How to photograph cards

[Paipear Ban]

Would someone be kind enough to link me into any threads about how to take photographs of my cards?

[AmberAKAmom]

I'm not sure about threads, but my best tip is to take your pictures near a window with good natural light. You could build a fancy box too, but good light seems to do the trick for me.

[flwrldy3]

I did a quick search for you and here are two I found. Lots of information here.

Thread with lots of links

This post has instructions for making a light box using a sheat of foam posterboard

Hope this is helpful. I have to admit I usually am lazy and scan my cards. It is so much faster to do.

[Metalcharm]

Wait until daytime, take the card outside, put it in the shade so there is lots of light but there will be no shadow, click the button. Easy peasy. ;-)

[identicaltriplets]

I shared a tutorial on my blog earlier this month on how to do this very easily and inexpensively! You can see my tutorial here. I used to do mine outside but with weather changes, etc., sometimes that doesn't always work. I also didn't want big pieces of posterboard to store in the house. Now I never have a problem with the way I do it now. Hope this helps you. Blessings,

[krystie lee]

Here are the tips that were most helpful to me:

• Use natural light with white background and/or a light tent
• Take photo from a slight angle, not straight on
• No flash!
• Use the close-up setting, the little flower on most cameras
• Stand back slightly and then zoom in a little
• Use an easy photo editing software to crop and adjust brightness and color

[53queenbee]

That foam board box does NOT have to be pretty and it is a life saver.

[peggygriffiths]

Since I am frequently working at night, then taking my pics, I found that putting them near an OTT light gives you the most realistic color renditions. You can use more than one if you need to (I have several both stationary and portable). If I still get a shadow, I pull the picture up in my Adobe Photoshop (and older 4.0 version) and adjust the lighting for shadows. It works perfectly for me everytime and, being an amateur photographer that is very picky, I'm really happy with the results. To see the results of my work you can click on CREATIVE PROJECTS (most all are my work) at:
www.PeggyGriffiths.stampinup.net

[sparkplug17]

I live in Seattle...so not alot of great weather, lol. And I create mostly at night too. I use 2 pieces of white cardstock and a lamp. Like Krystie Lee said, no flash, and use your macro setting. I do the rest in Photoshop by cropping and adjusting the contrast.

[nhoetker]

[*]Use the close-up setting, the little flower on most cameras


A.K.A. the Digital Macro setting on my Canon PowerShot.

[chispirit]

Great thread.

[cjbapp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystie lee

• Stand back slightly and then zoom in a little
  

I just recently found this tip...and have been applying it. IT'S GREAT!! Really cuts down on distortion, and it helps with an *off* background since it blurs it a bit.

[misssez]

I have been pretty happy with my photos and I started by propping two sheets of white posterboard against a pillow on my bed under my window. But that got to be a pain draggin our posterboard all the time... Then I found white stackable bins at Target in the housewares aisle- They are about two inches deep and my 12x12 paper fits exactly insdie them. Now I just pop in whatever I am photographing, stand it on end and aim my camera slightly downward to completely capture the item "framed" by the white bin. So far I have had no oops and I use the bin to store paper in progress....

[alliwhit]

Great information, Thanks!

[stamps4funGin]

I like to scan my cards, because taking a good picture, then having to download it, take too much time for me.

[okstamper]

My dh made me a lightbox out of a copy paper box. It's nothing fancy but it does the job.

If anyone is interested, just pm for the instructions.

Because I got tired of taking my photos outside due to our unpredictable weather here.

[mommavi1181]

Great thread everyone, and thanks for all the great tips! I find my best pics are taken next a window on a nice day but of course not all days are nice and like a lot of you I would like to be able to photograph at night also (when the kiddos are sleeping and I can really concentrate).

[horseygal]

I just uploaded a couple of cards and my first thought was how aweful they looked photographed. (they really are cute, i promise! ;) ) My next thought was, "I wonder if there is a tutorial on taking pictures of cards?". Then I got on the forum and THERE IT WAS! I didn't even have to search! What great timing!

[bonniejo]

This thread is just what I needed. I am finding my cards aren't reflecting what they truly look like when I photograph them. Thanks!

[girlgeek101]

What a great idea.....I have an awesome scanner. I just thought I'd have to photograph for some reason.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamps4funGin

I like to scan my cards, because taking a good picture, then having to download it, take too much time for me.

[jknath]

subbing, always need help taking pics

[mrbanks]

I find that when I scan a photo, it looks better than taking the picture, but if there is embossing on the card it doesn't show on the scanned image. Since I've been using my cuttlebug so much lately, it's best I use my camera so that I can capture all the detail on the card.

[jknath]

Quote:

Originally Posted by girlgeek101

What a great idea.....I have an awesome scanner. I just thought I'd have to photograph for some reason.

Thanks for the suggestion.

What type of scanner do you have? I could use some advice on purchasing one.