White should work fine...and especially so if you are putting the items on a
white page as the masking will be easier. I have a green screen...but it
often leaves a green cast on the edges of the items. This may change as I
am getting a third strobe. The best move I have made is to get a shooting
tent. It softens the light and eliminates reflections...though I still have
to take the camera off silver items. My shooting tent...a cloth box
really...came with a black sweep and a white sweep. One or the other has
served well so far. The only reason I might want to change is if I will have
to put the items on a colored page and masking might be difficult. If
metering is a problem you might want to get a Kodak Grey Card. These are the
18% grey that your camera's meter is looking for. By metering off it you are
measuring the light...not the scene. Set your camera in Manual mode for
repeatable exposures. Shoot RAW for more control.

I use strobes for consistent light. But if you don't I would set a white
balance. Even when shooting RAW its better to get it right. Don't even think
about using the on-camera flash...but an added flash might be interesting if
you bounce it.



wrote in message
m...
Please advise on product photography. I list electronic test equipment
on my website. I have a 7 mega pixel camera. I just tried using a
white-white background for my pictures but after much effort I finally
realized that a very-white background is not the best solution. I wish
to use Photoshop to eliminate the background behind the equipment so
each item appears to float. Exactly like is done in many product
catalogs. I know this is very common but there must be a trick or
technique I'm not aware of. Of course I'd like the best quality,
professional pictures possible but I do understand that people spend
many years to become proficient in photography. So, I am realistic in
my expectations. But, I know I can get getter pictures than I have
currently.

First, is there and good online info on using a digital camera for
product photograph (product advertising)?

Second, what background would be best. Do I need a green-screen?
Obviously, a white-white background is not the answer. Plus the
white-ness seems to compete with the darker colors, especially black,
and the camera doesn't seem to process the scene correctly.