Using Photo Enhancing Software And Pod Integrity

Great question, Judy. I've been wondering if the enhanced images are selling?

I especially thought about it as it relates to the fact that FAA giclee and canvas prints are textured,,,so having your image textured on top of that may create a problem....UNLESS if faa gets a request for a print that has a textured image prints it on a smooth canvas,?? Im hoping that a member of the support team can verify

HI, Judy,

I steer steer clear of that kind of all-over texture, especially if I'm uploading the images here. I prefer never to have my work printed on canvas (purely a personal thing), but a 'faux texture' printed on top of real canvas texture is less than appealing -- to my eyes, at least.

Textures translate well to smooth papers, and can look interesting. But, since I can't control canvas orders here, I don't feel comfortable using them.


@Kathy -- over the last five or so years, I've sold many prints with 'painterly effects' type enhancements. However, as mentioned above, I mostly stay away from using textures.

In topaz impression, for example, you can choose textures but you can minimize the strength to zero if you want, I LOVE textures,,, especially impasto types,,,how is it then that painters can photograph their paintings that have texture and paint on textured surfaces ,,,?? and sell prints??
Here is but an example of one ,,,It does have a canvas texture,

Will be watching this discussion ... have wondered the same thing myself. I sometimes put paper textures on images, but really haven't paid any attention to whether or not the buyers have selected to have them printed on canvas.

I am hoping we can get a confirmed report from the faa technical team, We get good guidance about photographing artwork and marketing ,,,

You can get away with Impasto on top of textured canvas. It seems to be the small, woven textures -- canvas, especially -- that I've found to look . . . not great when printed on real canvas.

You'd be surprised how many buyers don't care about things like that; especially as they're not usually looking at their prints up close. I've seen them hanging on walls and wondered why they weren't returned, while the homeowner is pleased at punch with them.

Go figure. :-/

EDIT to add -- Hi, Lois! :-)

If my photoart is intended to have a painterly effect, I will use a varying degree of canvas texture, depending on how painterly I want to get, and the artwork usually dictates that. I think the canvas texture adds to the overall effect of the painterly composition, it's no different from photographing a painted painting on canvas. Neither a painterly photoart with texture nor a photo of a painted painting on canvas printed on canvas has any noticeable distraction, and when printed on photo paper, will enhance the print, imo. On the otherhand, I would not use a canvas texture for any straight photograph nor photoart that is intended to be photo real in nature, ie. non-painterly, it will be distracting. I have never had any buyer commenting on a painterly photoart printed on canvas nor any other media. -W

wings,,,Im a little confused with your answer, At first you support using texture in your first two sentences, Then you add " I would not use a canvas texture for any straight photograph,"
I suppose you mean that if someone adds a painterly effect to a regular photograph and adds texture,,,then that is ok?! but not ok if its just a regular photo,,,,,,I still wonder though if those textures that are added to the photo create a certain amount of distortion when they are printed on canvas or other paper like products ...
I don't want to continue adding textures if so or I would like to know how much to diminish the strength in the programs to circumvent any distortion issues,

This is where I draw the distinction in my previous post:

"I would not use a canvas texture for any straight photograph nor photoart that is intended to be photo real in nature, ie. non-painterly"

In other words, painterly photoart, yes to canvas texture, as in below (if you zoom in you can see the effect)



Straight photograph, photoart photo that is real in nature, non-painterly, no to canvas texture.



FWIW, I would not use a canvas texture for your photoart image above, it is photo real in nature, just my opinion.


-W

Wings. To me the texture helps to give a painterly feel. Otherwise it is just a photograph. My main question still goes unanswered though. .. Are textured and enhanced photographs suitable for printing on canvas.... Disregarding the preference factor.

There are paintings that are painted on canvas that are available as prints here so they'd have the same problem, the only difference is a photographer has to do it intentionally. I don't understand why photographers want their photographs to look like paintings anyway. Why not do like the rest of us and learn to paint if a painting is what you want? Well, that's another subject. I actually dislike canvas texture, so I paint on panels, you won't see any canvas texture in my paintings. Even painters who paint impasto on canvas will often not leave any canvas texture appearing. My point there is that canvas texture is not a default characteristic of a painting and having canvas texture does not magically turn a photograph into a painting, so why sweat it?

No sweat really. I just wanted to know if they are printable I did paint don't anymore. Like being outdoors and capturing images via camera instead of with brush! I don't necessarily want photos to look like paintings. More a case off them being enhanced beyond what surroundings sometimes offer. Or in general for a different effect. Don't know why painters get so touchy on the subject

David, art is an illusion regardless of whether you are using paint on canvas or artistically making a photo into a painterly illusion. I also paint using both acrylic and oil on canvas, depending what you want out of it, you will either hide the canvas texture or take advantage of it. When you do photoart, your thought process is the same, use canvas texture if it enhance or even compliment the artwork, but not if it fights it. -W

As a photo manipulator I have no problem with the use of textures, or any other editing device, in a work. But if I use a texture to simply enhance a photo, well, I do declare that the original photo has been slightly edited in, in my case, Photoshop. As for the idea that certain textures would affect the printed product well I am curious to know what the answer is. But one would think that if one used a canvas-like texture on something that would be printed on canvas it, the strength of the texture in effect having been doubled, might just spoil the look of the artwork.

