Jewellery photography glossary
The terms you will run into when you photograph, edit or generate jewellery images, explained simply.
- Aspect ratio
- The proportion of an image's width to its height, written like 4:5. Instagram feed uses 4:5, Stories and Reels use 9:16.
- Bezel setting
- A setting where a metal rim surrounds the stone, holding it securely and protecting its edges.
- Black card (negative fill)
- A black board placed near jewellery to absorb light and deepen reflections, adding contrast to polished metal.
- Bokeh
- The soft, blurred background created by a shallow depth of field, often seen behind on-model jewellery portraits.
- Clipping path
- A vector outline used to cut an object out of its background, commonly used for white-background product images.
- Diffuser
- A translucent material such as a white sheet or softbox panel that spreads light to make it softer.
- Fidelity (in AI photography)
- How accurately a generated image preserves the real product's design, stones, proportions and colour.
- Fill light
- Secondary light, or a white reflector card, that lightens shadows created by the main light.
- Focus stacking
- Combining several photos taken at different focus distances to get a whole subject sharp, useful for macro jewellery shots.
- Hot spot
- A harsh, blown-out highlight on metal or stones, usually caused by a small, close light source.
- Lightbox (light tent)
- A translucent enclosure that surrounds a product with even light, used for shadowless product photos.
- Macro photography
- Close-up photography that shows small details at or near life size.
- On-model photo
- A product photo showing the jewellery being worn, which communicates scale and fit.
- Polarising filter
- A filter that reduces glare and certain reflections, helpful on shiny metal surfaces.
- RAW file
- An unprocessed camera file that keeps maximum detail and gives more control when editing white balance and exposure.
- White balance
- A camera or editing setting that makes whites look neutral so metals and stones show true colour.
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