Getting consitency between photographing colours

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I know this is a difficult area but I was wondering if there were a few pointers to help me.

(Using a Nikon D40 - sorry if the terms are not quite correct)

Essentially I have taken some photos a while back using lighting and then spending time removing the shadows so that we have a pure white background - using gimp.

This took some time and it was suggested to me that we increase the white balance - exposure compensation - on the camera so that the background was taken as white thus saving time.

But doing so has given the product a "false image" as the colours are no longer as true. Is there any way to easily adjust this so that the colour is closer to the original.

Or are we missing a trick completely.

I suppose what we are trying to do - with minimal time - is to take a picture and to then get to end point of a background all white - product in its "original" colour and "only" then having to resize before uploading to the website.

[Astaroth]

If you want a completely white background you should ideally have a light focused on the background which is brighter than those focused on the product therefore over exposing the background and giving the pure white desired.

Assuming you are wanting to edit the existing photos rather than rephotograph everything then you can use a mask to prevent the adjustments to the backgrounds impacting on the subject matter.... it has been many years since i used GIMP but i am sure a quick google for layer masks will give you a how to.

[Dawg]

If you don't want to reshoot, (the best way), try and get hold of a picture with the right colours and adjust to those colours manually on screen. I don't know if Gimp has an automated process like Photoshop's "Match color", but even in PS I'd feel it necessary to manually adjust after using Match Colour. It may well be a hiding to nothing tho': after a while the picture becomes so degraded that rescue is all but impossible.
You might want to take it a tad further and check that your screen colour management is set to one of the most common schemes: Adobe RGB1998 is an acceptable choice.

If you are shooting small stuff a light tent might help, here (http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/), and here (http://www.theswitchboards.com/articles_professionalphotos.html).

[grzjop]

Did you use flash?

[grzjop]

Could you e-mail this photo over to Snappy Snaps Leadehall Market
Sorry I can't give you the address because this site doesn't let me.
You may find it on google

I could have a look and tell you what is wrong

Regards

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No flash used - 2 continuous photography lights one either side.