I would think so too. But I wondered if such a textured image was ordered as a canvas print if FAA would print it on a smooth canvas finish..not a textured one ?!

I don't even understand what is being asked.......

Judy,

I use this on my car stuff ALL the time, mostly to hide whatever is happening in the background. I keep the subject, the car, clear, because this is the main purpose of the shot. Here's a typical example:



But on other subjects, I will use the effect on all of the image:



So really, what is your question here?

Rich

Rich and Jc. My initial post is so clear? It has become muddled because everyone is answering the question I didnt ask. Let me repeat the question. If a regular photo is enhanced with a effect. And that effect has a textured background. Say a canvas background and is uploaded to FAA. And someone' orders a canvas print would it be printable. ??

No, the initial post is unclear.

What do you mean by PoD integrity?

Are you talking about the affect the textures might have when printing?

Jc yes the effect it would have when printing. That was my only question

I agree completely with Wings. I use all kinds of actual canvas textures on my photo paintings and don't intend to stop doing that, but I am not inclined to make my art according to what I think will work for FAA. For what it's worth I have sold prints and home decor of the image below, which has considerably more texture than most mine do, and haven't seen any returns:

Applied texture has become a whole sub-industry of creatives. There are sites dedicated to it.

The question may be better asked by does it improve the image? On some occasions sure. I've seen blurry pictures that just look great with added material, but also photos that really didn't benefit - without going into the question of whether it's art or not.

Use it if you've taken a one off shot that's beyond repair (or too difficult) in any other way, or just for expression, but be moderate in most instances

Gotcha.....

No it presents no issues to printing at all.

Judy,

The "texture" will not effect the final print on canvas, anymore than the image itself is effected by the canvas. I believe that the printer uses a very smooth canvas and the surface of the canvas doesn't exaggerate the texture effect.

Rich

I think there may be an issue:

If the artist applies a canvas texture to a photo and, say, decides to select the - (light) position - 'upper right' - and then a customer orders a print and also wants
the print to be made on canvas (instead of paper or metal or acrylic) and the natural light (when hung on customer's wall) falls from the other side or directly from
above, there may be a "conflict" visually speaking.

This could result in a distraction especially when the print is displayed on a wall with harsh "track lighting".

Perhaps then it would be best - when using a canvas texture to - select (light position) - 'overhead'.

-ken

POD integrity..?
I can not for the life of me find a t shirt template on this site... I upload a test image which went through a t-shirt price list so I'm sure this site sells t shirts. T shirts are not listed in the shopping banner? Is this site serious or what?

I uploaded a png optimized for the web with a transparent background and this site informed me the file needed a background for the print, I only want to sell to t shirts here.

Ken,

You may be right. Depends on the texture of the substrate used. Epson and most others, have a canvas that is almost like "Luster" paper. See below:

Exhibition Satin Canvas has a fine textured surface, making it ideal for a true artistic look that features a semi-gloss / satin surface. This canvas has a bright white point, high Dmax and wide color gamut for vibrant photo & fine art prints. The base of this satin canvas has been enhanced with elastic polymers for providing more tensile strength and flexibility during gallery wrap stretching and applications.

So it depends on the FAA printers choice of "paper".

I have a bunch of 26x40's, gallery wraps and then one large 40x60" one and unless you get right on top of it, you can't tell it's a canvas,

This is the big image:



Rich

You can always make canvas recommendations in your description if you're that worried. People who are likely to choose a custom canvas are most likely the same ones who will read a description, methinks.

Susan,

Yes that is a good idea. The image above, really wouldn't look as good, if there was a "real" canvas surface, but some of my images that I've run through Topaz Impression would:





Rich

I sent this question to the help forum in the topaz community and got a myriad of answers, none of which were in agreement, I have sent a message to the technical team and hopefully will get an answer tomorrow, hopefully it will be a technician not just customer service who may not be informed! I will update you when I get the answer, Thanks to all of you who have have offered your advice and opinions!

Judy,

Potentially, if you added a very strong "canvas" effect AND then had it printed on a very textured canvas, you might have an issue, since the "effect" wouldn't match up with the actual canvas pattern underneath it,

Rich

Rich that is exactly what I was wondering, Most of the presets in for example topaz impression default to certain textures, some of which are pretty heavy, You can adjust the strength with the slider all the way to zero ,,,which I am beginning to believe is the best choice?! I just didn't know what type of texture faa prints on and what would happen if someone ordered a canvas print,,,and the image is one that has a canvas texture on it. I have not received a reply from topaz labs yet, I think they are on the west coast, will keep you posted!

Judy,

I "found" that slider a few months ago and now I always go to "0" and remove any texture in the background. For others, it's in the drop down box on the bottom and the third box/level,

Rich

Rich I sometimes used the slider and sometimes reduced the strength. From now on think I will reduce to zero I(strength and in size. (There are two adjustments. } there are other settings that baffle me. (Background original or colors. When I engage the settings nothing changes ?? Also apples new OS for Mac is being released soon. I will be anxious to see how the third party plugins will work in this OS