Cylindo Studio tips and tricks

Elevating Lifestyle Furniture Product Imagery

Welcome to our guide on optimising visual quality in Studio. Whether you're new to creating stunning product images or seeking to enhance your existing skills, this article provides essential tips and tricks.

 

Crafting Your First Studio Setup

To embark on your Studio journey, begin by defining the products, props, and ambiance you wish to showcase. If you're new to Studio, kickstart your creative process by utilising a pre-existing template


Alternatively, draw inspiration from lifestyle images on your website, social media, or align with your brand guidelines.

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Designing Your Unique Lifestyle Image

For those looking to craft a lifestyle image from scratch, here are some key recommendations to consider.

 

Room and Props selection

When exploring Studio's extensive library of architectural environments and props, search for props with intricate textures, such as wool rugs or wooden boards. Including them in the scene can enhance its realism. 

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You can also incorporate items with reflective surfaces to add shiny details and add depth.

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Please try to avoid reflecting any of your products in these surfaces, since color corrected materials might not be faithfully represented in the final render.

 

Area Selection and Scene Layout

It's important to understand that the lighting setup is fixed within the room, with the environment serving as the sole light source. This means that only natural light from windows or other architectural openings will illuminate the scene. Thus, we suggest utilising the live preview feature to evaluate which areas will best showcase your product and to begin framing your shots accordingly. 

 

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Shadows play a significant role in achieving photorealism. Incorporating shadows cast by window frames or foliage from plants can greatly enhance the authenticity of the image.

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Placement in the room: scene layout and framing

Composing a captivating lifestyle image often involves arranging elements in a pleasing way. On top of the always-applicable symmetry, the rule of thirds is a handy guideline for achieving this balance.

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Imagine dividing a camera's view into nine equal squares using two horizontal and two vertical lines. This creates a grid called the rule-of-thirds grid.

The key spots for placing your subject are the four points where the lines intersect. Think of these points as crosshairs for targeting the most visually interesting parts of your shot.

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By placing your subject off-center, you can create a more natural and engaging composition compared to a centered subject.


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This approach helps you balance the main subject with the empty space (negative space) in your image. This balance is what draws the viewer's eye into the visual and makes the composition effective. However, you are not supposed to strictly follow the rule of thirds to determine the placement of a product, as balance between positive and negative spaces can be achieved in different ways.

Please note that the rule of thirds can be applied to different image aspect ratios, whether you’re planning to use your imagery for homepage banners (16:9), product pages (4:3 or 1:1), social media posts (3:4) or stories (9:16 or 1:2). These ratios are readily available for use in Studio.

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Camera positioning

Whenever feasible, opt for a 90-degree camera angle to prevent any skewing of wall lines.
While this may entail placing the camera at a greater distance from the main subject, it ensures that products are showcased without distortion, resulting in visually pleasing images.

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When choosing a non-frontal camera placement to focus on the product, we advise to align the camera and the product with the perspective lines to create focus and visual continuity.

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The focus on the table product is achieved by placing it next to the intersection of the perspective lines.

 

Creating Depth and Focus

Rather than solely focusing on product placement, craft a detailed environment that accentuates your items' presence. Strategically position your products within the scene to maintain focus while conveying depth.
You can utilize adjacent rooms or foreground elements to delineate key items and enrich the viewer's spatial experience.

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Notice how the armchair is deliberately positioned away from the detail rich back wall. This intentional arrangement maintains the spotlight on the product while also conveying a sense of depth within the scene.

 

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Similarly, this Studio leverages two adjoining rooms to effectively distinguish the main product from the background, allowing users to concentrate on key items while still immersing themselves in the environment's depth.

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Alternatively, as illustrated in this example, product focus can be attained by strategically placing parts of a prop in the foreground, creating a sensation of the viewer walking into the room, and bringing focus on the area around the sofa.

 

Enhancing Comfort and Livability

We recommend showcasing the comfort and inviting nature of your products. For instance, consider positioning chairs in a welcoming manner, inviting viewers to envision themselves taking a seat, rather than keeping them rigidly perpendicular to a table.

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Consider incorporating elements that evoke a sense of comfort and livability, such as rotated chairs or inviting table setups. To enhance the ambiance, you might also want to integrate props like pans, carafes, and vases filled with water, unless you're aiming for a minimalist aesthetic.

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Recap and checklist

In summary, creating captivating lifestyle images to promote furniture products involves careful consideration of various elements.

Start by selecting suitable props and environments that complement your products. Utilize the rule of thirds or symmetric placement to achieve balanced compositions and draw the viewer's eye. Remember to assess the lighting setup in different room areas with the live preview feature.

Additionally, prioritize conveying comfort and livability through thoughtful product placement and the inclusion of inviting elements. Finally, ensure that your imagery aligns with your brand's aesthetic and message. By following these steps, you'll be well-equipped to produce compelling images that effectively showcase your furniture products.


Studio checklist

  • Select suitable props and environments.
  • Use the rule of thirds or symmetry for balanced compositions.
  • Utilize the live preview feature to assess lighting and framing.
  • Prioritize conveying comfort and livability through product placement.
  • Ensure imagery aligns with your brand's aesthetic and message.

 

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