Vote :E-Commerce Product Images

yes or no to White Backgrounds

[Abdelrhman Fahmy]

I’m preparing a new web site and I have to choose to picture the products on a plain white background or colored background with another objects (like picturing a vase as example on a Textiles or on the table)
I’ve tried to find answer for this questions but I can’t find a topic covering this point so I thought Voting from professionals will be better:
So what do you think its better?
Using plain White background or colored objects backgrounds for picturing products such as Gifts, jewelry, Home Décor ….Etc.

[ken_b]

I prefer to see other objects, or portions of other objects, in the pictures because it gives more of a sense of scale (size) to the item being sold.

[Abdelrhman Fahmy]

ok 1:0
1 with Objects : 0 White:)

But didn't you think that picturing on white makes it more Professional

[andy_boyd]

I'm in the same predicament. Got a site selling giftware which is quite high end, but the new product catalog from the manufacturer is done with a blurred background (products displayed on a desk / mantel with greenery) which looks very professional. All my current images are on black backgrounds to make the product stand out.

I'm probably going to use the new pics as they look warmer and feature the product in use. But I do like white backgrounds, suppose it just depends on the quality of the pictures.

[DylanW]

If you're going to use a solid-color background (rather than other objects, pattern, etc.), you might want to stick with whatever the background of your site is--i.e., if it's white, go with white; if it's black, go with black.

If you make the background of the image something that clashes with your site's background, the background is going to upstage the item, or at least compete with it.

[Abdelrhman Fahmy]

the new product catalog from the manufacturer is done with a blurred background (products displayed on a desk / mantel with greenery) which looks very professional. All my current images are on black backgrounds

you may've to use a thin gray frame around every picture ,that is may be resolve the variation in the pictures backgrounds whatever the site's background color,

but back to the question again , it was : from the User's eye view : when you explore a site like redenvelope and bluenile :what do you think is better :
white backgrounds or the product with other objects in the background.

[hanuman]

i would say depands on the product.

if you are selling computer gear stay with the white. Art would be better with a nice drop shadow. check out guild.com for a great example of non white quality images. mmmm i get envy...

[fishy]

My vote is for white image backgrounds on white htm pages(sans menus, headers, footers, ads, reviews, etc). Use colored cell borders to draw more attention to the products.

[jomaxx]

There's no single correct answer to this question.

I've seen some sites that use the white background effect and make it look extremely classy, but why not do both? A white-background photo that can also be used like an icon when navigating menus, and another photo showing the item in context?

[richardb]

White every time. The more competitive your field the less time you have to make an impression.

I’m just looking to book some holiday accom. I’ve hit 40 sites all crap (huge file sizes, black text on green backgrounds NO WAY! I’ve never used the back button so many times in one day.

A truly awful experience, bar 2 sites which were well thought out, simple, clean. I’m not going to bothering looking any further.

God UK holiday site suck big time :(

Rich

[curlykarl]

White every time :) (My industry anyway)

Karl :)

[graywolf]

If you are selling glassware or crystal it's hard to get a feel for the item on a white background. I have seen colored liquids, colored marbles or beads put in to give the items some depth.

[sabai]

white - means you can change the design of your site without the overhead of changing all the product images.