How to improve product photos beyond clipping paths?

Clipping paths might be the most popular product photography technique but it is far from the only one. There are numerous ways to take high-quality photos of your products, that's why we've put together this checklist of 7 ways to improve product photos beyond clipping paths.

Shoot a perfect photo first

There are multiple ways to achieve a perfect product photo. But the best way, is to shoot a perfect photo first. Most of the time, the photos are taken in a cluttered and messy environment. Shoot a product photo in a clean environment. The second step is to take a photo of the product from different angles. The third step is to shoot the product on a plain background. And the last step is to use a photo editor to edit the photos.

Try image masking to remove background

Clipping paths are the most common way to cut out an object from a background. However, they are not the only way. Masking is another way to cut out an object from the background. The method is similar to clipping path - you first need to select the object and then create a mask around it. The difference is that with masking you create a mask not by selecting the object, but by selecting the background. So you cut out not only the object, but also the area around it. Masking is a more advanced tool, but it is also more flexible and therefore more suitable for more tasks than clipping paths.

 

Add Shadow to tool more realistic

Adding shadow to product image is the best way to make your product look more realistic and attractive. Some people think that shadow is just for the background and that it should be eliminated from the product. Unfortunately, if you want your product to look real and stand out from the crowd, you need to add a shadow. A shadow on the product can emphasize its form and make it seem more realistic.

 

Add or remove reflections as per need

Product shots are difficult to execute well because of the many outside factors that can influence the lighting of the product itself. Unintentional glare, reflections, and other light-related distractions can ruin a photo if not accounted for. Many product photographers will recommend using natural light whenever possible as it's the most consistent, but as we all know, we can't control the weather. If you don't have access to natural light or are limited in time, using artificial lighting is the next best option but it requires expensive equipment and skills to set up correctly. In some cases, you might want to include a reflection of the product in the shot on purpose. This could be because you weren't able to get the right angle, the lighting wasn't cooperating, or you simply didn't have a reflective surface available. By adding a reflection, you can give your product photography some extra depth and dimension.

Add ghost mannequin for apparel products

Add a ghost mannequin to your product photos to replace the person's body. It will make the person look like they have clothing dummy. And people can easily see the details of the clothing. A mannequin is often used in apparel product photos. It shows the actual product and attracts more customers. But if you don't want to buy a mannequin and place it in your product photos, you can use a ghost mannequin instead, which is a white figure with no form and is not actually standing in the photo.

 

Change color without taking a new shot

If you have a product available in multiple colors or prints, but the design is exactly the same, you can save time and money by simply changing the color in Photoshop. This way, you don't have to spend time and money on coordinating a new shoot for each new print or variant.

Color change is a service you can easily outsource.

Remove hangers, price tags and product blemishes

It's always best to remove price tags, hangers, and other distracting elements from clothing before taking pictures of the product. However, that's not always possible. Sometimes you need to edit the image in Photoshop to remove these items.

Clipping paths, image masking, the healing brush, and other post-editing techniques may be necessary to completely remove unwanted elements from product photos.

 

Working with a clipping path company can be an extremely beneficial service when it comes to product photos, but it’s not the only option available to you. There are numerous ways you can use post-production to improve your product images, and we hope that this blog post has given you some new ideas for your projects. To learn more about how to improve your product images, feel free to reach out to us anytime by visiting Graphic Aid.