While this tutorial is a bit outdated (I now use a Nikon D50 to take my pics), I thought I would keep this page up and running since I still use the same software, and I've been told it has been helpful to others. Hope you find it helpful as well.

Over the past few years, I've had quite a few lampworkers and jewelry designers ask how I get my pictures crisp and clear, so I thought I'd put a tuorial together. Hope it helps some. :) Below is an example of how the picture looks coming from my camera, and then after I've fixed it. It's really quite simple, and you don't need the most expensive equipment available.

***Please Read:***

I'd like to make certain everyone understands that I would never, ever, ever make my beads look "better" than they are (fastest way in the world to lose clients, business, your self-respect...). The only reason I alter the picture at all is to have a picture that represents them as close as possible to how they look when holding them in your hands.

Since the paint program I use is Corel 9, all of the terminology I use will be specific to that program. Hopefully the program you're using will be comparable.

Before	After

Here are the materials I use:

Olympus 2500 digital camera w/ 2.5 mega pixel (over five years old) Corel 9 Paint program (about nine years old) 1 white piece of computer paper Pendulum kitchen lights (I'd imagine any fairly bright lights will do)

This is how the photo looks without any brightening, etc.	First thing I do is mask around the set so most of the background is removed, copy, and paste into a new document. Then, I "resample" (or resize) the picture to the size photo I want.

The next step - I go to adjust the "Brightness and Contrast" I like the brightness at about 12, and the contrast at about 8 (though this varies from picture to picture).	Next, I go to the "color balance", and alter the colors so that they look like the set (the photos from my camera never look right - the color is always off, and I usually have to add blue to the picture). In this picture, the altering I did of the color is very subtle.

The last two steps are taking a white paintbrush, and going over the white areas - making sure there's just a pure white background. And at last (the most cherished tool of all)..."directional sharpen". I set the directional sharpen at 100 (the highest available), and there you are - the final result!

I hope this was helpful - Take care all!