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JEWELRY THAT IS PHOTOSHOPPED

DOES THE RING IN THE CATALOG LOOK LIKE THE REAL THING?

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Jewelry That Is Photoshopped

“….ehm…Berger!!!!!”

You know how the hamburger you get at the fast food restaurant never looks like the burger in the picture?

What about the girl on the cover of the magazine? She’s picture perfect (and ultra skinny).

We all know these images have been photoshopped (altered in Adobe’s Photoshop) and digitally enhanced or photo manipulated.

Everyone knows it.

It’s no big secret.

After all, no one wants to see a sloppy burger ad with brown lettuce. What cover girl would look good with a mustache or love handles?

Which brings me to jewelry…

Jewelry is photoshopped too.

If you think that the images in the ads, catalogs and fliers are perfect representations of the real item, then you’ve got another thing coming. Most of them have been photoshopped. See example below:

Enhanced Diamonds

Photoshopped:

By photoshopped, I mean they’ve been enhanced somehow in a photo editor (usually photoshop). A little photo manipulation, sharpening, cropping, cutting out the background, adjusting hues, removing fingerprints, inclusions, tarnishing, and even gemstone and diamond replacement (apparent in the picture above).

It’s all done to make the jewelry look like a million bucks (I know, I do it for a living). Because, let’s face it, if the image doesn’t look great, then the product doesn’t sell.

Let’s look at a few examples I’ve put together for you just to show you some of the enhancements that can be done.

Photoshopped diamonds:

The number one item that gets altered are diamonds. Photographing diamonds is not an easy task. Diamonds have a tendency to white out, look hazy and just lose all brilliance, life and color.

So what do graphic designers do?

We replace the diamonds with other diamonds that look great. Diamonds that match in color and give the image a pleasing and symmetrical appearance. See the example below. Big difference, eh?

Photo Manipulation

Removing shadows:

The first image is taken with my optical zoom camera inside a Photo Light Box (to remove shadows). But as you can see, it leaves the diamonds looking dull and lifeless. Photographing jewelry is a pain. Anybody who has taken photos of their jewelry so they can sell it on ebay or craig’s list, or photo it for selling on etsy, will know this for a fact.

It’s hard to make jewelry look perfect.

This is where photoshop comes into play. Even the best of professionals with millions of dollars worth of equipment will still end up bringing the photos into photoshop for a little TLC and quick manipulation.

The point is, you just can’t believe everything you see.

Photoshop has some neat tools for removing markings and stamps inside of rings, smoothing over tarnished areas, adding drop shadows behind the diamonds to make them stand out. It’s little things like this that makes rings and jewelry look awesome and pop on the page.

Take a look at the before and after shot of a yellow and white diamond ring.

The difference is stunning:

Digitally Enhanced Rings

You wouldn’t buy the first ring would you? But the second ring looks spectacular. That ring picture will sell.

It’s amazing what a little tweak here and there can do.

Photoshopped gemstones:

Gemstones are photo enhanced as well.

Enhanced Gemstones

As you can see the colors of the stones are brightened. The hues adjusted. Dark shadows are removed from the chain. The diamonds are made to stand out in the mounting. It makes the jewelry look wonderful. Magical.

Photoshopping flaws:

Even dust and dirt are cleaned up.

Inclusions and flaws inside the stones are removed. Take a look…

Photoshop Flaws

Is there anything that isn’t photoshopped?

Maybe, but I doubt it.

Photoshopped metals:

Take a look at the picture below. They are all the same ring. I started out with one yellow gold ring (top left), switched out the diamonds for better looking ones, then changed the metal to make it look like white gold and rose gold, then I added in an emerald gemstone, alternated that with the diamonds, then adjusted the color to make it look like sapphires and rubies. Crazy eh?

Photoshop Gemstone Flaws

This happens a lot with jewelry (and clothing as well). Why photograph multiple pieces when photoshop can do it all for you?

Clean ups? No problems.

Touch ups? A cinch.

It all happens with the move of a mouse. You would be amazed at how bad jewelry looks close up (10x optical). When you photograph jewelry you see every little nook and cranny. Jagged edges, crooked channels, fingerprints, reflections… photoshop fixes them all like a wizard.

Look at this class ring:

This class ring is a day and night difference. Compare the photos. Which would you buy?

Photoshop Ring

The side view is the same way…

Photoshopped Ring

If anyone says that pictures of jewelry aren’t photoshopped, then I would ask:

“Where did all the sparkles come from?”

Photoshopped Sparkles

So now that you know that jewelry is enhanced, does it matter? Does it change things?

Probably not.

Most people know that they have been doctored. Most people don’t trust any images or ads. We all know that ads have to look crisp and clean. We’re used to it. It’s just a fact of life. Heck, I do it everyday with jewelry. I create advertisements for jewelers in my area… Take a look: jewelry adverts examples

So the next time you see a ring in a catalog that catches your eye… Look closer. Images are deceiving. And some, are not even real jewelry at all. Yes, some are just a digital representation of what the ring could look like. For example, this Star Wars X-Wing Fighter ring here is impressive and ideal. But it’s not a real picture of the piece. It’s just a 3D model (renderings of live geometry in a CAD model).

Would you have known that?

You really should stop and inspect the images more…

Are all the diamonds alike? Is the earring duplicated? Are the reflections fake?

It’s always wise to see the item in person before you commit to buy. Use your eyes. Look at the item. Inspect it. loupe it. If it still looks like a million bucks, then all is good. Buy it. Enjoy it.

But I would bet, that the stones won’t be as colorful or bright. The diamonds won’t look as clean (many diamonds, especially loose diamonds on the web are sample images only). The mounting won’t be as flawless. It’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth it or not.

Photoshop can’t alter the real thing.

Best advice:

Never buy jewelry based upon a photo, image or picture. Photo’s lie. You have to see it to believe it.

Only then will you truly know if the ring is beautiful, or if it’s just a mirage.

If you want to see more jewelry enhanced by photoshop

Check out my gallery of jewelry advertisements.

Cheers! :)




Recommended Jewelry Supplies:

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Jewelry Steam Cleaner Complete Jewelry Cleaner Kit Diamond Dazzle Stick
Gold Silver Jewelry Polishing Cloths Jewelry Making Supplies Kit Gold Acid Test Kit Watch Tool Repair Kit
Ring Adjusters EMT Emergency Ring Cutter 10x Jewelers Loupe Jewelers Microscope

Recommended Jewelry Supplies:

Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Jewelry Steam Cleaner
Complete Jewelry Cleaner Kit Diamond Dazzle Stick
Gold Silver Jewelry Polishing Cloths Jewelry Making Supplies Kit
Gold Acid Test Kit Watch Tool Repair Kit
Ring Adjusters EMT Emergency Ring Cutter
10x Jewelers Loupe Jewelers Microscope

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