Colored Stone Photography
Gemstones and jewelry are notoriously difficult to photograph, and some gems photograph better than others. We use a Canon EOS digital SLR camera with 100mm and 60 mm f/2.8 Macro lenses, positioned on an ImageDome light stage. The background material in most instances is white matte plastic, which can vary depending on the size and shape of the object being photographed. We shoot with shutter priority, and a relatively slow shutter speed.
The digital images are minimally edited in Photoshop - sometimes using Auto Contrast or Auto Adjustment, and cropping to proper size. In some cases, we also adjust the image level to lighten the image, and may use the clone tool to erase dust and remove the view of the metal clip which holds rings upright in the ImageDome jewelry holder. The purpose of the photographs on our website and in our grading reports is to provide accurate information about our gems and jewelry. Please be aware of the limitations of digital photography, computer display screen technology, and of course, the limits of your own perception of color — these affect the way a gemstone is perceived. We make every effort to provide fair and representational images, but your decision to purchase a gemstone should not be based solely on our photographs.