General Jewelry Retouching Help?

[Choysnug]

Hello everyone! This is my first post on the forums. They were recommended to me by a friend.

I just need some guidance on general photo retouching. I'm shooting samples for a wedding band website that my boss owns. I'm using a lightbox and moderately decent digital SLR.

I'm attaching one of the photos I took along with an image that she wants to "match" the look of. I know that I can match the look, but with so much time required. I was wondering if anyone could give me some "tips" or secrets to achieve this look? I have to photograph TONS of rings, then switch them out to 14k, 18k, white gold, and rose gold...so I can't really spend a huge amount of time on each ring.

Thank you all in advance!

[mando-matic]

You'll never be able to achieve that look with just a little time in to each piece.
To get the look you want you will probably need to spend at least 1-2 hours on each piece.
It takes me at least an hour to get that look and I've been doing this for years.
I would manage the expectations form your boss and figure out the amount of time you can spend on each one then show him the result.

[Choysnug]

What do I even do to get this look, though?

I think she understands now that it's going to take some time to retouch each piece, but I don't even know where to begin getting this type of appearance...

I got a macro lens, so I'm able to get MUCH more detail now in the photo...retouching is another thing, though. Are there any tutorials online that could help me? She's willing to pay for things if they will help us achieve this look...

My image: http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC_0025_2.jpg
Image that she likes the look of: http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...at121252PM.png

The website that she likes the pictures on is gemvara.com.

Thanks!

K

[Wolfman]

A few things.... your image needed to be brought down a little... a little blown out so the details in the diamonds & the band aren't crisp... I realize you have to make the background very white so the jewelry suffers... that is a problem I have to deal with a lot...I'm a product & jewelry photographer.... I use different methods to deal with that and if high volume is involved you have to use the methods that don't slow you down too much.

On the site that your client likes you will notice that the backgrounds are not pure white so shooting the rings had one less problem to deal with.....also the rings are in focus in every area..... you can shoot with a smaller f-stop to gain depth of field or shot 2 or 3 shots with varying focus areas and blend them with a software called Helicon Focus....works very well unless your client doesn't care if the rings fade out of focus at the bottom end.

Here's your ring adjusted a little to see more detail.

[Choysnug]

Thanks I will definitely try taking the photo with different things in focus and bringing them together...

I don't think it's so much the "detail" as just having that "shine" to the piece. The photo looks a little flat as it is. As she said (and I hate it when clients use terms like this, but it's really the best way to say it) the photos on Gemvara just have "more life in them."

The samples I have are brass/CZ so the biggest thing I think I have to overcome is that "brassy" look. In any case, I just wanted to know if anyone had some techniques they used to get images with the same "feel" as the ones on Gemvara's site.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Choysnug

Thanks I will definitely try taking the photo with different things in focus and bringing them together...

I don't think it's so much the "detail" as just having that "shine" to the piece. The photo looks a little flat as it is. As she said (and I hate it when clients use terms like this, but it's really the best way to say it) the photos on Gemvara just have "more life in them."

The samples I have are brass/CZ so the biggest thing I think I have to overcome is that "brassy" look. In any case, I just wanted to know if anyone had some techniques they used to get images with the same "feel" as the ones on Gemvara's site.

I took a closer look at the Gemvara site and besides adding contrast to the images, it looks like there was a lot of smoothing of the surfaces and of course good lighting. I also think that the rings jump out because everything is in sharp focus.

[jetretouch]

Hi,

Your problem is not retouching - the problem is in the photo you take.
Take a look at my before and after jewelry portfolio:

http://www.jetretouch.com/photo-editing-portfolio

These "before" photos are good for retouching. Yours is missing mid tones and shadows. Try to open the soft box to let some environment to reflect in your shiny gold. Also don't overexpose your diamonds.

Focus issue - Read on "focus stacking" in photoshop.

Good photo is a key. Trust me I do it for more than 5 years. It's possible but so much harder to pull out something good out of a bad photo.

Good luck!

[Choysnug]

I am trying the "focus stacking" technique now

Edit: THANK YOU so much for telling me to open up the light box and let some shadows come through. The photos are coming out with so much more depth now.

I was getting SO frustrated with these pieces!!! Also, I took some time to clean the pieces. The samples are brass and CZ, so they were coming out looking like, well...brass and CZ haha!

