![]() ![]() Gemstones are cut and fashioned to show their best colors when looking straight down at them, perpendicular to the table of the gem. Diffused lighting often works well to exhibit soft tonal gradients in the metals, and to highlight the designed metalwork.Īdd cards or reflectors to your stage to help bounce light towards your subject. When photographing highly polished metal, the shiny surfaces can be challenging, especially with direct lighting. Tracing paper, onionskin paper or translucent vellum are also good choices to scatter light, cast soft shadows, and bring out a gemstone’s best color.Ī mix of direct and diffused lighting can add drama to a photograph by adding some sparkle or dispersion to a transparent gem, while also bringing out its finest colors. This can be achieved by placing a translucent white glass, plastic, or cloth between the light source and the gem. Diffused lighting scatters light, softens shadows and provides uniform lighting. ![]() To exhibit a gemstone’s best color, lighting should be diffused rather than direct. It is also sometimes used to bring out gemstone phenomena such as asterism (a star effect) or chatoyancy (a cat’s eye effect). Find a location that has one kind of lighting, and use it as your only source.ĭirect lighting works best for ornamental materials, and occasionally to provoke dispersion in a transparent gem. ![]() Use a single color temperature of light: Try to avoid environments that have mixed lighting – like fluorescent, incandescent and daylight. Diffused lighting for the gem, helps bring out the andalusite's pleochroic colors (right). Instead, the direct lighting seems to darken the stone and creates "hot spots" along some of the facets. This image (left) shows direct lighting, which is not ideal for bringing out the transparent gemstone's rich pleochroic colors. This andalusite from Minas Gerais, Brazil weighs 2.87 ct. The second makes a picture interesting – or even compelling. The first ensures a successful photograph. White backgrounds also bounce light back at the subject matter, which can minimize distracting shadows.Ī clean white piece of paper, plastic or tile used as a background can keep the picture uncluttered and help achieve a correct color balance.Ĭorrect lighting and positioning of a gem or piece of jewelry are two techniques that will help you take great digital photos. When to use a white background: Poorly cut gems can appear more attractive on light backgrounds.When to use a black background: Light-toned pieces often look better on darker backgrounds because contrast adds drama.ōlloclip macro is a good one and is portable.Ī and are great resources for smartphone camera gadgets and lenses.Ĭhoose appropriate backgrounds, as it can affect the appearance of metals, diamonds and light-colored gemstones. Clip-on macro lenses are available for smartphones from a variety of manufacturers for Apple and Android devices. Handle the object with clean cotton gloves.ĭepending on your subject, you may benefit from a macro lens that enables extreme close-up photography of small items or minute features. A soft, clean jewelry cloth is ideal for getting your pieces camera-ready. Fingerprints, which are often unseen by the naked eye, can also mar beautiful jewelry. These devices connect through a Bluetooth connection.Ĭlean your jewelry: Your smartphone’s high-resolution camera will capture dust, marks and scratches. Physically touching your mobile device screen could shake it and result in a blurry picture. Use a wireless shutter release to take the photo without touching the screen. A tap on the screen should do this for many smartphones. ![]() If one is not available, make sure your smartphone is on a stable surface when taking photos. We offer some tips, no matter the camera you are using, plus some smartphone-specific advice. But a smartphone or other similar handheld device with a high resolution camera (8+ megapixels) can take professional-looking pictures using the right techniques and accessories. And it will only become more important as social media and e-commerce play an increasingly central role in our lives.Ī state-of-the-art digital SLR or mirrorless camera is usually best for the task. With the right techniques and accessories you can take high-quality photos of gems and jewelry using your mobile device’s high-resolution cameraīeing able to take great photos of gems and jewelry is a valuable skill – whether you’re in retail sales, gem identification, wholesale, design, or do it for a hobby. Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificate ![]()
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