1) Proper representation of actual color.
2) Proper exposure (not too dark or too light)
3) Artwork must be lined up so square or rectangular artwork remains square or rectangular
in the slides or image.
4) The background behind the artwork must be a flat neutral color, black, white or gray,
or in digital files cropped out.
5) Information written on the slide must be legible and must include name of artist,
title, dimensions, medium and top of work (to indicate proper viewing position).
If you are incapable of doing your own photography hire a professional. If you can't afford to hire a photographer, here are some things you can do to improve your slides and digital files:
Camera - There are many types of digital cameras, but if you want a good image file that will make decent size prints you should get at least a 7 megapixel camera. Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Olympus all make good cameras in this category. A good lens is important for artwork, the mini cameras with tiny lenses are not as good. Most galleries today prefer to view work on a web site, at digital prints or images on a CD. They will still look at 35mm slides, for those artists who are not computer savy. You can not take good slides with an instant type camera, even if it takes 35mm film. You do not have to buy an expensive, brand new 35mm camera with auto settings, an older manual version is OK as long as it has a built in light meter. If the camera does not have a meter, you will also have to buy a hand held light meter.
#5, information - Whether using digital images or slides, include the image information on an accompanying or on the slide itself. Type of print the information on carefully so it is easy to read. When putting on your dimensions always put the height first, then the width.
#4, background - Whether indoors or out artwork should be taken using a neutral background. If you do not have a flat neutral surface, use a sheet or large fabric stapled to a wall or the side of a house. To have stuff behind the artwork is very distracting and unprofessional. Some artists like to use tape to tape off the edges around the image after the slides are developed. This does not look good and can get stuck in projectors, the background should be in the slide itself, black or white depending on the piece. With the digital files this is not important since you will crop the background out in the computer.
#3, squaring up the work - It is bad if works are not square. Squaring up the work is easy, this is how it is done. Hang the painting (this applies to any flat art, I'm using painting as an example) flat against the wall it is to be photographed on. Measure to find the center of the painting. Make a line from the center straight down to the ground. From that point make a line on the ground straight out from the wall (do it by eye or use a carpenters square to get it straight). The camera lens should be centered on this line. The distance of the camera lens from the ground should be the same distance as the center of the painting is from the ground. As long as 1-the painting is flat on the wall and 2- the distance of the camera from the ground is the same as the center of the painting from the ground and 3- the camera is centered on the line made from the center of the painting - the artwork will be square.
#2, proper exposure - The image must properly exposed, neither too light nor too dark. With digital cameras this is now easy, as the auto setting work quite well and many cameras also do auto bracketing. With film, to get proper exposure buy a gray card at the photo shop. If you go to a camera shop and say "I want a gray card", they will know what you mean. Set your camera's light meter on the card not on the painting. Hold the card flat on the center of the surface of the painting and set the meter while looking through the camera at the gray card. Don't set the meter while looking at the painting even if the reading appears to be off. Only the reading on the gray card matters. With the digital camera the gray card is not essential since there is no film to waste. You can experiment with different settings until you get the right one. It is important to get the right exposure with the digital camera because your colors will turn out better than if you adjust the exposure later in the computer.
#1, proper color - Some older model digital cameras, especially Sony and Fuji models, have over saturated colors. This is not good for artwork. If buying a used camera to shoot artwork, avoid these models. Most recently made digital cameras have fairly good color rendition, and the auto setting work quite well in almost any lighting. If using film, for correct color use the proper film. It is possible to take decent slides outdoors in daylight. In this case use daylight slide film. Do not take slides on an overcast day, it must be sunny and bright. Clouds and mist will filter the light and give you incorrect color. It is best to shoot in direct sunlight or in a shady, but well lit spot. Taking slides outdoors is difficult if your work is shiny due to glare. Glare can come from all kinds of objects. If your artwork is glossy, it is better to shoot indoors under lights whether using digital or film.
Shooting under lights - The easiest way to get correct color and/or reduce glare is to shoot indoors under lights. To shoot indoors with film you must get special light bulbs at the camera store. They are called "3200K Tungsten Bulbs". You must get film to match the bulbs, "Tungsten Slide Film". It is best to get a professional grade film if one is available. A film with lower ASA number will give you finer grain and a sharper image. ASA indicates the speed that the film reacts to light. Your camera has a setting that needs to be adjusted to match the ASA of the film. Remember to set the camera to match the film that you buy. When the bulbs start to darken from the heat, they will no longer give true color, throw them out and get new ones. With digital cameras I have gotten good results using these lights. A good, inexpensive light to use are the portable work lights that are sold in the hardware or car department section of Wal-Mart or other discount stores.
Set up the picture indoors according to Issue #3 above so that it is square. If using film, use two Tungsten bulbs in clip light holders set one light on each side of the painting. The height of the bulbs from the ground should be the same as the height of the center of the painting. The distance of the bulbs from the painting should be the same on both sides. You can adjust the distance and the angle depending on the artwork, if it is very shiny, you may need a sharper angle to kill the glare. I try to keep the bulbs at least ten feet from the side of the painting. If you want to spend more money, you can buy special shades and reflectors to go with the bulbs. This reduces glare, but you can get good results without this extra stuff if you spend the time to move the bulbs around until you get a glare free position. Once you have set the lights and the meter, you are ready to take some good slides.
Use a tripod to keep the focus sharp. Every camera is different, so in the beginning you may want to "bracket" the slides. Bracket means to change the F stop of the camera one stop in each direction when shooting. This will give you one slide lighter and one darker than your first setting. Keep a written record of the shots, the camera settings and the bulb distances. Once you get to know your camera and the correct settings, it will be easy to shoot correct slides each time. If you have the space, keep the wall, lines on the floor and lights set up. When you finish a picture, just pop it in the spot, turn on the lights and you have instant slides.
With digital cameras you will use your camera settings to adjust for the lighting, indoors or out. Most digital cameras work well using the auto settings. Each camera is different, so you have to experiment with the settings until you get a good result. If using indoor lights, use a tripod and the timer setting to take the shot. I have gotten very good results with my Sony camera using both tungsten and the outdoor work lights that I purchased at Wal-Mart for under $10 a piece in the car department. These lights have halogen bulbs and work just as well as the ones they sell at photography stores for over $100.
Homepage Artist Info Page e-mail