used levels and/or curves to get the look in the piece and then masked out the background and used a solid white background... or selected the piece using the pen tool and put it on it's own layer. There's always more than one way in Photoshop to get something done. Experiment by duplicating the image and using different blend modes (screen works nicely for making something lighter) on the duplicated layer that is above the original. Surely there was more fine tuning work done to the image but I can't say for sure what exactly was done.

Guys,

Thank you for your fantastic response. Thank's to Stephen A for helping me out. I've figured out how to get a look that I'm satisified with. thanks!

As I wouldn't try and make a ring I think it would be best if you found a photographer who can give you a pro result.Most of my clients will shoot their own jewelery for in house records but thats about it.
Tim Robinson

Not a lot of time to talk so I'll keep it short. That will be different for a change anyways.

You can acheive the perfect reflection like that shown by shooting the ring on a piece of translucent lucite. Any Home Depot has it. The rest of the secret is excellent lighting that takes time to learn so practice. I won't get on my soap box but back to the basics is always he place to start, then do some touch up and fancy stuff in the computer if you like. No computer can ever reproduce the "sweetlight" that can be seen and documented by a skilled shooter. One sun = one light source. All the other beautiful shadows/highlights we see on our sunlit objects our put there by the man mad and god made reflectors and scrims, ie; buildings, walls, trees, you name it. You have to learn the rules before you can break them.


Peace.

c

Right, but he's asking how to do it - not if we can do it. I mean, it'd be nice if he supported the community by paying, but that's his decision.

Actually, just read through this quoted and... that's pretty awful, but predictably business-like. I'm sure the individual quoted will find it's not very easy, and a new process has to be learned for every new step.

Perhaps they'll end up going with the person who offered their paid services?

e: Bah, I dunno. I'm torn on this one - if you're selling jewelery there's a decent markup, even if it's a new shop... but I can understand trying to save the $$$ by doing it yourself. But if we help this person, we're taking out of another person's pocket - another person which, as a retoucher, is in the same shoes as I am.

I understand somewhat about what the poster is doing because I am a jewelry photographer myself. Although I don't use the MK light boxes, I have several lighting rigs and light tents to get the best result out of the camera and keep the PS post work minimal. That box should give him good results so retouching may not not necessary.

Here are a few examples of what I got out of the camera with only some slight PS post work, but I try to get the best images possible from the original source. Jewelry retouching is tough and I come to these forums myself putting up examples and challenges to try to find solutions to my own questions.

Thanks Steve

The Light Boxes are not a magic solution...For the money it cost it's better
idea to buy strobes and learn lighting.
Just my 2cents...
Best regards,

www.edgarmaivel.com

Okay, I have held my tongue long enough, but it's enough already. This is not the bicker forum and I would have smashed it long ago.
Yes, there are a lot of pros here, we make money, some make a lot of money. I happen to make my money by not retouching but as a long time shooter. I took some classes, learned a lot from books but there was no digital in my photo beginnings. Now, these few comments will be directed to one person specifically and you know who you are. I am not going to call you onto the carpet. I don't know your age, experience level and frankly I could not give a damn. I have had people take screen shots of my AP Images and sell them for 10 bucks a piece, do you know how much they cost in the real world? I was taken to task by AP but was able to prove myself. Images are stolen every day. Such is the reason that federal laws were made concerning Intellectual Property. The key to some of this is the word intellectual. Try to be okay. I have helped this guy before, he was nothing but thankful and frankly if he can make it I am gonna give a guy with some desire to learn every chance I can. He is not taking money out of my pocket or yours, hell he's not even lying about it, just asking for direction. There is a lot in my life I would be without if not for giving people. I have met one lady on here who started a charity for her children that have a rare disease that just a handful of kids have in this world. She was upfront with me and all she wanted was a direction to go in cropping an image. I worked and donated about 50 of my own images for her cause. In the end she offered money. In the end I offered her peace and wrote it off on my taxes. Buddy, if you don't learn to live with a little grace you have a long road to how. One day you might be in need. Aren't the artists of the world the ones who are supposed to be promoting peace and the right of free living as long as no harm is done. Are we not the ones to show the way to the new artists. Once again, I have no idea of your capabilities or talents but I know mine. I know what I have accomplished and when it comes right down to it I could care less once again about yours or mine. Maybe you need some life experience, maybe you are just being the champion to the artist, I don't know but the soap box is broken. Members of this site have free will when it comes to helping, not helping and deciding when we are being mislead by a fraud. My advice is that you first look up the word "Grace" in the dictionary. It will take you a long way in life. The biggest thing is in the overall scheme of this world, the pain, the hurt and ridiculous people we deal with, is this such a big cause for you to stand on? Karma is a sneaky little devil.

