Just want to say a BIG thank you

[sparks19]

To everyone who gave me all that great advice and offered their help in my whiney "I need a better camera" thread lol.

I have really been working hard at it and tried to remember all the tips and I have been playing around with paintshop (don't have photoshop yet) and I have to say that my photos have really improved. They aren't perfect but they are SO much better than before.

I still need a better camera for up close shots but I can't believe the difference already.

So a BIG BIG thank you to everyone who helped me out. I really appreciate it and I want you all to know that I really took the advice and offers to heart and am really trying to improve

[iwantmypup]

I was just looking at your Etsy shop now, I realized that you had added a couple more pieces. Great pics! Very nice.

[Chewbecca]

that's awesome!!!

If you want something that you can use until you can get photoshop, there is a version of GIMP for windows. GIMP is free, too.
And it can do all of what you would need to do to your pictures.

[sparks19]

Thanks IWMP. I really worked hard to get some good pics lol

Thanks chewbecca... I will have to check that out. is it relatively easy to use?

[bubbatd]

Looking good Sparks !

[Chewbecca]

Originally Posted by sparks19

Thanks IWMP. I really worked hard to get some good pics lol

Thanks chewbecca... I will have to check that out. is it relatively easy to use?

I don't believe it's any more difficult than photoshop. I mean, granted, you'd have to do a search to find filters to use for gimp FOR special filter effects. But, I don't think you'll need special filter effects for your pictures. I don't use special filter effects for any of my product pictures.

Also, I can help you with it, if you were to have any questions.
And contrary to some belief out there, GIMP is a very powerful program.
99% of my editing and conversions of my pics are done in GIMP. I do not have photoshop because I run an Ubuntu OS (linux) on my computer, and photoshop is not compatible with it. So, I have to rely on GIMP for my editing needs.

[Chewbecca]

Sparks,

this is the board I use.

I use a tallish micro sun lamp. Place the board under the lamp, turn the lamp on and place my leashes on it.
These are some shots I took of some customer orders:



excuse the glare from the hardware. You can avoid this, most likely, but just making sure the light isn't beaming down harshly on any larger piece of metal.







These were edited solely in gimp.