What background color works best for photographing finished signs?
Asked 1/14/2015
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I photograph completed sign projects for a sign company and want the images to look more professional. I’m considering using a platform and backdrop for smaller signs, but I’m unsure what background color and surface will show the signs best. Should the background and platform be matte, white, dark, or something else? Are there general setup tips that help signs stand out cleanly in photos?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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How large are the signs?
I would suggest a different background depending on the content of the sign, to look good against it. In general, middle tones are best. For small still lifes I picked up some craft foam and faberic squares in every medium tone, and I like light blue, ivory, grey. If the pieces are large, you can at least have a reversable painted backdrop, or a selection of cloths (like bedsheets). Hang two or more layers of colored bedsheet kimd of cloth against a painted black board, held on with binder clips.
You might put the sign a few inches from the background to make a nice shadow, or a larger distance with the background lit separately (that's more work).
OTOH, if you will crop out the sign in the photo (and correct the perspective), the background won't show in the final work. So use grey with gridlines to helpmyou get straight and fix distortion. Mid grey won't confuse your histogram or auto-exposure with extreme values that it tries to fit in, and serves as a known reference for color correcting. With grey that's one click to remove color cast.
I like the idea of using background colors that are similar to the destination. Then you see how it harmonizes or clashes like the cuatomers. So... how about green camouflage, to mimic the out-of-focus ground, sky blue for those seen looking up, and a color similar to the building for signs on a wall.
Note that if you shoot anything you can chamge it in photoshop easily, to (say) bring in a photo of the property. For that, crop the sign so no background, but easy to stick over his photo or play with colored mattes later.
Now, how about lighting? Your constructed stage can have marks or sightlines for where you set up, if not a perminant part of it. I suppose you are already happy with the lighting (nomglare rendering it unreadable) but that's another thing to take up a notch.
Originally by user33948. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user33948
11y ago
0
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A matte, non-reflective setup is a good idea. There isn’t one perfect background color for every sign, because the best choice depends on the sign’s colors and contrast.
Good general options are neutral middle tones such as grey, ivory, or light blue. Dark grey is often a safe choice because it’s neutral and helps many signs stand out. For signs meant to be seen outdoors, a light blue background can also work well to suggest sky.
White isn’t always ideal, since very light backgrounds can compete with lighter sign elements. Matching the platform to the backdrop, or keeping both neutral and matte, usually looks cleaner.
A few practical tips:
- Use matte materials to reduce glare and reflections.
- Keep a few backdrop colors available rather than relying on only one.
- Place the sign a little in front of the background so it separates better and can cast a subtle shadow.
- If needed, crop tightly and correct perspective afterward so the background matters less.
If your signs vary a lot, a reversible or interchangeable backdrop system is probably the most flexible approach.
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