Help with Photographing Jewellery for selling online?

[Chrissytree]

I'm hoping to sell my jewellery online but I'm having trouble with the photos!  I've set up a makeshift light box and tried lighting it from both sides with halogen lamps but it came out yellowy.  I've also tried an SAD daylight light direct on, which works better but the white sheet background turns out grey.
 
Examples are
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I found a webpage that teaches adjusting the light level, which works for some images but if the beads are too light they just disappear by the time the background is white!
Example of a changed image.
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Does anyone have advice on how to take good photos?
Am I using the wrong background?  I'm using a white sheet.  Should I be using a different colour and if you what?!
 
Thanks for the help

[teresat]

For the light colors have you tried a black background?

I have a hard time photographing jewelry too because some of the colors get lost in the background or the light reflections.

[Chrissytree]

I tried black card but it came out grey?!  I don't know what kind of material in black to use that wouldn't change colour.  What kind do you use?

[teresat]

I went to the fabric store and got some black polyester/ cotton blend fabric on sale. Let me see if I can take a pic. Today's my crazy day!

[Eskara1862]

You said you're using a makeshift lightbox.  What are you using exactly? It may not be allowing enough light through and that's why your pictures are turning out so dark. I created a lightbox for myself that was really cheap and easy to do.  It works great, except for when Misty decides the lightbox is her new napping spot. Here's a tutorial on what I did on my blog.

Another option would be to adjust the white balance on your camera. It's clearly not picking up that the background is stupposed to be white.  Look in your owners manual for how to do this.

I usually use fabric for my backdrops.  I find that fabric takes up little space for storage, is far more durable than paper, and is typically fairly cheap if you hit up sales or remnant bins.

[elvenwine26]

Have you tried a scrap of of black velvet?  You wouldn't even really need to go out and buy a full yard you could just pick up a black velvet skirt at the thrift store, cut the seam and use it as a drape.

[Chrissytree]

I figured I wasn't using the light correctly.  I've only got halogen lights or a light therapy box, I don't have any desk lamps  

This is my setup
It has three open sides for light to go in, just like yours, but the light comes only from the front.  (I've added a sheet of paper to see if it'd make a difference.)
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taking the photo through the gap between the lights.
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Would you recommend getting new lamps? and using daylight bulbs?

Thanks for that link.  I certainly don't understand my (actually my sister's) camera although we are using the macro setting.  I'm looking through those other settings mentioned in the article and trying to figure out how to use them
 
I'm going charity shop hunting tomorrow so I'll keep a look out for black velvet, and table lights

[Eskara1862]

New lights should do it! You've got a great lightbox setup.
 
When you get new lights, make sure they can take at least a 60 watt bulb. The purple lamp I use only handles a 40watt and you can tell the difference in the dimness on the left side in photos.  I'm keeping my eyes open for a replacement when I go to WalMart and thrift stores and garage sales.

Until you find new lights, I would suggest moving your jewelry closer to the light.  Prop a book behind the paper to hold it up.  That way, the light won't have to travel as far and should be a little brighter.

[Chrissytree]

Thanks for the advice   I only seem to be able to find lamps that take 40W, would it matter if they were all 40W or would 60W be better?

[Eskara1862]

60W is far better, but 40W would do. Like I said, I've got two 60W lamps and one 4W lamp, so I'm certainly not against using a 40W!

[Chrissytree]

Brilliant, thanks so much   I'll post my nice new pics when I'm done

[kaoskat]

No advice but best of luck!

[KiwiSquirtBottle]

I'm kind of with Eskara on her first point -- the white balance is off. Do you happen to know what kind of camera you're using? Make and model should be enough. Then you can hunt around online for the owner's manual ('cause who actually keeps those in a logical place? ) It could also be the lighting, but a good light balance would help the "yellow" (tungsten?) tinge from happening.

[DoctorMowinckel]

Relevant; http://www.doctormowinckel.com/?p=668

It's totally gauche to link to my own tutorial, but wutevs.

[teresat]

DoctorMowinckel that's an awesome tutorial! Thanks for the link.