I could still use some help with some techniques in retouching, but having the better photos as per your advice has already improved my process 1000%!

THANK YOU!!! and lovely portfolio!

[jetretouch]

Glad that a good advise helped

When you achieve what you want with your photos, please post the results here to share.
Would be great to show your progress. How it was and how it transformed after RetouchPro.

[Choysnug]

New Raw Picture

Forgot to attach it the first time!

[jetretouch]

Metal is getting better. Gaining some life. You have to play with your lighting to try what works best.

On my site there is a retouching Free Trial upload page. Take a few good photos of this ring and submit them. We'll retouch an image for you to see what can be done with your photos.

Here is the free trial page link:
http://www.jetretouch.com/photo-edit-free-trial

But take a few good shuts first

[Josselyn]

Hi,

I am going to be doing an engagement ring shoot and am curious how you mounted the rings to stand up without having something show in the photo. Also, if you could share how you set up your lights it would be a huge help! Thanks.

[jetretouch]

Hi Josselyn,

We do a lot of retouching serving mostly jewelry photographers.
As I understand you have a need to do large quantities for web, and there is no reason (or budget) for you to hire an expensive studio photographer.
If you are in LA area we have a few good photographers' contacts who do exactly that. If you are comfortable spending under $100 for about 20 items photographed we may arrange your visit to the studio and you'll see how your order is processed.

I suggest you to take a look at the following blogs for professional lighting setup for jewelry:

http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/jewel...r-inspiration/

http://www.epicmind.com/blog/

It may seem complicated but you should grasp the ideas behind the techniques and maybe replicate the process with less expensive equipment. The bottom line is you don't need to spend a fortune to take pictures intended for web display.

Good luck!

[Choysnug]

Update: I recently had the opportunity to go to Arnold Katz' studio and spend a day learning from him and David Katz (http://www.digitaljewelryphotography.net).

I'm still working on the "inside" of this ring, but just wanted to respond also to the question about standing the rings up. This ring was actually shot lying down, but I flipped the photo afterward.

Also, a neat trick I was shown was to use a hot glue gun to stand the jewelry up. It doesn't stick to the stones or the metal, comes off clean and doesn't "melt" under hot lights like wax does.

[cyberguy1]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I took a closer look at the Gemvara site and besides adding contrast to the images, it looks like there was a lot of smoothing of the surfaces and of course good lighting. I also think that the rings jump out because everything is in sharp focus.

I looked at Gemvara's website and images are 3D rendered images. That's way all sharp and smooth.

[psekkel]

Its a matter of personal taste I like to see a lot of reflections when photographing polished gold so that the metal looks more realistic.

look here

[skoobey]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

A few things.... your image needed to be brought down a little... a little blown out so the details in the diamonds & the band aren't crisp... I realize you have to make the background very white so the jewelry suffers... that is a problem I have to deal with a lot...I'm a product & jewelry photographer.... I use different methods to deal with that and if high volume is involved you have to use the methods that don't slow you down too much.

On the site that your client likes you will notice that the backgrounds are not pure white so shooting the rings had one less problem to deal with.....also the rings are in focus in every area..... you can shoot with a smaller f-stop to gain depth of field or shot 2 or 3 shots with varying focus areas and blend them with a software called Helicon Focus....works very well unless your client doesn't care if the rings fade out of focus at the bottom end.

Here's your ring adjusted a little to see more detail.

Well, you said it. Multiple focusing while at the same position to the object, than stiching it up in PS. Also, ue paintbrush to gove that shine and smoothness.

[smaster]

Nice photo but the retouch made the gold looking unreal (synthetic).
To reduce the retouch time, the initial photo has to be optimal.

One trick is to shoot inside a white light qube, to avoid black spots (which are retouched at the photo above), because gold is reflective and it reflects the environment.
So inside a white light qube with only a little hole for the camerra (and if needed for additional reduced spotlight/s) the gold ring cant reflect black ;-)

another trick is diffuse "walls" and a shiny ground (glas look),
that gives an exclusive look.
I have used it with black painted sheet metal, (high gloss) for silver coins and bullions.
This works also for rings and with white groung(high gloss).

Focus stacking is good and doesnt take much time when shoot with a tripod/camera mount.

greetings smaster