Share Discuss Tabletop Photography Techniques

[Mike Buckley]

I stopped by a pile of wood someone had put on the curb for a trash pickup and got a 2" x 12" x 60" piece of really old wood. I'll cut it into two or three pieces for use as background and tabletop material. The timing is great because I have some wine to photograph that might look really good with that wood. There are more pieces on the bottom of the stack, so I might return and get another piece when I've got the time to wrestle with everything.

 

[Mike Buckley]

where you get your various surfaces (black, white transluscent, etc)

When you first asked about that, I had lost all of my bookmarks pertaining to those types of products. I now have a need for some glossy, black, opaque plexiglass and realized that Amazon has a lot of offerings. You only need 1/8" thick material, not the thicker, more expensive materials. I ordered a 12" x 12" piece priced at $12 including free next-day shipping. That would be large enough for photographing your jewelry. 12" x 24" and 24" x 24" pieces are available, the larger size costing $23 including free shipping (though not next-day shipping).

I was really surprised that 12" x 12" pieces are also available in bright colors for only $13 each. I'm not sure I have a need for those considering that I can fairly easily put up a brightly colored background that is reflected in the black plexiglass tabletop. Even so, that reflection won't be as bright as when the tabletop material itself is a bright color. That might be an interesting look for my drop art photography.

Once in Amazon, search on black plexiglass. Yes, even the brightly colored plexiglass will also be displayed because one of the colors in that offering is black.

 

[Mike Buckley]

While looking for stuff mentioned in my previous post, I came across a set of products I had never heard of that will supposedly remove scratches from plexiglass. The problem with glossy plexiglass, which is used in tabletop photography to produce nice reflections, is that it scratches unbelievably easily. Has anyone successfully used the product shown below or any other product to remove scratches?

https://www.amazon.com/Source-Thick-Acrylic-Plexiglass-Sheet/dp/B07BZQTXX4/ref=sr_1_10_sspa?crid=2YMT6F7O6ZQPZ&dchild=1&keywords=black+plexiglass&qid=1599751895&sprefix=black+plexiglass,aps,214&sr=8-10-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzS0QyM1NVUDU3TFNTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzcxMzM3U1BGUEZGVzRMMFVWJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1OTA0MzAxSThEUUdCQk8xMUMzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1

 

[Clix Pix]

Some time ago I bought some floor tiles in different colors and a couple of plexiglass squares in black and white at Home Depot, and I also have a bright orange plexiglass square that I got at Amazon, which I've used a few times as either backdrop or surface. Yes, plexiglass does scratch easily and the black in particular also shows dust easily, too!

 

[Palouse]

While looking for stuff mentioned in my previous post, I came across a set of products I had never heard of that will supposedly remove scratches from plexiglass. The problem with glossy plexiglass, which is used in tabletop photography to produce nice reflections, is that it scratches unbelievably easily. Has anyone successfully used the product shown below or any other product to remove scratches?

https://www.amazon.com/Source-Thick-Acrylic-Plexiglass-Sheet/dp/B07BZQTXX4/ref=sr_1_10_sspa?crid=2YMT6F7O6ZQPZ&dchild=1&keywords=black+plexiglass&qid=1599751895&sprefix=black+plexiglass,aps,214&sr=8-10-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzS0QyM1NVUDU3TFNTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzcxMzM3U1BGUEZGVzRMMFVWJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1OTA0MzAxSThEUUdCQk8xMUMzJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1

I have used something like that to successfully remove a lot of scratches from the instrument panel of a couple of cars.

 

[Mike Buckley]

the black in particular also shows dust easily

Please don't get me going on THAT subject. If you saw my makeshift studio, you would appreciate why it's impossible to eliminate dust. Thank goodness for the clone tool!

 

[Clix Pix]

Amen to that! Even though I carefully wash off and wipe the plexiglass prior to using it in the shot, I STILL have to spend some time with the "erase"/clone tool later!

 

[Lucky Duck]

This may be of interest.

Regarding dust, I once read of a technique that used a thin sheet of glass over black paper or foam core, the theory being that glass was easier to clean and keep that way. If you dust glass with care, it won't build a static charge as readily as plastic will. There are also DIY dust repellent solutions -- no idea if they work. Finally, if you know an audiophile, maybe you can borrow their Zerostat for you photo session.

