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Wednesday 2 July 2008

How to create knockout photos for etsy using photoshop

I am going to show you how to create knockout photos for your etsy shop, using photoshop. Click on any image to view it FULL SIZE.
What is a 'knockout'?

Knockouts are photographs that feature the item and follow all of the following rules:
* absolute pure white background (#FFFFFF)
* no cropping of the item or item's shadow
* no graphic design

Basically, these little guys at the top of etsys front page;
So, how do you create a 'knockout'? Firstly, follow my blog on how to take great photos and then follow the instructions here :)

Don't have Photoshop? Try this website

Step one,
Open your photo in photoshop. Then go to Image > Adjustments > Auto Levels/Auto Contrast/Auto Color.
Each of these will alter your image slightly. Sometimes it makes it look worse, and sometimes it looks a whole lot better. If it looks better, leave it, if not undo!

Step two,
Go to Image > Adjustments > Curves. A little box pops up. Click on the one that says 'Set white point' and then click on a white part of your image. I have marked where I clicked with a red circle. When you are happy with the result, click 'OK'.
Now select the 'Magic wand' and select all of the white bits.


Step three,
Now, all of your white bits should be selected. In the layers menu, click and drag your layer to the 'Create a new layer' box (number 1) and this will duplicate your current layer. Now, making sure your top layer is selected, click 'Add layer mask' (number 2). You should now have a black and white version of your image (layer mask). Click on the black and white image.


Step four,
Click the 'Channels' tab and then select the bottom option. Your image should now appear black and white. Select the 'Eraser tool' from the left menu and erase any black bits that shouldn't be there. For example, if you look closely, you will see a fly on my first picture, so I have erased him in step 4. Also make sure that all of the corners are white. When you are done, click on the 'Layers' tab again, and then on the top colored image.


Step five,
Select the 'color picker' on the left menu, and select white. RGB should be at 255. This is pure white, or '#FFFFFF'. Once you have set this, click on the brush tool, make the brush big and make sure it is 100% flow and 100% opacity. Brush all over your image. Make sure you don't miss any bits.


Step six,
Select the black and white image again (the layer mask)
Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur and a little box will pop up. Set the radius to a number between 1 and 10. This will blend your shadows into the white. Don't make it too high or your image will go cloudy.


Step seven,
Canvass size. Your image needs to be square. Go to Image > Canvas size... adjust the smaller number to match the bigger. For example, if your image is 60 x 40, change it to 60 x 60. Make sure 'Relative' is NOT checked.
Now your image is HUGE but square


Step eight,
Image size. Go to Image > Image size... Make sure 'Constrain Proportions' IS checked. Change the top number to 1000 or less pixels. The other numbers should all change too.


Step nine,
List it!

29 comment(s):

twenty pound tabby said...

Good article!

KMCdesigns said...

Thank you tabby!

Unknown said...

Once again, you are very helpful. Thank you!

KMCdesigns said...

aww thank you moon! :)

Beadin By The Sea said...

This looks great, however I don't have Photoshop. Any idea how to do this in Photoshop Elements 6.0? I don't seem to have the color curve option.

KMCdesigns said...

Beading, do you have an 'Auto Color Correction' tool in the enhance menu? I think that might do the same job :)

Sneddonia said...

Great tips! I may have to use them some time :)

Anonymous said...

I really enjoy working with photoshop. These instructions are great. Thanks for taking the time to share them.

Are you a graphic artist as well.

KMCdesigns said...

thanks for the comment sned!
And no problem onetechcenter! I wouldn't really call myself a graphic artist tho :)

Jennifer Rose said...

thank you! :D This is very helpful :)

KMCdesigns said...

Thank you Jen :)

Jen Hintz said...

Thanks so much for sharing this! I've been doing it a little differently but I think this will work better.

Unknown said...

Very very cool! Thanks for sharing!

KMCdesigns said...

Thank you for all your comments! :D

TiLT said...

great tut! Thanks. I have Gimp2, not photoshop, but it has all those features - I just wasn't sure how to use them :)

LeelaBijou said...

Great article! ^_^

KMalinkaVintage said...

I can't find "Curves.
I would love to create photos like you do. It's so wonederful! Thank you!

KMCdesigns said...

Natalia, curves basically just sets the white balance :) You should be ok without it!

ArtyAnt said...

thanks oh so much!

Ruth | Concertina Press said...

This tutorial is super helpful!

christine_percy said...

I just came across your blog today when I goggled etsy photos.

Thank you so much for your tutorial its made an amazing difference to my photos. I'm sending good vibes your way :)

Monique Liva said...

Oh' this guide was really cool! I love it. I want to try it too. Thanks for sharing.

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Unknown said...

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Alvin Paul said...

With Adobe Photoshop every thing is possible. We also created a web page for our website by hiring a person.

Alvin
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Andreea Watson said...

People use this tool in designing field to make graphics and they can easily crop photos using it.

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Unknown said...

Its a brilliant way to crop photos and I really enjoy this feature. cracks

Unknown said...

Great way to use this software for perfect results. Cropping can be used to change the background of a particular character. free downloads

Unknown said...

The wonderful softrware of Adobe Photoshop, it's a very easily crop photos, thanks a lot for sharing.
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hashmi said...

Great post. I will be dealing with some of these issues
as well..

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