Whats Better A Scan Or Photo?

if you can scan it - scan it. 10mp will probably blur the image. the price he gave seems really high. if you scan scan it in pieces do that. or you can rent a camera for a smaller amount i would imagine and try that, but there is a learning curve. or get another estimate from someone who specializes in flat work. you shouldn't have to take the canvas off, however it would bow down if you do it on a small scanner. you would need filler of some kind.


it depends what this image will be for. if your printing it here, and it's soft up close they won't print it. other printers aren't as picky. maybe you can find someone in a camera club that's willing to do it for a bit less. or maybe a school?


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

This is a question I struggle with constantly. I hope you get some helpful advice.

Thanks Mike Savad,
It will be printed here on FAA. The options to finding a better deal here in Switzerland is slim. Do you now what type of scanner the printers will need, in order to print with the frame?

Joseph,

Welcome! How many paintings do you have to copy, a lot or just a few. Do you own a professional camera or know a friend that has one? The photographer charging $460 for 2 paintings to be copied,seems high,even beyond high. Does he have a 4x5 scanning back maybe? Or a Medium Format Digital Back? Or just a good 35mm DSLR?

I personally like using a camera to copy artwork and used to do that professionally,with film and a 4x5 camera. Today, a good full frame sensored camera and the right lens, Macro,maybe 100mm would be fine, asl long as you follow the recipe. I can send you the "recipe" that I have and also suggest you look at my site here, for the "mechanics" of doing this yourself:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/rich-franco.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=148572&page=2

Most of the stuff is on page 2, but other good info on page one. You can do a search for me here and see if you can find my thread about copying artwork yourself or I can email you the info,

Good Luck,

Rich

Hi, Joseph.

I decided to go with large format scanning, working with a local company. They have no problem working with my artwork on 2-inch deep boards. I've had pieces up to 30 x 30 inches scanned. They provide me with a TIFF file at 300dpi. On my page, Quantum Flux, Where The Woodbine Twineth, Legacy, and Impact were all scanned. These are all VERY detailed pieces, and the scans picked up ALL of the details (even a few flaws that only I would notice). The 30 x 30 pieces cost $65 and the 24x24 cost $55. Given that they are local, I didn't have to ship them. I would look for a local company doing large format scanning.

When I was considering photography, I came across a chart that shows how many megapixels you need in order to do 300 dpi photography at various sizes (link below).

You want 300 dpi so that giclee prints are an option. FAA has giclee printers, but the image needs to be at 300 dpi in order to call it giclee.

Megapixel/size chart:
http://design215.com/toolbox/megapixels.php

Local scanner (in Columbus, OH):
http://www.photo-graphiccreations.com/index.html

the hard part about scanning that is its a canvas and will bow in the center. you would have to fill the back with something - maybe foam board? to help support the thing. usually these are scanned in on a large bed scanner. i only have a v600 from epson. it works well, but you may have to hold it up. i would get a model where the lid comes off, mine does not.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com