Namaste my friend.

c

I think since you have "the Box", you will begin to get the results your are after out of the camera and keep the PS post work minimal. I would take a ring, place it in the box with several perspective layouts, shoot, shoot and shoot, then analyze what your results are. The retouching will come just by a lot of hands on work. There is no real book I am aware of that is titled, "Jewelry Retouching." I wish there was one though, because I would be their first customer.

Now the next thing is, think outside of "the box." Visualize your final output and try to emulate it. After you shoot a few hundred, maybe thousand jewelry products, you will get there if you have the drive and passion. Keep movin' ahead!!

Steve hit it right on the head. Like we spoke about in another forum about your watches. Learn good lighting! Remember all the tips I gave you. There all kinds of books on lighting but "seeing the light" takes practice or a gift.
The key here is to be an excellent shooter (which takes time and much practice). Even a chimp can take a good shot with the digital cameras we use today. You seem very interested so learn it. Go to Barnes and Noble, drink coffee and look at every lighting book they have. Take notes, they build there business on that happening and yet have I found one that did not allow it. Look at some Dean Collins books if they have them. He was or is once considered a guru. I know I am repeating a few things I once told you but let it sink it.
One sun, one light, sweet light, once you see it you will know it. Smooth, clean highlights making sure they never cover anything important. I once did a whole bunch of jewelry by taking a Tupperware cake carrier. It's a plastic plate with a lid that is made of translucent plastic. It's about the same size around as a five gallon bucket and about half as tall. Cut a hole in the top just big enough to shoot through. Practice shooting lights through it. One person told you to buy lights but not soft boxes. I prefer Broncolor lights but they are way over priced even though they are awesome. A lot of the younger shooters are being these Alien Bees which seem to be pretty nice. Foam core reflectors. Cover them with shiny fabrics like gold or silver if need be. Make scrims out of PVC pipe, creating frames as large as you need. Go to Army Navy and buy an old parachute. They are usually white and soft box like. This does not happen over night, well maybe for some people (HMMMM:) Remember how I told you about my greatest instructor who was a Hallmark shooter. He always told us to "see the light" he preached it. It just snapped into place one day. Be patient with yourself buddy.

As I wouldn't try and make a ring I think it would be best if you found a photographer who can give you a pro result.Most of my clients will shoot their own jewelery for in house records but thats about it.
Tim Robinson

I agree.
Although I am a partner in a few online "PhotoArt" and Retouching sites- and I also freelance -the job that takes most of my time is as a Digital Artist for a direct sales Jewelry company. I both stylize and Art Direct the photo shoots because ultimately it is my job to make the jewelry look great so I have to visualize not only the finish product but what the layout/layouts for the jewelry (both web and print) entails. But you can't beat a professional photographer with jewelry experience to have a great image to start with.

To get a natural reflection use acetate on top of a white surface. If you find that the acetate creates a river effect from being on a roll just reverse the direction of the acetate and the lighting can fill it in so it looks like a smooth surface (I hope this makes sense). Even at that you still have to (clip) separate the reflection from the piece and use a gradient mask with a slight g blur as other wise the reflection can be confusing and over power the image. Depending on the piece sometimes it is easier to shoot it - clip it and fake the reflection. If you choose to do this invest in white plexi and have one side sanded (of course this would be the side that goes up -lol) so you don't get the shadows you will get using form core or other substraits.
I wish I could post some of my work here - but the images belong to the company who pays to have it shot - by a professional photographer.... a great investment.
Hope this helps.
Regards
~Nancy
______________________
www.PhotoArt123.com

I recently applied for a job as a retoucher for a 'Jewellery Photographer' who has a number of big clients here in Australia & has 3 staff to do all his retouching. I was expecting it to be colour enhance ment & some light brush work

Turns out to be pretty much 'photo manipulation' in my eyes after seeing some of the before/after images in his studio.

