Product photography: to be sure of your lighting, multiply the sources

The main tool of a product photographer, besides the camera, is light. The objective is to obtain one or a series of photos that are homogeneous, sharp and with a faithful rendering.  What role does multi-source lighting play in the success of your shots? Discover in this article the advantages of this system with the new PackshotCompact, equipped with 9-source lighting.

How does an automated photo studio work?

One 2D automated photo studio is controlled by shooting software. It manages all the elements necessary for the shooting process: lighting system and camera. He controls all the stages of the shooting. While shooting, you can preview what the camera is about to capture using the mode LiveView.

The eye therefore has a direct view of the final result. These are the camera settings, the product positioning, retouching or even lighting settings.

Multi-source and single-source lighting: what are the differences on your products?

• The use of the various latest generation LED light sources from PackshotCompact allows you to be at the same time precise and creative.

• A total of 2,394 LED crystals specifically designed for product photography are spread over 9 light sources. They deliver an optimal rendering even on reflective, transparent, opaque or shiny products.

• “It's by modulating from 1 to 100%, Seven of the nine light sources of the studio, arranged all around a product that you can highlight their relief, reveal their details... Much more precisely than if all the sources were at full strength or in fewer numbers.”, explains Océane, PackshotCreator expert. Concretely, the more precise the gradation, the better the design details of an object, such as its shape, its contours, the texture of materials or even fabrics, will stand out.
• The position of sources plays another key role. In the PackshotCompact, the 9 sources are located at the front, sides, back, below and above... They can be used to remove shadows, draw contours, subtly dose the contrast, reveal details (side or zenithal light), enhance or eliminate specular reflections.
• The use of a studio with one, two or even six sources, does not allow as much dosing amplitude of light than a studio with nine sources.

Light diffusion: the choice of a quality environment

The materials used to design an automated studio have a major influence. Influence on how the light will be diffused in order to encompass the product. Mastering the diffusion of light allows you to better restore volumes, to manage the luminous impact of reflections and to better draw the contours of your products.

The advantages of PackshotCreator for lighting product photos:

The side panels

The lateral panels of PackshotCompact, made of black composite fiber, help to better draw the contours, neutralizing the reflections on the walls of the object being photographed. The sandblasted materials also used in the studio allow better light distribution.

Lighting: a packshot photo technique to say goodbye to unwanted shadows

In professional photo studios such as the PackshotCompact, the user can get a fully plain background thanks in particular to the backlit cyclo background. Designed in a sandblasted material, it distributes the light in a much more diffuse way than with traditional panels: ideal for example for get a pure white background on your product photographs. It will be easier to generate an unwanted shadow with a studio that lacks this type of background and/or with a lower number of lighting sources. The possibilities of showcasing the product photographed will therefore be more limited.

Lighting your product photos: closed environment vs open environment

The PackshotCompact Prevents stray light from interfering with light sources Result: a optimal diffusion and a considerable reduction in unwanted reflections on a product and a better range of source adjustments to obtain the desired reflections, in particular on reflective or transparent objects.The recipe for success for your visuals : one Skilful dosing in multiple sources with adjustable intensity, a tailor-made studio environment and a powerful control software!