Photos

From EtsyWiki

please sign you post to identify your contribution

Dyno http://dyno.etsy.com 02/12/07

see also Photographing items

Contents 1 Using photos on Etsy 2 Problems 2.1 blurry, fuzzy, or low quality pics 2.2 how do I get a white background? 2.3 color issues 2.4 digital camera issues 3 Tips 3.1 great tips on taking photos 3.2 getting better shots 3.3 photographing jewelry 3.4 books 4 Photo editing 4.1 photo editing programs 5 Resources 6 Lightboxes 7 Dyno's own suggestions

Using photos on Etsy

This brief guide gives info on the use, sizes and cropping of images on Etsy:

• Using Photos on Etsy v2
  DOWNLOAD, DON'T OPEN IN BROWSER right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac)
  

Fantastic easy to understand explanation on the technical quirks of images (resolution, dpi, jpg quality, compression, file size, image size -- see stellaloella's post at the end of page 1, continuing on to page 2):

• Understanding the Technical Stuff
  

Another great thread on photography tips from HeyMichelle:

• How to improve your photos

More photo tips, tricks and info:

• merging several photos together in one file

• how Etsy samples color from your images

Problems

see also Photographing items

blurry, fuzzy, or low quality pics

• blurry pics
  
• my images are really fuzzy
  
• my photos are grainy and out of focus
  

how do I get a white background?

• How do I get clean white backgrounds on photos?
• how to make color adjustments see page 2 for posts from Spangle and Dyno

color issues

• got that YELLOW TONE in your pix?
  
• photographing subtle colors/how do you avoid drab look?
• Can't get true color

digital camera issues

• digital photography issue

see also Learning Your Camera Settings

Tips

see also Helpful Advice for Layout

great tips on taking photos

• JOYouz's Awesome Photography Tips
  (note: some links are broken)
• Photo Background/Lighting Suggestions
  (note: some links are broken)
• Product Photographing Tips
  
• Best way to photograph your products

getting better shots

• do I have a bad camera?
  
• Tried Everything Photos Still come out bad
  

see also Learning Your Camera Settings

photographing jewelry

• Another Really Good Article On Photgraphing Jewelry ... and the direct link to the article
  
• Trouble photographing jewelry
  
• Photographing Jewlery
  
• Here is a trick for jewelry or small item photos.
  

books

• Photographing Your Artwork (Russell Hart)

Photo editing

see also Photographing items

photo editing programs

• The main ones I've seen mentioned are The Gimp, PhotoShop Elements, and PhotoShop. Info on The Gimp below. PhotoShop Elements is considerably cheaper than standard/professional PhotoShop and should do everything you need.
  
• I need HELP finding a picture editing program
  
• about The Gimp
  

Resources

shared by JOYouz http://joyouz.etsy.com

Here is a great read for narrowing down the type of camera to purchase; especially for macro (extreme closeup) type photographs.

Great links to help you narrow the search for a camera:

• http://www.gemfind.net/webdev-camera.asp
  
• http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgselecting.htm
  

Excellent photography website:

• http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/HowTo_page.htm
  

Below is the link to a pdf file. After it opens, read the dynamite article on pages 14, 15, and 16 for some excellent photography tips:

• http://www.pmcguild.com/print/StudioPMC/StudioPMCno28.pdf
  

And this is VERY important in your search because the # of megapixels is NOT an important criteria in selection of a camera; well, not for most people here anyway.

• http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm
  
• http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/counting1.shtml
  
• http://www.wildlife-pictures-online.com/digital-camera-megapixels.html
  

Lightboxes

• a DIY lightbox
  
• Notes On DIY Lightbox Construction (with photos)
  
• - links to DIY lighting/photography set-ups
  
• uber cheap DIY lightbox
  
• more light tent info
  
• lightbox video tutorial
  

Dyno's own suggestions

A few final comments, my own suggestions...

1. Unless you have a professional rig and/or are an extremely gifted photographer, you are going to need to do at least a minimal amount of digital adjusting with a photo software program. 90% of the time you just can't get professional looking contrast and color quality without digital retouching. Accept this and learn a basic photo program like The Gimp, or a professional program like PhotoShop.
2. If you've tried everything and you still can't get good photos, find a photography student or beginner photographer to help you. Often they will work for free or very low cost in order to build up their portfolio.
3. If you take decent photos, but just can't get the hang of photo software for color adjusting, cropping, etc. no matter how hard you try, find a student or recent grad to help you. Many will work for trade or low cost to either give you a one-on-one tutorial or do the digital retouching themselves for the experience.