New black background

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majcka
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New black background

Post by majcka »

I was testing my new background made of black cardboard. Here's what came out:
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Some of them are still shiny. So I guess I'll have to work it out some more. :wink:
Maja

Strange is fun, cacti are funnier!
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gemhunter178
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Re: New black background

Post by gemhunter178 »

Nice pictures! A few of your cacti look like shells! :wink:
A cactus and succulent collector who especially likes Ariocarpus. …Though I have a bit of everything! Want some pictures? See my flickr! I also do art and such.
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majcka
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Re: New black background

Post by majcka »

gemhunter178 wrote:Nice pictures! A few of your cacti look like shells! :wink:
Yes. Actually it's new spicies. Drough tollerant - very. Not sensitive to overwatering. Very cold hardy. And native in South-central part of Europe. And spineless. Image
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Rod Smith
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Re: New black background

Post by Rod Smith »

majcka wrote:Some of them are still shiny. So I guess I'll have to work it out some more. :wink:
When I want to cut out the background clutter I use a piece of black velvet, which seems to be completely non-reflective.
Cactus enthusiast on and off since boyhood. I have a modest collection of cacti & succulents.
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majcka
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Re: New black background

Post by majcka »

Rod Smith wrote:
majcka wrote:Some of them are still shiny. So I guess I'll have to work it out some more. :wink:
When I want to cut out the background clutter I use a piece of black velvet, which seems to be completely non-reflective.
Thanks for the tip. I'll try that.
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DaveW
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Re: New black background

Post by DaveW »

Like Rod I use black cotton velvet, which is less shiny than velvets made from synthetic thread. To avoid shine on the backdrop you need to try and keep the light off it, either by shading or often inclining the top of the card forward will help. Another method to obtain a black background is to matte black paint the inside of a box and then stand your plant in front of it rather like photographing somebody standing at a cave entrance, the sides and top of the box keeping light off the back forming the background to your picture.

If your black background is not completely black you can often correct it in post processing by setting the paint bucket tool in most post processing software to black and then simply flooding the background with it. You may have to touch up a few parts, but usually it works. However sometimes this method is not workable as it bleeds into the petals, but this is not usually a common occurrence.

This Thelocactus bicolor commodus was done by that method, even though originally taken in front of a black background to start with. If your original background is a single colour you can change it to any colour or shade you want later in post processing by using the paint bucket tool, unless the new background colour chosen merges with any parts of the plant. However using "Edit Undo" will put the image back to it's original state should this happen.
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majcka
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Re: New black background

Post by majcka »

Magnifique!
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