Digital Backgrounds

[Justin]

I've been looking at digital backgrounds on eBay and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on these? Looking at ways to liven up photo's for printing onto a multitude of blanks, bags, panels etc.

Couple of examples to show what I mean:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ULTIMATE-DIGI ... 192wt_1136

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIGITAL-BACKG ... 469wt_1180

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2400-pro-Hi-r ... 899wt_1136

Appreciate any feedback/advice on this

[WorthDoingRight]

Well you can never have too many backgrounds and they do not seem too expensive in relative terms.

[Ian M]

Justin, the first one looks good as it has so many things you could use. The second one does look a bit cheap & tacky when you look at the sample images, they do look like someone has just stuck something on a background. The third one have a look at the other items they have because there does seem to be some nice things you could use. I would probably go for the first one as it has so many things to offer.

[Justin]

Yeah, the first one I was most interested in, they also do this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THE-ULTIMATE- ... 133wt_1136 which is a larger collection. I do like the look of some opf the other ones on the third link as well

As with mug templates, the problem isn't coming up with something nice, it's getting the customer to accept it when all they seem to want to do is plonk a basic photo in the middle of a blank!

[GoldRapt]

So, are these imported in photoshop and your own stuff goes on top and then gets printed?

[Justin]

That's kind of the idea, just something to put behind basic photo's, enhance etc.

[Paul]

They all look good. I dont know your skill level in ps but to make it look real you need some GOOD knowledge of ps an basics of.lighting. Even with some good.portrait on chroma key background its dificult...

[Ian M]

Yeah, the first one I was most interested in, they also do this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/THE-ULTIMATE- ... 133wt_1136 which is a larger collection. I do like the look of some opf the other ones on the third link as well

As with mug templates, the problem isn't coming up with something nice, it's getting the customer to accept it when all they seem to want to do is plonk a basic photo in the middle of a blank!

Justin, I also saw the other one & thought that was better. I also found they have a few basic tutorials on You Tube which shows how to use & blend the backgrounds.

I know what you mean with trying to get the customer to accept something different & have found if you have a couple of samples for them to look at they soon come round to your way of thinking.

[Justin]

Just having a play around with some free backgrounds, sourced from this site http://lostandtaken.com/ and they seem to work well. My concern is the time spent on each image getting it to look half decent but so far so good

Appreciate everyone's feedback on the packages, I may well go for the larger pack.

Ian, I'll check out the YouTube tutorials thank you.

[Russ]

Personally, I can understand customers reluctance to "to accept it when all they seem to want to do is plonk a basic photo in the middle of a blank! " Surely they want the person's image to be the star, not the editing skills of the supplier; the skills are there when they aren't evident.

I agree something has to be done to make it a unique, customised product, so how about starting with simple framing ideas? A drop-shadow square, the subject 'holding' a wooden frame with legs appearing below? The various backgrounds have all got their place, but try to create a piece of art, instead of cheese... #tuppencechuckedinthemix