In the previous post, I showed you how you can take photos of your products on a white background.
It's a common misunderstanding that your photo backgrounds will appear perfectly white right out of the camera.
To complete the process, you'll need to edit your original photos in a photo editing software.
So in this two minute video, I'll show you how you can quickly and easily edit your photos for that white background.
You'll first need to download Gimp for free at http://www.gimp.org
For the next steps, watch the video below:
To save as JPG, PNG or GIF file:
Instead of “Save” or “Save As”, you'll want to “Export” or “Export As”. Doing this will save your photo as a PNG, JPG or GIF file that Etsy or your website will upload!
Questions, comments?
I'd love to see your before and after photos using this technique.
Or if you have any questions, please share them in the comments below.
wonderful.. thankyou soooooo much for posting this.. we really struggle with our pics.. these tips are very helpful xoxo
Great, I’m glad you found it helpful Kylie!
Hi.
I did download GIMP,but it doesn’t run on my computer(windows8).What is the problem?
Hey Ala,
Gimp should work on Windows 8. Can you share more about what you’re experiencing with the install and how it’s not working?
I found a thread on this but it may not be the exact reason yours isn’t working. Here’s the solution they found:
Completely uninstalled and re-installed gimp, then ran compatibility pack for windows 7. Now everything seems to be working.
Here’s the link for the conversation:
http://gimpforums.com/thread-gimp-not-working-on-windows-8-1
Thanks for quick reply.O don’t really understand how it should work”.It says set up is finished.The application may be launched by selecting installed icons.”
But there are no icons on desktop .I tried to find in folders and sent to desktop as a shortcut,but then i pressed that icon it started to install again…..:-(
The icons will only show on your desktop if it has been told to be put there. Sometimes this doesn’t happen, so it’s not the best way to open up the software!
Do you know how to search for a program in Windows 8? Just search for “Gimp”.
It works!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!!!!
This is wonderful for my finger puppet patterns, but I’m having trouble with ones like my sheep, and puppy – who are largely white. They just blend into the background! Do you suggest photographing these on a coloured background? Thanks from all the way Down Under!
Hey D., white/fair products tend to be more challenging. Use a backdrop that like blue or green (just like green screens in Hollywood) and you can use a variety of techniques to extract the product. Here are step-by-steps to try: http://www.diaryofatechiechick.com/2013/04/removing-green-screen-as-easy-as-1-2-3.html
This was amazing! I feel like you’ve given me back hours of my life cutting out the background of my “greyish” backgrounds. Thanks a mil!
Glad to hear that Terina! The process is so easy… it’s just a matter of knowing something like this exists. By the way, I got your Band-Aid Your Biz questionnaire and will be getting back to you shortly!
When I export my file it makes the image very yellowy! This happens when I export it to png or jpg. Does anyone know why? When I saved the file in the Gimp format (.xcf I think) it was fine and lovely and white.
Hey Gem! What file format are you exporting it to? Would you be able to send me a screenshot of the export window you’re on right before you click save? Might be something in the settings. mei@creativehiveco.com
How do you set the Colour-levels to white? as it is showing Red/Green/Blue?
Hey Wendy, when you open the levels window, can you check that “Channel” is set to value? See if that works? If you can send me a screenshot that would help me figure out what might be the problem!
Hi Mei,
This is a great tutorial! I tried it and for some reason it makes the whole picture white, even my product. I have spent all morning playing around with it, and no matter what I do it makes the entire picture white. Any ideas? Thanks!
Hey Jessica, what color is your product? Did you check over the video tutorial to see if your settings matched mine from the video?
This is great but how do you get it out of gimp format into a jpeg format? Maybe I’m just brain dead this evening!
Never mind – I figured it out. Like I said I’m brain dead tonight. This was the best photo tip I have had in eons! Thank you so very much for this information. You have made my life a better place!
Hi,
Thank you for your fab tutorial.
I have one problem though. When I am trying to make the background white it makes my whole photograph white.
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated
Caroline
Hey Caroline, is the product that you’re photographing a light colored or silver item?
