or how to make a white background (RGB:255.255.255) and prepare image for a catalog print
Step 1. Finding not white areas of the background
- Convert photo from Raw using Raw Converter
- Duplicate layer
- Create New fill ore adjusted layer/Curves:
Create new fill or adjustment layer
- Than drag the graph from the left lower corner to the right lower corner:
How to make white background
Now we can see that our “white” is not really white. So next steps will explain how to make 255-255-255 white background but leave nice realistic shadow under the object.
More detailed screen shots of this step you can find on my previous lesson How to determine overexposed and underexposed areas using Photoshop
Step 2. Clean background
- Using Dodge Tool (from your left tools palette) clean the background. My parameters for the brush is on this picture:
I start from big soft brush to clean bigger areas, decreasing brush size and adding more hardness when I clean the edge of the object. And as you see on this screen shot I do not remove shadows under the boot. If you like the shadow to be a little bit lighter just change Dodge Brush Range from Highlights to Midtones and slightly brush that area.
Clean background with dodge tool
- Open the photo 100% and clean edges by smaller and harder brush:
Cleaning background
Now we have a perfectly white background with real shadow under the boot.
Step 3. Cleaning and retouching
- Open the image full size (100%) and using Clone Stamp tool and Healing Brush tool correct all imperfections and motes.
And now we have a nice clean product photo with real white background and realistic shadow.
Mouse Over to see Before and After
Final retouched image with white background
Now we are ready to Flatten image (Layer/Flatten Image), crop, re-size, add sharpness, save JPEG for web or TIFF for print.
If you are interesting how this boot was photographed, here is the article about it on Atlanta photographer blog: Product photography lighting: It is simple when you know how
- Location: AKELstudio, Alpharetta, GA
- Atlanta commercial photographer Alex Koloskov
Please ask question and comment below this post.
Related posts:
Loading ...
[...] 255.255.255). We do not clip out the whole object, but use instead a different technique explained here, it allows to remain the shadow under the boot and much faster to do. So, one strip box added to [...]
[...] These are examples of images on a white background for Refrigiwear catalog. (find bonus at the end of post:-). How to clean background and how to make it really white you can find on my oldest post Is the white background really white? [...]
Alex,
Thank you for the informative article. I’m a student just finishing a college photography course, and was presented an offer to shoot product for a retail company, simple clean white backgrounds. I have been searching the internet for tips and tricks on how to do it better, and came across your site.
In line with your beliefs on improving education, it reminds me of what one of my teachers always say, “don’t let school get in the way of your education.” Thanks
[Reply]
admin Reply:
December 13th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I am Genia:-) Alex’s blog is http://www.akelstudio.com/blog. I am really glad if I help you. I like your teacher’s words:-)
[Reply]
[...] Update: if you are not sure how to easy check if the background is 100% white, there is a quick post on our retoucher's blog: Is the white background really white? [...]
Hi Alex, I have followed some of your tutorials and found them very helpful, but not sure how you get the original colour and contrast of the shoe image back after lightening the duplicate layer. I’ve tried flattening and overlaying etc but still get the dark version showing.
John.
[Reply]
admin Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Hi, John. I am Genia, not Alex:-)
I don’t light the duplicate layer in this tutorial.
[Reply]
Bossler Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I’m with John on this one. It’s not explained properly how to return to the original boot with a nice clean background at the end of step two. Your reply makes no sense
[Reply]
admin Reply:
November 1st, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Bossler, just make this layer invisible (click on the eye in front of the layer), you don’t need this “help” layer anymore. Hope this answer makes sense:-)
Got you now
It was making the duplicate that got me confused initially, I thought it was part of the actual process. I assume you are just making the duplicate to make sure you have something to return to if you make a mistake 
Thanks.
[Reply]