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Subject: Photographing Artwork for the Web

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PJ Dennie

Posts:40

08/27/2008 6:46 AM	Alert
I am looking for information as to the types of digital cameras one should use for photographing artwork to display online. My research brings more information than I am able to process, so many different cameras with so many different functions it is hard to discern which one will be appropriate for the task at hand. I am a painter not a professional photographer and need some help.

Paula

morserider
Posts:1

11/11/2008 2:04 PM	Alert
Hello Paula, I hope someone answers your question. I have been trying to photograph my artwork for a few months now, using my digital camera and my mother's fancier one. None of my photos look like the actual artwork, and I have just plain given up on the framed pieces! I could really use some advise. Luna

Kassie

Posts:721

11/13/2008 10:22 PM	Alert
Good cameras are nice. But I've used both a good 35 mm and an HP Digital. I find it's what you do with them after they're in you computer. I crop and adjust the colors in Photoshop. And frequently change the size to fit the requirements of the thread. I have a DeLuxe Photoshop that came with my Mac and I'm pleased with my jpgs. I have also used the same method to do prints-for-sale of my paintings. Kathy

IronBrush

Posts:22

11/26/2008 10:10 PM	Alert
I mostly scan all of my images, but for larger compositions that won't fit, I suggest placing it under a white, fluorescent light when photographing, because this will show the true colors of your depictions. Try not to photograph at an angle as this may cause distortion, so use a flat surface such as a wall or desk. but it's also important to keep the camera still and use the highest resolution possible so you can zoom in after you upload them and crop them as well. Here's an example of a watercolor painting I did and photographed on a wall, under white fluorescent light.

Kassie

Posts:721

11/26/2008 11:00 PM	Alert
Paula: I forgot to mention. In nicer whether I photographic my work on a sunny day in the shade. A professional photographer told me that. I also don't have to fool around with the colors when I photograph my paintings this way. Kathy

cirekoy
Posts:13

01/07/2009 7:11 PM	Alert
Keep in mind that displaying artwork on the web is different than simply getting a nice, high resolution digital image that can be used for reproduction or other digital display. The internet generally revolves around small files, using compressed files like JPGs to save space and bandwidth. Therefore, the quality of the image displayed will always be somewhat limited. Always use JPGs as opposed to the other internet standard, .GIF files, and be sure to use the minimum compression. There are also certain .ICC profiles that are sometimes used for web display to get better color. Also, another very important thing to remember is that every monitor is different. As a web developer, I use two monitors to make life easier, and when you have two monitors side by side you can easily see how two monitors can display colors very differently. For most purposes this is not a problem, but just keep in mind that if a user is looking to buy a piece online, there is know way to know for sure exactly what sort of color they are perceiving the image with. Just something to keep in mind!

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bsdunek

Posts:4

09/24/2009 9:33 AM	Alert
Posted By Kassie on 11/26/2008 11:00 PM Paula: I forgot to mention. In nicer whether I photographic my work on a sunny day in the shade. A professional photographer told me that. I also don't have to fool around with the colors when I photograph my paintings this way. Kathy Yes. 'North Light' is the most accurate color wise. Other items to consider are - Be sure the camera is perpendicular to the work to prevent distortion. Use a tripod or other support to hold the camera steady. Use the self-timer or a cable release to avoid shaking the camera ‘Fill the frame’ that is, get as close as you can and still encompass the whole work Look carefully at the work from the camera point of view to be sure there are no reflections which will wash out the colors. Process the files in PhotoShop to crop and size them. You may want to play with the tint, hue and saturation until it looks like the work. Resize to the size required and lastly, try a sharpen. Hope this helps a little.

Bruce

studioart
Posts:5

09/30/2009 11:09 AM	Alert
Unless you are planning to make prints from your digital photos, any digital camera will do for photographing artwork for the web. You don't want a high resolution picture on the internet for several reasons, a high quality graphic will take too long to load on a webpage and most computer monitors display images at only 72 or 96 dpi which even the lowest quality camera will be able to take. Also, if you have a high resolution photo of your artwork on the web someone can take it and make prints from it without your permission.

Small Paintings In Acrylic

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