Retouching jewelry images

[ebel31]

Hi just started playing around with a few shots that I have taken I'm pretty new to shooting jewelry and need some advice on to how to get started
i'm having trouble retouching the metal bands to get a more even look
throughout the image a have a few sample images from a few professional retouchers it seems like their using a type of gradient to even out the metal using photoshop
I masked out the metal in the image added anew layer filled it with black and applied a gradient overlay to mimick the color of the metal
I've heard some people use a surface blur to work on the metal bu i'm not sure how
I welcom any suggestions

[edgework]

Originally Posted by ebel31

Hi just started playing around with a few shots that I have taken I'm pretty new to shooting jewelry and need some advice on to how to get started
i'm having trouble retouching the metal bands to get a more even look
throughout the image a have a few sample images from a few professional retouchers it seems like their using a type of gradient to even out the metal using photoshop
I masked out the metal in the image added anew layer filled it with black and applied a gradient overlay to mimick the color of the metal
I've heard some people use a surface blur to work on the metal bu i'm not sure how
I welcom any suggestions

Jewelry is a highly reflective, distorting surface. You've given yours a dull, satin finish.

You're partly correct in terms of using gradient effects to smooth out your reflections, but not over the entire surface at once. You didn't post any originals, but I'd bet there are distinct dark and light areas separated by sharp edges. You need some of those sharp edges, and you need the darks and lights, just not as much as you'll pick up from the environment. But a reflective surface with nothing to reflect shows up as dead. Simplify each area, as you've done here, but retain the larger separations and keep more edges!.

[Lasa]

Looking good..can you post the originals?
Lasa

[Ziaphra]

I think she's saying her original is the centre one and the other two are examples of the type of retouching she would like to be able to do.

[ebel31]

Its He and yes the original is the center image
any suggestions

[Ziaphra]

lol! The anonymity of the internet strikes again!

[Craig_H]

Before relying on retouching to gain the effect you're after, research lighting first and foremost. You need large, soft light sources to get the effect you're after...

[bestremera]

Many have constructed 'light tents' and other light modifying mini environments that bathe the subject in diffuse light while eliminating the possibility of the camera or other lighting being reflected in the jewelry.

By all means, investigate jewelry lighting first.
Just look at all the beautiful jewelry photography that was done in the image capture alone - before Photoshop.

Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean that everything is a nail!

Good luck,
Bob

[SteveB2005]

I am a pro jewelry photographer and use a variety of lighting, cameras, lenses, props and little tricks to get the results I'm after. IMHO, photographing jewelry with the quality needed to go to press and for web catalogs is a long road ahead, but a fullfilling challenge when you get the results you are visualizing.

Looks like you are on your way, so just keep shooting, experimenting and having fun with it. Sometimes, you want to tear your hair out in frustration, haha

Steveb