Home Forums The Learning Center Computers and Technology for Artists Colored “maps” in photos of my drawings

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  • #1513707
    jm78
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        Hi,

        I would like to ask you for help with my problem.

        I have problem with photos of my graphite & colored pencil drawings.

        I tried recommended setting (low ISO, softbox, taking photos in undirect natural light, etc.), but everything looks pretty bad and the only way I can get better (but still bad for prints) photos is in direct sunlight, with automatic setting. The problem is in colored “maps” on whole photo (this problem is same with all mentioned settings). I added one photo – the best I was able to take (adjusted in picasa) and even more adjusted photo, where you can better see the problem. Those maps are not only in colored background (it should be in one ivory color), but also in graphite parts and on plain paper.

        I use Fuji X10. Why are there those maps? Is problem in the camera or in the settings? Do I need to buy SLR camera for good pictured?

        Thank you in advance for your answers.

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        #1513776

        It depends on what you plan to do with the image. If it is for reproduction I think a scanned image would be better.

        Doug


        We must leave our mark on this world

        #1513778
        jm78
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            Thank you for answer Doug. Yes, I would like to use it for reproduction, so it has to be really good. Scanning is not an option. If you scan graphite, there is a huge glare, not to mention that you can dammage the surface of drawing in the scanner.

            #1513779

            Do you not seal your graphite work?

            Doug


            We must leave our mark on this world

            #1513781
            jm78
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                No. I m afraid that it would alter subtle tones and warp paper from moisture.

                Juraj

                #1513799

                I use an acrylic matt spray sometimes. Two light coats.

                Doug


                We must leave our mark on this world

                #1513817
                jm78
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                    Do you use it on watercolor paintings?

                    Juraj

                    #1513827

                    Yes and also on inkjet prints (of maps incidentally :) )

                    Doug


                    We must leave our mark on this world

                    #1513871
                    John humber
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                        I’m guessing that the ‘maps’ you refer to is the uneven tone and colour of the background—you want the background to be, as you say, a flat ivory-white colour.

                        I played around with the jpeg in Photoshop in order to try to understand what was going on here. It’s very hard to say from a website jpeg, but my guess is that the effect comes from uneven lighting. It appears that the light is coming from the right side of the image and perhaps slightly below centre because the deepest ‘shadow’ is in the top left.

                        Even, flat backgrounds are very difficult to achieve without professional equipment. The white surface will scatter the light and even very minor differences in the light will cause the white to scatter, for example, the red wave lengths more or less than the blue wavelengths, causing an unevenness in the reflected light. If, for example, there were room lights on in addition to the lighting in your photo set-up, this might well be invisible to our eye but could record in the photograph as an unevenness, especially so I think with the low ISO.

                        The fact that you get the best results in direct sunlight suggests that perhaps the light source needs to be very bright. I repeat, it’s very, very hard to tell from a jpeg on a website, but, as an experiment I would suggest that you try using a higher ISO—make a series of photos at different settings and make notes to record exactly what you do. But you might need to increase the photo-light power if you can. And switch off any other lights and blank out windows. If you cannot increase the power of the lighting, try using a long exposure, but I suspect that this may give you the same effect as the low ISO. It might be worth trying however—again make careful notes so that you can learn from what you do.

                        PLEASE how do I make these dreadful yellow things go away? OMG there's even more of the awful things now.

                        www.instagram.com/john_humber_artist
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                        #1513901
                        jm78
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                            Thank you very much for your answer and suggestions, John.

                            Yes, it was done with one source of light (Sun on 20 – 30 degrees, partly hidden by very light clouds). I shoot the pohot in the window, so maybe there was also some reflection from glass.

                            The background is pretty even. It’s done with colored pencil, so it isn’t 100%, but it isn’t so ugly as in this photo. I was afraid that the problem is in camera. I thought that maybe my camera isn’t able to process the colors correctly.

                            I have tripod and two softboxes with 40W(380W) lightbulbs. I used them before, but the result was even worse than this. I will try to do it with higher ISO and during night to avoid any other light sources, as you suggest.

                            I am going to post results here. It’s nightmare to get good photo of drawing on white paper, or on background like this one. Those “best” results mentioned in my first post are good only for web, but they are nowhere near the quality suitable for reproduction.

                            #1525126
                            BeLing
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                                I don’t do professional prints, but that said, I’ve never taken a photo of ANY artwork that didn’t need adjustments. Photoshop (or similar program) is your darkroom. A print is not an original; don’t feel guilty making the digital version what you want it to be, and if it’s different from the original, so what? It might be a bit tedious, but not a problem otherwise.

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