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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 23, 2009 0:34:03 GMT -5
i was messing around tonight with photo shop and i made this background. i need to know what you all think. Does it distract from the cabs? Please be honest. ty mary ann
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2009 0:49:59 GMT -5
On one hand it "looks" good. As in, the background itself is attractive. However, I personally feel that most go overboard with backgrounds and they tend to take away from the stone. You will often see cabs set on a background of crystals (I used to do it myself) and again, they just take your eye away from what is supposed to be the focal point.
I prefer a plain, solid colored background or at the most, a mostly solid colored stone but if I were to use one of your photoshop backgrounds, it would be the first one. It has the most simple gradient/least color change.
Shannon
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on Sept 23, 2009 2:56:38 GMT -5
In my opinion the best one, which somehow "captures" the attention towards the cab, is the last one. You could use it this way for dark stones or make it dark in the center and light in the corners for the light colored stones.
The first two ones distract the attention from the cab, being more complicated.
Adrian
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Post by Toad on Sept 23, 2009 5:54:15 GMT -5
Definitely distracts, but as Adrian says, the 3rd is the least distracting. But between the glowing white background and the bright flash I think the you'd be better off with plain black background for these stones.
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Geo-Ing Crazy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 238
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Post by Geo-Ing Crazy on Sept 23, 2009 6:30:35 GMT -5
I'd have to agree with Shannon on this one - I actually find the first background the least distracting. The last one, to my VERY untrained eye, looks like a flash and leaves me wondering if some of the stone's color is drowned out by the whiteness.
Nice cabs! Barb
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 23, 2009 6:59:33 GMT -5
I don't like any of them. The first two I find too distracting and the last is just too bright. I prefer muted backgrounds in neutral colors.....Mel
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Post by sitnwrap on Sept 23, 2009 7:04:20 GMT -5
Mary ann, My opinion is kind of funny, I have a lazy eye that drifts to one side from time to time and the background made my eye drift. I actually like the background but not for your beautiful cabs. The shades of blues in the center of that first cab is just dreamy.
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Post by moondragon on Sept 23, 2009 7:58:16 GMT -5
Dear Mary Ann:) I know you got a good eye cause of the way you keep it on Ralph:) Kidding, Kidding:) But I mean it, you got an artist eye in the way you pick rocks and shapes so you really dont need any help. But I like the solid color backgrounds the best. Like the gray in the first one without the shading. I dunno if you even want to do this but you make such beautiful cabs and maybe you could show the slab on side of cab or something. It always takes my breath away to see rough and then finished product. My two cents:)
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Post by superioragates on Sept 23, 2009 8:26:22 GMT -5
I must say I have to agree with Shannon on this one, the first one is less distracting. I like the darker backgrounds as well, they show off the stone better. The first 1 would be even better if somehow you could make it a tad bit darker. I do like how they look like they are just floating in air tho, that's kinda cool!! Marie
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Post by Titania on Sept 23, 2009 8:35:09 GMT -5
Honestly, I don't like any of them. I think photoshopped backgrounds look cheezy. If I were a buyer, I would wonder if you're putting them against a background like this, what else you've p-chopped off the picture that I might see in real life.
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brent
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2008
Posts: 1,316
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Post by brent on Sept 23, 2009 8:40:31 GMT -5
I think they would be great on a promotional website, but from a selling point of view, the background takes away from the beauty of the cab.
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pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
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Post by pebblepup on Sept 23, 2009 9:20:25 GMT -5
I think these backgrounds are distracting. If I were to make photoshop backgrounds I would do a simple fade from dark gray to black or very light gray to white. This would make an effect close to what you could get when taking photos in a light tent or box. However, this still could look distracting if there was too hard of and edge around the cab or if shadowing around the cab was missing.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 23, 2009 10:24:38 GMT -5
ok the votes are in..................... Plain background................. Ty all very much. I also agree with all of you, so back to plain background.
mary ann
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 23, 2009 11:00:31 GMT -5
Mary Ann, just my 2 cents - I've found my best pictures are taken with the stone either sitting on a sheet of black construction paper, or on a rumpled up white towel. I'm planning to go get some other (muted) colors of construction paper to try, because once in a while, the camera reacts to the black and seems to change the colors in the photo.
Tom
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 23, 2009 12:01:14 GMT -5
i prefer using black as the white i can't get white in the photo. I heard that i have to get a different light bulb.
mary ann
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divide
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2009
Posts: 18
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Post by divide on Sept 23, 2009 17:29:36 GMT -5
A general rule for the presentation of pretty much anything is to avoid solid black or white. you will lose shadows or highlights/ reflections on the edges of object. gray works well, contrasting color also works sometimes to make it pop.
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Post by frane on Sept 24, 2009 7:46:44 GMT -5
I like the 3rd background but with a darker shade like the first one. I just love those cabs! Fran
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 25, 2009 14:16:54 GMT -5
Start with a sheet of plate glass 5/16th thick 1 Sq. lap a rock with 220 grit ( Water ) to frost the glass. I use this back lighting. And three point over head lighting.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 25, 2009 14:18:30 GMT -5
P.S. Eye strain ( The Back ground )
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 25, 2009 15:04:07 GMT -5
Well I'll go out on a limb and tell you that I like all of them, my tastes might not be the same as anyone elses, but I don't find them too distrcting and I think all 3 help make the cabs jump out more than a plain background would. But regarding your comment on failing to get good "white" pictures, better light might be one way to go, but it might be worthwhile to dig up the manual that came with the camera if you can- (maybe find it online if you can't) and see if it doesn't have a section about adjusting "white balance" that function seems to work pretty well for my Canon.
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