Packshots: White Background Product Photography | Post-Production
If done correctly in camera Packshots require very little Photoshop and if you know how to do it properly then it can be done quickly and with not too much effort to create those clean, crisp shots that you’d expect.
Comments
Would the Dodge/Burn work on a paper background to maintain shadow in a similar fashion?
Hi, Dodge and burn can work on any area of a particular image if you know what you are doing with it and if it’s appropriate to the area that you are working on. Can you point out at what time in this video you are referring to and give me a little more explanation as to what you want to do so I can better answer your question please.
Hi Karl, thanks for the speedy reply! Sorry my question was a bit vague. There is no particular point in the class to reference. I was wondering if a pack shot retouch of a product on white paper (or matte plexiglass) would work – my guess is yes.
What I’m really looking for is a post production class on retaining natural cast shadow on a white 255 background. I have seen other techniques involving the pen tool and various PS manipulations, but I’m thinking the D/B tool could work well. I’ll look into some of those tutorials.
Keep up the great work!
Hello Karl,
My question applies to this class but perhaps could find its use more broadly. I know you have been using a Canon 5D Mark III in your arsenal and this series as you know has a custom white balance setting where you use a white sheet of paper as your target, zoom in and calibrate your WB of your current lighting to that subject so to have a custom setting in memory to shoot other subjects under those lighting conditions and pretty much telling your camera that is the neutral grey as a reference. I find this in-camera process much faster and intuitive than other post-processing work through other proprietary software such as the X-RITE profiler colour calibration software. Could this be a good replacement to the X-RITE colour checker card and avoid other fine tuning in post? Thanks!
Nice use of Dodge/Burn. I had forgotten those tools.
Hi Karl,
What Kelvin number do I use for pack shots please?
Hi, you should be using the same as the kelvin number of the lights you are using.
i simulate your setting. in my shot i see the difference between the surface and the polyboard. wha occurs that? thanks
Hi Karl, you have opened up a whole new world of tips here and changed forever the way I have (struggled) to do my product shots.
Once we get the white background correct as you have instructed in camera, this can eliminate the need for endless cutouts and allow a totally professional finish. Thank you so much!
Liz Packwood
Perth Western Australia
Good refresher course if you have used Photoshop in a while. I will have to look at other retouching product courses also. Great tips.
Hi Karl,
is there an alternative non destructive method of dodging highlights in PS?
Hi Massimiliano, yes absolutely and they are covered in detail in our post production section – here’s some of the classes to get you started:
https://visualeducation.com/class/burning-and-dodging-in-photoshop/
https://visualeducation.com/class/using-masks-and-burn-and-dodge/
Although I’d suggest you run through the whole ‘Photoshop for Photographers’ course in order to get the best out of it. Cheers Karl.
Hi, Karl. Thanks a lot for this video.
I usually have to work with bigger products like machines wich are stick to the floor on their own wheels. I have some trouble on separating the background and the floor from the product. Do you have any useful recommendations in those cases? I really need to get a full white background and a clean product in the same shot.
Thanks!
Hi Leandro, sorry just to clarify are these machines white and do you have trouble separating the machines from the white background? Or do you have problem getting the floor white and the background white? Can you post an example or direct me to one online?
Hey, Karl. I just subscribed to your education. Really interested in perfecting my packshot. Thank you very much for the videos! I’m just wondering, how did you get the black outline/shadow on the far right product? You did not seem to be using any black board for the far right product on other video (where you explain how to get it on camera)?
Lately, I saw you added black flag when on the broncolor video where you were shooting Dove product using broncolor Continuous LED Light with Urs Recher (so it creates the black outline and separates the product from the background).
Thank you in advance.
Cheers from Indonesia.
Apa Kabar? Yes I normally use a piece of black card to the side, you’ll see me use that technique in other videos here on KTE. I’m not sure if I used one or not in the video you are referring too. If not it may have picked up a reflection of a dark edge from the polyboard flags at the back.