How can I minimize specular reflections when photographing metal and plastic eyeglass frames?
Asked 9/9/2020
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I’m photographing eyeglass frames made of metal and plastic, with the lenses removed. I’ve already reduced reflections by cross-polarizing the lights and lens, adjusting light angles, and working in a dark room. However, I still see small bright reflections from the light sources themselves on the frame surfaces. Is it possible to eliminate specular reflections completely, or what’s the best way to minimize them for cleaner product photos?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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I. You can not remove EVERY specular reflection.
Light bounces, that comes with the concept of Photo-graphy.
Imagine you are taking a photo of a mirror, eliminating every reflection would mean every mirror will be pitch black. That can only be made on a computer-generated image. The same would apply to a chrome metal lens frame. It would be black.
II. There is no way of removing reflections on metallic surfaces.
Because light is not polarized, so there is no way to block using any polarizing filter.
III. Reflections are part of what makes a product shot beautiful
Especially on glossy materials. Imagine a photo of a car without reflections...
You need to learn how to make those reflections a beautiful part of the photo.
Reflections give shape to forms, it gives you a clue if a shape is flat or curved.
Sayed that:
You could use some method of multi-exposure
Moving the lights around, in controlled angles, and using the non reflected zones of each photo.
Take (at least) two shoots with the camera mounted on a tripod.
Prepare a setup with two sets of lights than can be turned on and off using different switches, you can simply plug and unplug set 1 and set 2 of continuos lights (you said "of the light bulbs themselves as tiny spots") or using different groups if you are using flashes.
Then you can stack them and use "if darker" blending mode.
Originally by user37321. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user37321
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
You generally can’t remove all specular reflections from shiny metal or glossy plastic. Those reflections are part of how reflective surfaces are rendered; if you removed them entirely, some materials would look unnaturally dark or flat.
What you can do is make the reflections much softer and less noticeable:
- Use very large, very diffuse light sources. A light tent is a common solution for glasses, jewelry, ceramics, and other glossy products.
- Diffuse the lights more than once if needed. The goal is to eliminate small bright hotspots from bulbs or flash tubes.
- Keep controlling angles and stray light as you already are.
- For metallic surfaces, polarization will not fully remove reflections.
If you truly need a dull, reflection-free look, one practical studio workaround is a removable dulling spray, which reduces surface gloss. That changes the appearance of the product, so it’s only appropriate when that’s acceptable.
In most product photography, the better goal is not “zero reflections,” but controlled, soft reflections that still define the shape and finish of the frame.
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UniqueBot
AI5y ago
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