Best background color for product shots (other than white)

by Skipper

Posted: 9 years ago 8 replies

ECOMMERCE

Guys,

I have enough of white background for my product shots. What's the second best color? I am primarily shooting jewelry and porcelain.

Let me know if you know online catalogues or shops with outstanding product photography.

Thanks guys!

#background #color #photography #product #product shots #shots #white

ZanyZebra 9 years ago

[DELETED]

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- Skipper 9 years ago
  
  Yes, tons of good reasons for white background. Thanks ZanyZebra.
  
  But I am looking for alternatives. You may have missed that.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  OnlineStoreHelp 9 years ago
  
  If the product can be displayed on a dark background, I use a simple dark gray or black background. When you shine a day light light bulb on it, it goes to a very light gray and is much more forgiving than white. Test it out with just a piece of black poster board from the walmart or michaels and you will see what I mean.
  
  Thanks
  
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tonyalpha 9 years ago

check out this, see if this is what you want. I think it depends on what images you used.
Wholesale Fashion Jewelry, Online Discount Cheap Jewelry Store - Page 3
- Thanks
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KenW3 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Skipper

I have enough of white background for my product shots. What's the second best color? I am primarily shooting jewelry and porcelain.

Good change to make, considering Amazon has owned the patent on taking product pictures against a white background for over a year now.

Amazon Now Owns the Patent for ‘Photography Against A White Background’

Of course, not everyone is all that happy about it

Photographers furious after Amazon patents technique for seamless white background

Originally Posted by OnlineStoreHelp

If the product can be displayed on a dark background, I use a simple dark gray or black background.

Gray is not second-best IMO, but often a better selection to white. Gray is between black and white, both of which are the absence of color. White is bright and glaring - A gray background is easier on the eyes when viewing products on a back-lit monitor. (The Warrior Forum is using a gray background on this page, and it helps.)

Originally Posted by Skipper

Let me know if you know online catalogues or shops with outstanding product photography.

Excellent use of gray backgrounds with outstanding photography can be seen on Uncrate.com

As an alternative: For product pictures of a single primary shade, use a color wheel and select the color's opposite. For shooting jewelry, gold for example, the opposite is blue-purple. The opposite version of a color will not mute detail, and using a lighter version of the opposite makes objects photographed appear brighter. This is a technique a friend who has a photo studio uses, which is effective.
- Thanks
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tiana with ecomdash 9 years ago

Although I'm a sucker for a pure white background, I think a soft grey would look lovely with jewelry and porcelain. Look through some Etsy shops and see what other jewelry sellers do. For jewelry, I also think a rustic backdrop (like wood) looks nice and highlights the delicacy of the piece.

Here are a couple of examples-
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1133544...?ref=related-7
https://www.etsy.com/listing/9941348...ef=46558805271
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2139303...ef=46470459837

Tiana with ecomdash
- [ 1 ] Thanks
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bojan92 9 years ago

you can use black, dark grey or skin color for the jewelry and for the porcelain light grey i think.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
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- diyrob 9 years ago
  
  How about a soft neutral color background with the jewelry being worn on a wrist, neck, etc...? I think people want to see what it looks like on a person, and can picture themselves wearing it better. Best of Luck!
  
  Thanks
  
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  Robert
  Ebay Powerseller/Amazon Pro
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nazmul haque 9 years ago

Hello, It is a good question. If you shoot jewelry and porcelain, my second recommendation is slight gray color. Because this type of background focuses strongly the objects.
- Thanks
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Best background color for product shots (other than white)

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