Regarding Taking Photos Of Paintings Good Enough For Prints Ect

there are hundreds of cameras and even more with lenses. it's better to do the research yourself. otherwise get a scanner and make it simple.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Alexander,

Welcome! How large are your paintings? if smallish, then you can get by with almost any camera,even an old film camera and a nice macro lens and the get the film scanned. If you want a new digital camera, DSLR, then anything in this range will work: Canon EOS Rebel and a macro lens in the 100mm size. If the budget allows then you can move up to a full frame sensored camera, which will be in the$2,000+ range. Really depends on the budget.

Here's my recipe: http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=2359806

Let me know if you have any questions.......

Rich

Hi thank you for your reply, some of my paintings are 20 inches x 24 inches, I also have bigger sizes like 40 inches x 30 inches box type, or gallery wrap as they are sometimes known as.

I have an old Nikon 501 with macro lens,Could I use this? as it takes really good photo's, or do I need to go digital? What is the best lighting to use for photographing paintings? as some of them seem to catch too much light near the top of the painting! Normally I use Daylight bulbs, 2 of which are 150 watt, separate lights. How do I get a film scanned? Is it the photograph or the negative you scan, Sorry for all the questions, as I don't know much about photography! Thank you for your kind help, its much appreciated.

Alexander.

My mom just goes to office max to get watercolors scanned. Sometimes she has to train the tech but usually things come out ok.

Other times I photograph them with a canon 5D Mark II. I use a tripod and a shutter release. I shoot them indoors with whatever lighting there is in the room which is a mix of sunlight and whatever light bulbs are in the room. I just get someone to hold up a sheet or something so the full painting is in shadow, the light is even and there are no bright spots.

There has never been a problem printing on FAA with either method.

These are the end results:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/barbara-jewell.html

Alexander,

Did you read my link info? And then the link to my "photoshop stuff" and the images of the lights I recommend and the lighting set-up info?

That camera may work, but what macro do you have? Do a search for "film scanning" and you'll find hundreds of professional places to do that. ScanCafe.com is one place and you can contact them and ask for their highest,best scan and you'll have great images/files to up load. A buck or two per image. Use ISO 100 color negative film and then follow my instructions,

Rich