Tabletop photo surfaces (just passing along the link, certainly not an endorsement). I got my white plastic sheet out of the scrap bin at a supply house for next to nothing.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Good stuff, @Lucky Duck ! I do remember the Zerostat product. I look forward to reviewing everything in great detail that you provided.

I once read of a technique that used a thin sheet of glass over black paper or foam core, the theory being that glass was easier to clean and keep that way.

Just be aware that glass is a reflective surface that produces a reflection unlike glossy black acrylic or a mirror. It can work great if the reflection style is what you want; otherwise, not so.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Just be aware that glass is a reflective surface that produces a reflection unlike glossy black acrylic or a mirror. It can work great if the reflection style is what you want; otherwise, not so.

Good point. I never tried it myself. I suppose there might be ways around it, like dulling spray, but I've never used that either. I worked with either a matte surface or dark granite for what little I did.

 

[Mike Buckley]

This may be of interest.

It's rare that we have to photograph black glass, but the principles can be applied to any opaque glass regardless of the color. The big question in my mind: why did the photographer leave the tiny, bright reflections of the light source in the images? They don't reveal the color, shape or texture of the image (they actually disguise the color) and they would be so easy to remove using a clone tool. My guess is that the photographer feels that they reveal the shiny surface, but that's questionable at best in my mind. Moreover, using a white reflector to add a reflection to the subject would have both revealed the shape and shiny surface of the subject, so I don't understand why that wasn't done.

I actually have some materials that can be used as tents as explained in the tutorial, so hopefully I'll remember to try using them the next time I photograph dark, opaque glass.

 

[Mike Buckley]

dulling spray, but I've never used that either

I've also never used dulling spray, though I think I have some that I bought years ago. I would rather use a surface that provides the soft reflection that dulling spray provides, but that's just my approach; whatever works is a good method.

 

[Lucky Duck]

It's rare that we have to photograph black glass, but the principles can be applied to any opaque glass regardless of the color. The big question in my mind: why did the photographer leave the tiny, bright reflections of the light source in the images?

I wondered that as well, but I posted the link more for the techniques illustrated rather than the results. Maybe the final images weren't posted? I didn't read it that carefully.

Here are a couple from a presentation I gave. I left the reflections in the center of the glass because it was not important to remove them in this case.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Mike Buckley]

Tabletop photo surfaces

Those products are interesting because they provide a reflective surface on one side and a matte surface on the other side for the same price as products that provide a reflective surface on both sides. I would tend to buy the kind that has reflective surfaces on both sides. That's because when the first surface becomes too scratched, I begin using the other surface. It's really easy to keep black or white materials with matte surfaces handy, so there's huge benefit to me to buy a material that is reflective on one side and matte on the other side.

 

[Mike Buckley]

@Lucky Duck -- Did you intentionally leave the reflections in the interior of the glass? If so, why?

 

[Lucky Duck]

@Lucky Duck -- Did you intentionally leave the reflections in the interior of the glass? If so, why?

Yes, I probably added my edit after you'd seen the post. My intention was just to demonstrate a method and not necessarily produce a finished image.

 

[Mike Buckley]

I now have a need for some glossy, black, opaque plexiglass and realized that Amazon has a lot of offerings...I ordered a 12" x 12" piece priced at $12 including free next-day shipping.

The piece arrived. It's 12" x 12". It's black. It's got small imperfections and it's NOT glossy. To be fair, the description of it doesn't say that it's glossy. It actually produces a soft reflection, so considering that it was inexpensive, I'll keep it just to see what it's like working with this type of material.

I won't be surprised to learn that glossy acrylic is more expensive. It has been so long since I've ordered acrylic that I don't know what it generally costs.

 

[acnomad]

Has anyone successfully used the product shown below or any other product to remove scratches?

This looks similar to an automotive product that works wonders to restore various kinds of surfaces that have become scratched or fogged due to sun exposure and/or abrasion. Perhaps not economical compared to simply replacing the material, but I do like the idea of keeping reusable things out of the landfill.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Perhaps not economical compared to simply replacing the material

If it works without using the whole bottle every time it's used, it really is a lot less expensive than buying a new piece. I'm going to give it a try. If it doesn't work, I'll blame you and Nick.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Last week I bought some frosted acrylic for use as diffusion material that is working out really nicely. They call it white but it would be colorless if it was transparent. I was pleasantly surprised that only one side is frosted; the other side is glossy, which means it can be used as a reflective tabletop.

https://makerstock.com/products/frosted-acrylic-sheet?_pos=1&_sid=0c8063e76&_ss=r