Lights for product photography determine the quality of product images. Adding light might be as simple as opening a window, using a lamp from your living room, or purchasing professional lighting equipment. In some circumstances, the latter will be required for ease and the capacity to manage the illumination. If you are novice photographer and want to start your product photography career, read on the acquire the following information.
- What product photography lights do you need?
- Is flash or continuous lights better for product photography?
- What COLBOR continuous lights can be used for product photography?
- Guide to product photography light setup at studio and home.
- What other lighting equipment for product photography is needed?
What kind of lights do you need for product photography?
The key of the lights for product photography is that it can make sure the color of the product stays true. Color accuracy is critical in any form of product photography. Many buyers make purchases depending on the colors displayed in your product picture. You don't want dissatisfied customers if the product(s) they receive do not meet their expectations.
In this case, the product photography lights you use should have a high CRI, ie. color render index, and ability to adjust brightness and color temperature. This enables you to make proper adjustments to reproduce the accurate color of the products.
The COLBOR CL60, for example, is one of the go-to options. It features a CRI of 97+ to reveal the original colors. The brightness is adjustable from 0% to 100%. And the color temperature ranges from 2700K to 6500K. Moreover, the supplied Bowen-mount adapter enables the CL60 to use with most of standard lighting modifiers. Therefore, you have more flexibility to shape the lighting.
Which light is best for product photography, flash or continuous lighting?
Using continuous light for product photography is frequently the most favored choice. Below are three main types:
- LED photography lights
- Fluorescent mercury vapor tubes
- Tungsten bulbs
Lights for product photography also include flash. It is ideal for creating images with extremely crisp focus. However, working with flash in the early stages of your product photography career is not recommended. It is a learned technique, and you must pay great attention to your camera's shutter speed and exposure.
The advantage of continuous illumination over flash is that you can utilize it for images and videos of your products while styling them. When light enters your scene, you can manipulate the shadows and adjust how much light is reflected back to the products. On the other side, you can only utilize flash while taking images, and you have no influence over what happens in your scene before or after you snap a shot.
What LED continuous lights for product photography can you get at COLBOR?
COLBOR offers various studio lights for product photography. They differs by power output and come with different features.
Table: Specs overview of COLBOR LED lights for product photography
Below we list some key specs that are important to take into consideration when making a purchase.
|
Product photography light |
CL60 |
CL100X |
CL220 |
|
CRI |
97+ |
97+ |
97+ |
|
Color temperature |
2700K-6500K(±200) |
2700K-6500K(±200) |
2700K-6500K(±200) |
|
Beam Angle |
≈∠120°; Reflector ≈∠15° |
≈∠120°; Reflector ≈∠15° |
≈∠120°; Reflector ≈∠15° |
|
Illumination (at 3.28ft/1m 5600K, With Standard Reflector) |
22655Lux |
25070Lux |
105000Lux |
|
Output power |
＞60W |
≥100W |
220W |
CL60: Video studio lighting equipment for product photography under $150
The COLBOR CL60 is a continuous 65W LED light that is reasonably priced on the market. It is also quite simple to use and adjust the color temperature and brightness using wireless App control. It is appropriate for both stills and videos.
Features
- Constant 65W output
- PowerCube design
- Can be powered by portable power supply
- CRI 0f 97+
- Color temperature at 2700-6500K
- 10 preset lighting modes and 46 effects
CL100X: LED light for streaming and product photography under $200
The CL100X is another one of the best LED lights for product photography at COLBOR. It adopts the same PowerCube design as the CL60 but features higher power output. If you take product images in a small studio, the CL100X is a good choice.
Features
- Constant 110W output
- PowerCube design
- CRI 0f 97+
- Color temperature at 2700-6500K
- 10 preset lighting modes and 46 effects
- App control available
CL220: High power studio light for product photography under $300
The COLBOR CL220 is a professional continuous light with 220W and high brightness. With its perfect compact design, adjustable brightness, color temperature at 2700-6500K, 10 preset lighting modes, and multiple power supplies, it is regarded as an ideal choice for professional product photography.
Features
- Constant 220W output
- Multiple power supplies
- CRI 0f 96+, 85 tungsten SSI, TM30 Rf94 and Rg102+ at 3200K
- Color temperature at 2700-6500K
- 10 preset lighting modes and 46 effects
- App control available
Guide to studio light setup for product photography at studio and home
You can make product photography at studio and home. In this part we offer some tips on how to set up light for product photography at studio and home.
