When printing traditional art at the Stackhouse, like paintings or drawings, the first step is to capture the art as a high-resolution digital image. Ensuring the art is entirely in focus, exposed with balanced lighting, and saved with an RGB color profile will yield an excellent result for giclee printing at the Stackhouse.

Scanning vs Photographing

High-resolution scanners or large-sensor cameras can produce great raw files for printing. When calibrated and with proper export settings, these professional tools are some of the best ways to digitize your artwork. 

 Photographing Scanning
Photograph in sections, then merge images for larger file sizes Scan sections if the scanning bed is too small, and merge images for the full image
Use the full sensor size, don't zoom with the lens Smooth or flatten art as best as you can
Shoot in RAW or TIFFS if able Clean the scanning bed, or edit out imperfections
Use even, bright light (like D50) at around 45-degree angles (no hard shadows) Check the save settings when scanning (300DPI+, TIFF, actual size, or scan in at print size)
Check the focus of the lens, level the art, and the camera together Check the focus of the scanner if your art has a lot of texture
Clean lens, or edit out imperfections Embed a color profile
Use a tripod for extra stability Crop out the scanning bed from around the art

Resolution Guidelines 

We recommend having a file with at least 300 DPI at the desired print size.

However, we understand that sometimes that cannot be achieved due to a lack of accessible technology or the art being no longer available. If needed, some software can resample digital files to enlarge them. Review files for artifacts when enlarging.

If you are unsure whether your file has sufficient resolution, try this equation below.

Desired Print Size (in inches) = width pixels/300 by height pixels/300

Example:
A .jpg file with pixel dimensions of 6600 x 5100 will print best at a 22'' x 17'' or smaller size. 

Math: 6600/300 = 22 and 5100/300 = 17

Color Correction and Cleanup 

Color correction can be necessary when digitizing your artwork. Not all cameras or scanners will capture your art piece 100% accurately right out of the box, but following all these steps will get your workflow moving in the correct direction. 

For the best results, use an even and neutral-colored light source. Any outside tints from light or reflections can change the color in the file. After the file has been captured, you might need to do some post-processing to enhance or manipulate it further. 

Common Mistakes

Issues or Errors Causes Fixes
Blurry File Movement/ camera-shake Higher shutter speed, more light, or use a tripod
Too Dark Files Not enough exposure or/and monitor incorrectly calibrated More light or turn down monitor brightness
Uneven Lighting Blocking the light source More light, use a tripod, or try a different light source/area
Background in Frame Not cropped correctly Move closer to the art when taking the photo, or crop to the edge of the art completely
Pixelated File Native resolution too small, incorrect export settings Use a high-resolution camera or scanner, don't compress with JPG, or do not resize too small when saving the file
Not In-Focus File Too shallow depth of field, movement, or not level art Hold the camera at the same level/angle as the art, flatten the art, decrease the aperture (will need more light), or use a tripod

 

These are some common mistakes that can be made when digitizing your artwork. Multiple errors can occur, and there can be several ways to fix them.

Zooming in closely to scrub your digital files lets you see any problems on your monitor. Proofing the files can help troubleshoot and prevent these common mistakes, too.

Get Your Art Scanned with Us

Are you not sure if your file is print-ready? Email us the image, and we can preview it to let you know if we see anything that might not print well.

We also offer an in-house digitization service. Feel free to contact us to see if your artwork needs professional digitization.