I have reasently started to photo my minis and post them on this page, however, I have big trouble making the photos look good. No matter what I do my pics always end up reddish. If I have a white background, it looks all pink on the photo. What can I do about this? I have tried changing the settings of my camera, but It doesent seem to help. (I am using a Minolta Dimage if you are interested to know)
Aaargh! How can I get good photos?
- Thread starter Gabbe
- Start date
pink
Look to your lighting, or consider trying several different colors of background.
Ordinary lighting in homes is usually very yellow, which can make regular photos look rather mustardy. However, there are pinkish bulbs out there (marketed for their \"warm\" light) that could be turning your stuff pink. You might need another light source with a \"daylight\" bulb, which is a specialty item at the hardware store.
Alternatively, you might try putting another color of background up behind your mini. It could be the color balance of your minis is making the camera \'compensate\' the wrong way. Try taking a photo (in the same conditions) of several shirts of different colors. Each shirt should be a different photo. See if your camera skews the colors one way or another for each shirt. Then try taking photos of two contrasting shirts together and see if that helps the color balance. You may find that if you\'re taking photos of several green orcs together, you need a red background behind them to balance so the camera doesn\'t compensate.
I usually find I have to take pictures with several different backgrounds and different lighting conditions to get a picture I like. Each mini has a different set of colors, so it will look better in different conditions.
If I put a light-colored mini on a white background, my camera adjusts the exposure (on auto mode) until everything is medium grey. This makes my pale unicorn look horrible. On the other hand, if I put the same mini on a dark background, I may lose some details in the highlighting and shadowing because of the high contrast. You have to experiment with different backgrounds to see what works with each one.
With experience, you\'ll know better from the start which backgrounds and lighting will look better with your mini, and you won\'t have to take so many photos to get the good one.
If lighting is the problem, you can try other bulbs, or get three or four different kinds of lights and try each one in sequence and in combinations to see what works out the best. Or you can take your stuff outside and photo it in the daylight. Just be careful of stark shadows, because they\'ll obliterate your careful shading.
Look to your lighting, or consider trying several different colors of background.
Ordinary lighting in homes is usually very yellow, which can make regular photos look rather mustardy. However, there are pinkish bulbs out there (marketed for their \"warm\" light) that could be turning your stuff pink. You might need another light source with a \"daylight\" bulb, which is a specialty item at the hardware store.
Alternatively, you might try putting another color of background up behind your mini. It could be the color balance of your minis is making the camera \'compensate\' the wrong way. Try taking a photo (in the same conditions) of several shirts of different colors. Each shirt should be a different photo. See if your camera skews the colors one way or another for each shirt. Then try taking photos of two contrasting shirts together and see if that helps the color balance. You may find that if you\'re taking photos of several green orcs together, you need a red background behind them to balance so the camera doesn\'t compensate.
I usually find I have to take pictures with several different backgrounds and different lighting conditions to get a picture I like. Each mini has a different set of colors, so it will look better in different conditions.
If I put a light-colored mini on a white background, my camera adjusts the exposure (on auto mode) until everything is medium grey. This makes my pale unicorn look horrible. On the other hand, if I put the same mini on a dark background, I may lose some details in the highlighting and shadowing because of the high contrast. You have to experiment with different backgrounds to see what works with each one.
With experience, you\'ll know better from the start which backgrounds and lighting will look better with your mini, and you won\'t have to take so many photos to get the good one.
If lighting is the problem, you can try other bulbs, or get three or four different kinds of lights and try each one in sequence and in combinations to see what works out the best. Or you can take your stuff outside and photo it in the daylight. Just be careful of stark shadows, because they\'ll obliterate your careful shading.
Or if you prefer...
Try adjusting your histogram levels within your photo editing software. It varies depending on the program you use, but in Paint Shop Pro, there is an option under the COLORS menu called HISTOGRAM FUCTIONS, wich lists two options, EQUALIZE and STRETCH. Select STRETCH and you\'ll see that most of the color bleeding gets corrected.
Also, I recommend you to read Honza\'s article about mini photographs.
Try adjusting your histogram levels within your photo editing software. It varies depending on the program you use, but in Paint Shop Pro, there is an option under the COLORS menu called HISTOGRAM FUCTIONS, wich lists two options, EQUALIZE and STRETCH. Select STRETCH and you\'ll see that most of the color bleeding gets corrected.
Also, I recommend you to read Honza\'s article about mini photographs.
i really really recomend a daylight bulb.
i find its the best way to light my minis and get the proper colours in the photo.
also i use it to paint with.
its the best £1 i ever spent.
also i dont know how u guys photograph but i place my lighting (lamp) behind the camera shining onto the mini and turn the flash off on the camera is a must.
hope this helps :duh:
i find its the best way to light my minis and get the proper colours in the photo.
also i use it to paint with.
its the best £1 i ever spent.
also i dont know how u guys photograph but i place my lighting (lamp) behind the camera shining onto the mini and turn the flash off on the camera is a must.
hope this helps :duh:
Here\'s an example
First, you should MANUALLY set the white balance on the camera. I don\'t know what dimage you have, but almost every digital camera nowadays has different white balance settings. Set yours on Tungsten, the icon should look like a round light bulb.
Next, turn off the flash on the camera, and position at least two lights on the mini. Even the tiniest little shadows on the mini are going to come out as HARSH dark blotches in the picture. The camera really exaggerates all those things. Finally, I\'d go to wal-mart and buy a $25.00 tripod. Learn how to use the Aperture Priority mode on the camera, and take the pictures with your aperture as high as it can go (F/11, F/22, etc) You\'ll need the tripod, because your shutter speed will be so slow.
First, I set my white balance by taking a picture of the background. I then told the camera that it was supposed to be white (this is called setting a custom white balance) I took the picture, with shutter time being 8 seconds, aperture at f/11.
Edit : A lot of ppl say this is too bright. On my monitor, I have the brightness turned ALL the way down, and use adobe gamma to make it a little darker as well. There was no flash used in this picture, it was taken with ambient light in the room, and a lamp off to the side. If it looks too bright, adjust your monitor.
Good Luck
Russ Jennings
First, you should MANUALLY set the white balance on the camera. I don\'t know what dimage you have, but almost every digital camera nowadays has different white balance settings. Set yours on Tungsten, the icon should look like a round light bulb.
Next, turn off the flash on the camera, and position at least two lights on the mini. Even the tiniest little shadows on the mini are going to come out as HARSH dark blotches in the picture. The camera really exaggerates all those things. Finally, I\'d go to wal-mart and buy a $25.00 tripod. Learn how to use the Aperture Priority mode on the camera, and take the pictures with your aperture as high as it can go (F/11, F/22, etc) You\'ll need the tripod, because your shutter speed will be so slow.
First, I set my white balance by taking a picture of the background. I then told the camera that it was supposed to be white (this is called setting a custom white balance) I took the picture, with shutter time being 8 seconds, aperture at f/11.
Edit : A lot of ppl say this is too bright. On my monitor, I have the brightness turned ALL the way down, and use adobe gamma to make it a little darker as well. There was no flash used in this picture, it was taken with ambient light in the room, and a lamp off to the side. If it looks too bright, adjust your monitor.
Good Luck
Russ Jennings
