A digital record of your artwork will make it easier for you to enter shows and apply to art schools.
Photographing artwork is an important skill for artists to learn to generate a permanent record of their work. Digital photography has made photographing art easier than ever, however there is still some technique required to achieve the best result. Whether artists need pictures of their work for a portfolio or need a record of their sold pieces, having well-done pictures is invaluable in the long run.
Instructions
2-Dimensional Art
1. Set up two lights to each side of the piece at 45 degree angles to photograph paintings, drawings, etching and other flat pieces. Ensure that the lights are equal in wattage so that one does not overpower the other.
2. Find a vantage point that gives a straight-on view of the artwork. Fully zoom in on the piece so that it fills the frame of the picture. It is important to photograph the artwork from a zoomed angle rather than a wide-angle so as to prevent the image from having lens distortion and making the artwork appear warped. Set up the camera on a tripod so that you can adjust its position to get the best angle and so that you don't have to worry about your hands shaking when taking the picture.
3. Turn off the flash of your digital camera and take a picture of the artwork. Continue to take several more with lighter and darker exposures. Once you are done, compare your shots to the original artwork and determine which one is the most true to color.
3-Dimensional Artwork
4. Create a simple backdrop for the artwork you will photograph. Black, white or gray sheets are common backdrops for crafts because they are not distracting and will help draw attention to the photographed piece.
5. Find your favorite angle of the artwork. Pick it up and turn it or walk around it until you find an angle of view that makes the piece look its best. Experiment with a couple of different angles and view points.
6. Place the piece in front of the backdrop and set up a digital camera and tripod so that the artwork and backdrop fill the frame of the camera. A zoomed angle will also look better than a wide angle because it will eliminate distortion.
7. Experiment with lighting until you get a pleasing result. Start out with one light shining from either side of the camera at a 45 degree angle. This will be called the "key" light. Try both sides and observe how the key light casts shadows on your piece. Try shining the light from directly over the artwork and shoot a few frames. Next, use two lights. Try shining one from the original 45 degree angle and one from the top angle. Lastly, add a third light to act as a "fill." The fill light is meant to reduce the harshness of the shadows cast by the key light. Place the "fill" light at the opposite angle of the key light and make sure it is at a different height than the key light. The fill light should either be less bright than the key light or placed at a greater distance from the artwork than the key light.
8. Make sure the camera's flash is turned off and experiment with different exposure values. Take a number of pictures. Compare your results with the artwork and pick the image that you think best represents it.
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