He gave me a few items to work on at home to send in addition to my application. I'm not very skilled when it comes to major work - being a photographer myself I prefer to let the camera do a lot of the work & just enhance the colours + a little bit of sharpening

I read a few tutorials and basically tried to teach myself a few things before attempting to alter the image he gave me, just wondering if I'm on the right path...after 2hours or so last night I stopped to go to bed, so I'll attempt to finish of the left side of the ring tonight & sharpen it

Does anyone have a link to a detailed tutorial that helps with jewellery retouching, or care to list a few things for me read up on that will relate or am I atleast on the right track to finishing this ring?

Do you agree that more should have been done in the shoot before sending it to the post production staff? I don't really want to try and tell a potential new boss that he could reduce editing time if his images were a little better, seeing as he makes a living out of it!

forgive my rambles & grammar issues, I need my caffeine fix before I start to make any sort of sense

I recently applied for a job as a retoucher for a 'Jewellery Photographer' who has a number of big clients here in Australia & has 3 staff to do all his retouching. I was expecting it to be colour enhance ment & some light brush work

Turns out to be pretty much 'photo manipulation' in my eyes after seeing some of the before/after images in his studio.

He gave me a few items to work on at home to send in addition to my application. I'm not very skilled when it comes to major work - being a photographer myself I prefer to let the camera do a lot of the work & just enhance the colours + a little bit of sharpening

I read a few tutorials and basically tried to teach myself a few things before attempting to alter the image he gave me, just wondering if I'm on the right path...after 2hours or so last night I stopped to go to bed, so I'll attempt to finish of the left side of the ring tonight & sharpen it

Does anyone have a link to a detailed tutorial that helps with jewellery retouching, or care to list a few things for me read up on that will relate or am I atleast on the right track to finishing this ring?

Do you agree that more should have been done in the shoot before sending it to the post production staff? I don't really want to try and tell a potential new boss that he could reduce editing time if his images were a little better, seeing as he makes a living out of it!

forgive my rambles & grammar issues, I need my caffeine fix before I start to make any sort of sense

hi geeewocka

i might be wrong but that could be the same place i went for an interview

was that job in Chippendale Sydney?

hi geeewocka
i might be wrong but that could be the same place i went for an interview
was that job in Chippendale Sydney?

Oh this greatly improves my chances.... /endsarcasm

yes it was haha :)

great setup, felt like a very relaxed environment which will be a big change for me & Tandy seems like a good person to work with

what was your impression on the retouching amount that he is looking for?

did he give you a photo to retouch?

he didnt give me 1
dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing.

he told me his looking for 2 people so we both might have a chance.

tandy seemed like a pretty cool guy.
and environment looked relaxed like you said

and the impression on the retouching amount seemed cool.
he told me there is mostly jewelry retouching plus other retouching sometimes.

Yeh he said he's had quite a number of applicants & apparently one person was coming in the day after I was there for a run through while his current staff are working

I should have asked how long the average time is spent on editing each item...

And yep 2 positions available. I'll see what he thinks of my job when I get it done.

I'd offer to send it to you, but it's 100mb for the 3 files I got.

This jewelry was just released so I can post it now. The Art Director's inspiration was an ad she saw with colored perfume bottles with elongated shadows. We were running overtime on our product photo shoot so we decided to do the shadows in post (attached).
~Nancy
----------------------------------------
www.PhotoArt123.com

Hi guys

Just joined this forum, and as with many others here, I get asked the how do I get rings to look like tiffany ( or the equivalent) question everyday.

To get the best jewellery photography shots

1. Employ a guy that just shoots jewellery......thats me, and a few others hidden in studios around the world.

2. scour the globe for a great jewellery retoucher ( or ask the photographer to arrange it as he has probably scoured the world 5 times over already!)

3. Get one to shoot and the other to retouch.

Pay both the guys the going rate the reflects where you are in the market.

Dont expect to get a tiffany retouch of a $100,000 solitaire, for the price extracting a piece of costume crystal from a dodgy lite box shot. It may seem obvious but many clients dont see this.

