White Background on product pics

Hello,

This is my first thread on this forum, I own a small motorcycle performance shop and I am looking to build an e-commerce solution. I have two questions. first, Is there an easy way to turn the background whit on pictures for the site. IE If I take a picture of a product and I want to upload it to a site, how can I make the background white so all the products look the same.

Also, I have been tring different hosting options, I am looking for a full solution with card processing and managment, has any one heard or used Monster Commerce? If so p[lease leave some feedback.

Thanks for all your help.

Charles

You need a good graphics program for that, something like Photoshop or Paint shop pro. I don't know if any of the free programs out there can do that, but someone else here might.

You should use a light stage for better product pictures. This will also give you the white backdrop you desire. Check out this Web site (I have not used this store, just something I found via a Web search, I actually created my own light stage, but this will give you an idea of what I am talking about)... http://store.tabletopstudio-store.com/ezlite.html

I use either Paintshop Pro or Photoshop. First create a blank image with a white background larger than the image you want to have. Then open your motorcycle image in the same program and drag and drop it onto the white canvas. Using Paintshop Pro this is a copy/paste as a new layer and that way you can move it around. With Photoshop you just drag and drop, then use the 'move' tool.

Thanks for all the replies, I will try them out and see what works best.

Charles

There is also Photo Studio In A Box that might be of some help to you if you are taking pictures yourself.

Thanks for all the info, This is a great forum, and I am glad to be a part of it.

There is a free open source one called Gimp. I've never used or seen it, but based on what I've heard, it should be capable of things like this, and a good deal more.

Yup Gimp is capable of almost the same things as photoshop with a few exceptions.

The pic question has been replied to. Monster Commerce is a great platform and a great firm. They have a solid rep and you cant go wrong.....however...it is not the cheapest system. How many products do you want to promote? How much support do you think you will need?

I still feel open source carts are the way to go. CRE Loaded, Zen Cart, Virtuemart if you want lots of content pages besides products.....they should get you what you need and then you only pay for hosting not $50 to $90 a month for the platform rights....but that is me.