Creating Clean White Backgrounds

Discover Karl’s foolproof system for getting white right.

How to achieve clean white backgrounds: it’s a question every photographer needs to ask. This class has all the answers.

The crisp white backgrounds you see in professional images seem simple enough to create. After all, it’s just white, right?

Wrong! Achieving the perfect white background is harder than you think. There are very specific lighting techniques you need to master in order to get those results. Without them, you’ll end up ruining your shots with flare or overexposure.

In this easy-to-follow, step-by-step class, you’ll discover those essential techniques, plus the equipment you need to achieve a clean white background. You’ll also learn how to tell whether the background is overexposed using RGB values.

By the end, you’ll feel fully confident in your ability to get white right every time!

In this class:

  • Common problems when trying to create clean white backgrounds
  • Lighting setup and necessary modifiers
  • Positioning your lights
  • Considerations when working in small spaces
  • Measuring white values
  • Reducing flare
  • Key points to consider when introducing a key light

If you enjoy this class, try Packshots: White Background Product Photography and Shadowless Backgrounds for Catalogue-Style Images.

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

Comments

    1. Hi Mor, yes. By flashes you mean speedlites then they would give the same neutral results as the studio flashes I’m using here.

  2. Hi Karl,

    Would it be possible to use the technique used in this video tutorial, but instead of using strobes to lighten the background, use continuous LED lights instead? Then light the subject with strobes?

    Thanks.

  4. Hi, Karl!

    I have to say that the most important thing I’m learning from your lessons is the way of thinking, the path that takes you from zero to the final shot. I could have the best gear in the world but if I don’t know where to look, they are (almost) useless. Thanks a lot. This is the real value of your classes.

  5. Hi!
    First of all, I would like to say that your courses are fantastic! Thank you for creating such a platform for photography education!
    Now for my question… I understood the whole concept of pure white, but I have heard again and again about making sure that the color of the object is correct.
    How do I check that? Is it related to attaining pure white? And where does the color passport come in?
    Thanks in advance

    1. Hi HC, yes the colour of the object is very important but this has nothing to do with attaining pure white. The colour checker passport is very useful as a reference to see if your colours are accurate (based on the light source you are using to illuminate the subject) you will see it in other product videos and we have a video coming soon that is just about using the colour checker.

      1. Thank you so much for the explanation! Im really enjoying your classes and how well you give over the material! thank you so much!

  6. Hi Karl! Great Lectures AS USUAL! Any chance the color of the subject would affect the background white level whilst on a shoot?

    1. Hi Arjun, very unlikely as white is the brightest value and once you’ve gone to white at 255, 255, 255 adding anymore light of any colour doesn’t do anything.

  7. Hi Karl
    Really useful, thank you.

    I was wondering what the process would be if you wanted a pure black background, is it a similar process in terms of light positioning, distance etc? I ask because I only use a small shed as a studio for small product shots and would like to try a pure black background.

    1. Hi Chris, get black velvet stitch it together to make a big backdrop. Black velvet sucks up loads of light so it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a lot of space.

      1. Brilliant, thanks for the quick response, I’ll give that a go.
        Just to mention, I signed up for the course at the weekend and the amount I have learnt by following the videos in order is quite astonishing. The level of detail you go into is fantastic and you don’t take for granted the viewers skill level and it really is comforting to know that you’re not skimming over things and assuming the audience already knows. Oh, and it goes with out saying your images are incredible, the level of detail to capture one shot is astonishing. It’s so easy to see why you’re at the top of your game.

  8. Hi Karl,
    highest level of photography, it’s what I want and amazingly you doing it. appreciated man.

    Reza

    1. Hi if you press the info button you will be able to see a histogram but cameras don’t generally tell you the RGB values of a given pixel, this can only be done in the camera RAW processing software or like Lightroom or Photoshop.

  11. Thank you, this was so helpful! Karl, you really have a gift to be able to explain complex issues so simply, thank you!

  12. Thanks so much for letting us in on all your years and wealth of experience and making it so easy to understand.

    I was and still am wondering if it is possible to get pure white background for group or family shots? If yes, is the process the same? How would you manage the light illuminating the background from falling on the group?

    1. Hi, the process is the same but yes you have to be careful your lights don’t spill onto your subject. Barn doors can help.

  13. Hi Karl, I understood everything you tell us, but I have a question. In your camera, what are your settings for your white balance? Thanks for your helps have a nice day

    1. Hi Issac, my white balance setting with my studio flash is 5800-6000K and then I use a colour checker card as a reference shot if I need to adjust the raw file later. The setting of your white balance is always dependent on the light source, you can fully understand the process in this video https://visualeducation.com/class/introduction-and-understanding-light/ and then in this one https://visualeducation.com/class/shutter-speeds-and-apertures-to-flash/ but I would encourage you to watch these first 15 chapters in order, they are the most important learning tools on lighting you will come across.

  14. Hi Karl,
    I have problems with the floor when I shoot full body on white background.
    Should I put additional lights directed to the floor make it lighter?

    1. Hi Niki, Yes additional lighting from above and behind your subject aiming at the floor towards camera. Be careful of flare though by ensuring the lights are out of camera view enough, also be careful that they do not impact your subject.

  15. HI Karl,
    Just new to your site and loving the videos & tutorials!
    I often get asked to do family portraits on white backgrounds where there are sitting directly on the ground of the white background, any tips on how to get a clean white floor as well as the background? Thanks

    1. Hi Justin, you need a large softbox or para or big umbrella behind them above them high up angled at 45 degrees towards the camera and then gradually increase it’s power until the floor comes to the desired level.

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