Hi,
Thanks for your reply. Yes it cream with coloured letters stitched on. Does that make a diference? x
I have just tried it on a pink cushion and it just makes the whole photograph brighter not just the background xx
Hey Caroline,
If you have lighter colored products and you’re trying to achieve that perfectly white background, I’d recommend using a green screen/background. Then using the photo editing software, follow this video tutorial to cut out the green background: http://www.photoshop.com/tutorials/605
You can basically use any background color in this case, just make sure it is one single color and that the product doesn’t have this color.
Thank you, I think I am going to bit the bullet and buy a light box tomorrow.
Thank you so much for this! I have been struggling with this since I started using my light box. Everything I did to brighten the background would skew the colors of the item, which is no good. This is perfect and so easy! My to-do list tonight is taking some new photos and editing them, and I can’t wait to try this trick!
Hi Mei,
Thank you so much for your tutorial. Now I finally can adjust all the pictures on my website. Really helpfull. So many tutorials make things so complicated just to have a white background. At least, yours is simple and straitforward. Thanks a lot
I tried to download for Windows, but got an error that said signature was corrupt or invalid. I also tried to download on Android phone, but their platform does is not supported on Android. Any suggestions? Or are there any other programs that are compatible?
Most other programs that let you change the Levels for the photo should work!
Absolutely life-changing! Can’t believe I never learned this trick before. Works the same in Photoshop, just find the white eyedropper under Levels. Thank you!
How did you do it using Photoshop?
Hi Sanetra! You use the same levels tool. Ctrl + L is the shortcut I know for it, but a quick Google search should show you where it’s at!
Hello Mei,
Thanks for the wonderful article
However when i tried , it did give me a clean white background, but i faced issues with the colour of my product that drastically changed :(
Could you please help me know where am i going wrong?
Appreciate your help
Thanks
Hey Rachel, did you make sure to follow the steps from Part 1 of this tutorial? https://www.creativehiveco.com/how-to-get-perfect-photos-on-white-background/
I am surprised and so glad to know you that I am very happy after read this post. Actually very helpful tutorial. Before seeing the tutorial I tried too much time, but I did not do it, but now I can eat. Whatever some time it shows not supported. How can I download it? Any suggestion? Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for posting this tutorial as well as the others on your site. They have been so helpful to me especially with my photographs.
I’m glad to hear that, Janice!
Hi! I have the new Macbook Pro and it won’t let me open Gimp because it isn’t a Mac program? I went to my system preferences and clicked Allow download apps from “anywhere” but it still won’t let me open it. Any suggestions?
Hey Nicole! There’s a Gimp for Mac/Apple users you need to download! Did you try that?
Yay! I figured out how to do it in Photoshop Elements too! Thanks so much, this has been a thorn in my side for years!
Awesome!! :)
Yay! You just made my day. I just bought a photo booth & tripod & was going nuts with the grey background still. Such an easy fix. Need to play a little so I don’t lose the vibrant colors. I’m in the process of shooting new images for all of my products.
Love this! I use GIMP for all of my blog images, and I somehow missed this technique. Thanks so much for sharing!
You just saved me a massive amount of time and frustration! Thank you so much!
Worked beautifully! Thank you for showing us this.
Love the tutorial on Gimp! Do you do anything to enhance the product color or the silver chain? I’ve been struggling to take photos of beach glass jewellery I make. I have a lot of pieces but haven’t posted them anywhere because I struggle with my Nikon 3400 settings. I made a light box and still have problems. You are making things clearer for me.
Hi, thank you so much for this. This is very helpful and works perfect. But when I edit the pictures of the earrings which have a silver tone in them, the silver portion is not properly visible after editing. Why is this happening and what am I missing? Can you please help me out? Thank you!
I was so incredibly shocked watching this video when you used the white point color tool and the background suddenly turned white. That’s awesome! All of the other tools I’ve used like this have made me trim around my picture so it knows where to not edit the photo…Which sounds all well and good until you realize that lines are ever-so-slightly crooked and make the photos look bad. I’m downloading GIMP now and hoping this works out. Thanks for the tips!