Nancy, nice layout with the rings on the shot,


anyway,


have a look at my site, the header image of a marquie cut stone follows those 3 rules.

Any questions im happy to help out, ill post more on the business topic thread.

http://www.neilsonphotography.com



best

Andrew

http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2189893929/ (Before)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2190682024/ (After)

That guy's PP edit leaves a lot to be desired, prem. A couple flaws have been pointed out already. But what really gets me is that he killed all the color in the stone. And so he took all the life out of it.
I hope you can avoid doing that.

Stephen - just step out of this conversation, kindly. It is a learning forum. If you want to critique - there another forum. Best.

Just want to share one of my latest rings...58932
Best regards,
Edgar
.................................................
www.edgarmaivel.com

That looks pretty good. Quite great actually. Amazing sharpness in depth of field aspect and color clarity. The shadow seems to be a little off kilt and 'dissolve' looking shadow could look more like cobalt glass if blurred or woven. What did your original look like? It would be interesting to know how much freehand drawing you did for definition - or how much technique is involved. How does it turn out in print?


Best.

unusual shot. Looks to me as if it has been shot on a natural silver mirror, and above is placed a black reflector to create black background.

Shooting like this does 2 things

1. It gives the double reflection below ( 1st from reflection from the top glass surface and 2nd from the aluminium mirror backing).

2. the top surface of the ring and anything that sees the black reflector goes black., some clients prefer this to be golds

Good thing ( and the reason this technique is used, is that the stone and lower surfaces of the ring retain the original colouring,and the black gives intensity to the stone.

Or it wasnt shot like that, and its all retouched....im curious edgar do tell!

best

Andrew

This one is mine.

Nanis, trying to understand what you say in your generous post ( I have to improve my English, LOL).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24792572@N03/2523190067/sizes/o/

This forum has seemed to stray way off from the original persons question. On how to imitate the photos he/she provided.

To be honest i dont know why you want to imitate how this guy edits his photos. I think it look fake and over done. grab a fashion mag and look in there and study how real pictures of jewelry are done. What that guy sent you is very bad and over done editing. (of course this is only my opinion, so don't go and get all mad at me)

Also look into getting a lens made just for jewelry photography.

Hello there,

As a jewellery retailer, I would like to take pictures that really sell my jewellery to a customer.

Just when I thought I had the technique down, I get sent this from a guy who wants to be paid to produce the following images (see below)

If anyone could please have a look and them and advise a step by step guide to get the same effect please?

I've tried using curves but the contrast doesnt look like right... and using levels burns out the highlights and makes the shadows too black rather than reflected.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2189893929/ (Before)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/premmahtani/2190682024/ (After)


Help please!


I have attached a sample of my work with your quote. I think you are wanting something like this.

regards,
http://www.colorexpertsbd.com/free_trial.html

I took the original ring and used a curves adjustment layer to brighten it and add contrast.
I used a hsl adjustment layer to desaturate the ring.
I then selected the ring and copied that selection to a new layer.
Under that ring I placed a blank layer and filled it with white
I then copied the isolated ring layer and put that on a separate layer.
To the ring layer below I flipped it horizontally and decreased its opacity to 36%.
On the very top I added some sparkles. I didn't have the right sparkles but you get the idea.

colorexpertsbd she is asking how its done not if you can do stuf like that. I looked at your site and it says you do paths, nice looking website :). But i was looking at the sample you provided, the stones look week and dull maybe try enhancing them a bit. thought i would let you know, sometimes we take so long to edit and forget to enhance small things like that. hope this helps you a bit get better pictures

Matthew you right just don’t feel to solicit the forum with another thread on jewelry topic...Thanks SnakeSuspenders, actually we have choose another one from the shoot for printing, less intense and different background and angle for some certain reasons.
Andrew i didn’t use any of that, more simple old school Plexiglas. As of retouching were pretty minimal dust particles in foreground a few on the ring, and a fixed inside a bit and changed tonality of the shadow on top of the mounting, other than that it was strait out of camera , then ACR (some tweaks). Also about that blue in the diamonds it seems so popular around, usually it's different tonality in real diamonds, but it's very pronounce in CZ(cubic zirconia).
Best regards,
Edgar
........................................
www.edgarmaivel.com