How to set up studio lighting for product photography?
There’s no one way to take brilliant product photos. Shooting a huge piece of furniture will necessitate a different setup than shooting a wristwatch. It's a game of trial and error, patience, and experience. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Use 3 point lighting for product photography
This is the basic setup of lights for product photography.
A major "key" light will illuminate your scene. From the front, it is aimed directly at the product. This alone will result in an extremely contrasting and unrealistic image.
This contrast is removed by using a second "fill" light. It is used to fill in the shadows on the opposite side of the product.
A third "back" light is positioned behind the subject. It distinguishes the subject from the backdrop. It has the capacity to produce the halo effect that is commonly observed in pictures.
If you don't have numerous light sources, you'll fall short of this well-rounded strategy. However, reflectors can compensate for their lack.
2. Make use of white background
This is a standard feature of most eCommerce websites. The product is displayed on a flawlessly white background.
To do this, you'll need an edgeless background in white. With a nice hard white background, you may achieve something similar to the infinity curves appeared in huge studios on a smaller scale.
The second essential component is understanding how to illuminate a white backdrop. Aside from your key and fill lights, it's a good idea to illuminate the backdrop separately. This removes any shadows cast by the product and maintains a consistent tone.
3. Use lights for product photography to create gentle and diffused lighting for jewelry
Jewelry is difficult to photograph because it is very reflective and multifaceted. You'll most likely spend lots of time changing your focus and aperture to capture the target rather than the backdrop. A white background is a nice place to start. This eliminates distractions and emphasizes the piece. You will also want gentle, diffused lighting. A medium to a big overhead softbox is the most common way to achieve decent results.
4. Experiment with hard and soft light for photographing textured products
Think of leather purses, freshly made cakes, or hand-carved wooden decorations. The subtle textures and patterns on the surfaces of goods like this contribute to their attractiveness.
To capture these details, experiment with hard and soft lighting as well as angles.
A diffuse and front-on light source will flatten the item. A bright light source to the side will produce harder shadows in the texture's patterning. When used with a darker background, this might give a moodier effect.
How to set up lighting for product photography at home?
Here are some tips for you to start product photography with natural light at home.
1. Determine the optimal shooting time
Set up a simple setting and snap a shot every hour throughout the periods you're available to shoot to figure out when your light is optimal. Compare the photographs and select the period when the white regions aren't skewing blue or yellow and the shadows appear good.
2. Diffuse the lights for product photography
You may "diffuse" the light to soften and decrease shadows. There are several methods, but a simple white sheet draped over the light source may be all that is required.
3. Use a reflector
Use a "reflector" to further minimize shadows and brighten your image. A reflector is anything white that you position opposite your light source to reflect light onto the opposite side of the area. White foam core, trifold poster board, or even a white-based curface can be used.
4. Make use of a mobile studio
Of course, because natural light is NATURAL, the lighting for your photography will vary depending on the time of day, season, and weather. If you have a transportable picture studio, this is considerably easier. You may then utilize your own backdrop and roll the Studio anywhere you need to find the ideal light in your room.
What light modifiers for product photography do you need?
Modifiers are tools that allow you to have more control over the lights for product photography. They can serve to bring attention to the product, soften harshness, or improve the overall appearance of your goods. Here are some common used types and their uses.
A 5-in-1 reflector set's scrim is an excellent diffuser for natural window light. And you can position it in front of a soft box for more diffusion.
Soft boxes are fabric-encased boxes that conceal an artificial light. The front is constructed of transparent fabric, which diffuses (spreads out) light as it passes through it.
Shoot-through umbrellas share a similar feature as soft boxes in that light is diffused by passing through the translucent umbrella, but they are not contained like soft boxes. The disadvantage is that light leaks out the sides, reducing its intensity. On the plus side, shoot-through umbrellas are typically less expensive than soft boxes.
Reflectors are any white materials that are used to produce 'fill light' and can be used to brighten or bounce light back. A black substance can also be used as an "absorber."
Flags are any black cloth positioned in front of a light source to BLOCK unnecessary light from hitting the background, eliminating uneven lighting and flare. They are especially handy with dark backdrops because dark backdrops highlight uneven illumination.