Clarification Of Catagories.

this topics comes up about once a month or so. and the ruling is - there is no ruling.

i consider a digital painting - when you run a filter over a photo
digital art is when you took many images and turned it into a new image.

if it doesn't look like a photo any more (not sharp up close), put it in digital.


---Mike Savad

What wrong with leaving it as a photograph?

some images look better as a painting than a photo. i've often done that especially if its noisy.

---Mike Savad

I use the term 'Photographic Art' for my photo-manipulations. If adding a painted effect, like above, I use 'photographic art with painterly effects'. I agree that both of those designations fall under the umbrella of 'digital art'.

If a piece is edited beyond what I would typically do to it in a traditional darkroom, I no longer consider it a 'photograph'. The public has certain expectations when they hear the term 'photograph' -- extreme enhancements and alterations, including digital paint effects, are definitely not what they expect.

You'll never get a consensus on this by asking other artists. ;-)

Jeff I have it as a photography but though it would look good to also have it as a painting.
The problem being that I'm not sure if it should be in Digital Art as it has been turned into a painting with a computer,or,Mixed media as it is a photo and art.
What I'm really not sure about is what would count as mixed media.

Roy, some artists use the term 'Digital Mixed Media' to differentiate digital art from traditional 'Mixed Media'.

I choose not to use 'mixed media' in reference to digital art, as doing so is another one of those things that might be confusing to potential buyers.

I usually describe it as "Photography - Digitally Enhanced"

Roy... my thought process is what would a customer be searching for. If they were looking for a photograph of boats.. yours would not be what they are looking for... although upon seeing it they might become interested ;O)

If they were looking for paintings of boats and yours was categorized as a photo they would not see it.

It would be [ IMHO ] rare for a customer to be searching for any of those other terms that were mentioned...

My other thought process says that even "calling" it a painting you are not selling a painting, you are selling a Fine Art Print. So if it looks like a painting... and I mean really looks like a painting... label it a painting, but in the digital category so as not to confuse, AND indeed mention that the image started out as a photograph so again.. not to confuse the customer.

Just my opinion.. ;O) take it for what it's worth.

bob

Wow. Howd I miss this?

I love playing with my Photo Paint shop. I use the term. "Photo Art"

It is not a painting. It is a photograph digitally enhanced.

Specifically which on upload page

Hi All.
Thanks for all the replies.
I think the term Digital Art is the one to use.

Andy P I know it's not a painting but usa photo made using software but I wanted to know what to call it.

What then if you have a painting and take a photo of it and then make a print of it does it then cease to be a painting but a print of a photograph of a painting.
In the end I think as long as it says in the description that it was a photo diditaly enhanced all will be well

I also use the term Photo Art i.e. Photograph - Photo Art.

Edit: As I also paint in the traditional manner, I call prints of those - Painting - Gouache and Watercolor

Cameras are now digital, 3D printing is allowing the copying of master pieces. The 3D printer makes a replica down to the canvas and each brushstroke.

The world is going to a democratization of art. The finest art ever made will be owned by anyone as a copy.

Jeff Koon's sculptures will be made en masse for anyone who wants one.

The lines between digital v analog are disappearing fast.

The real question is how much reworking do you wan to do? How close to a healthy reality
do you want your product? If you color every sky ultra blue and dont sell any prints are
you really surprised?

With digital equipment you have more control. That does not mean you should go on endlessly
fixing the image.

This new digital reality for artists is a battle of ideas. It always was, but prior to this when a piece
was made by a well known artist it was only a one off. Now an endless number of prints can be
made so only the ideas are worth anything. And that benefits only the artists. It used to be that
the middlemen made all the money.

Dave