Hand Painting Digital Photos

Chuck Snyder

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Jan 30, 2003, 7:37:06 PM1/30/03

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I have a friend who would like to hand-paint some of the pictures generated by me and others. Does anyone have any experience applying oils, acrylics, pastels, color pencils, etc. to black-and-white photos printed on an inkjet? Suggestions on papers, which media are compatible with the dyes or pigments in the inks, other considerations?

Thanks!

Chuck

Jodi Frye

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Jan 30, 2003, 8:07:12 PM1/30/03

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Chuck, if I were going to do this it would definitely be heavyweight matte paper with tube acrylics. Acrylics have a quality about them that can withstand just about anything. I've never tried painting on an actual print but I suspect from extensive experience with acrylics this would probably work. Oh, when it comes to buying acrylics, remember there are many brands and you only get what you pay for. Liquitex has a few different kinds with different prices...the middle price range is still a good paint. Maybe someone has actual experience painting on ink jet prints that can further this subject.

Chuck Snyder

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Jan 30, 2003, 8:45:01 PM1/30/03

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Jodi, thanks for the input. After I posted the topic, I did a little googling and found:

<http://www.handcolor.com>

which has some interesting articles on supplies and techniques.

If only I were an artist....but alas, I'm not. You guys have lots of neat toys!

Chuck

Steven Reno

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Jan 30, 2003, 8:54:56 PM1/30/03

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Chuck

I like the acrylics tip except using printer paper may be a problem. You can make a 'sketch' using ordinary cartridge paper and PSE. Then get some Saral transfer paper which when traced onto watercolor paper will give you your image on archival paper. Use hot press or cold press paper, 140 #. All of the other dry media should be ok on the hw matte paper.

Steve

One other idea... you can take an image and blow it up to four 8x10s, tape together and trace. Then your friend will have a 16x20 Hope this helps.

Barbara Brundage

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Jan 30, 2003, 9:27:27 PM1/30/03

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Ooh, this thread makes me yearn for my old set of photo greys again. It's awesome what you can do on the computer, but I have to say it lacks the kindergarten-like quality of old-time paste-up with exacto knives and rubylith.

Jodi Frye

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Jan 30, 2003, 10:15:31 PM1/30/03

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Chuck, I'm glad you posted that link...I had no idea! I think the idea of scanning the image back in after coloring it is totally awesome. You could put it back in Elements and do some touch-ups if needed and then re-print it. It would give it a much cleaner look....much better than my original idea. The oils sound interesting...hum, may have to do that some day. Although, colored pastels/charcoal may be a great way to go as well. Wouldn't need to add too much with pencil pastels...and smearing a little for blending...yup, sounds good. Then scan it back in and print..yup, I've convinced myself!

Susan S.

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Feb 1, 2003, 12:43:24 AM2/1/03

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Of course the other option is to "paint" the photo digitally using the Photoshop elements brush tools. I haven't tried this, but I've had a lot of fun colouring some monchromatic pencil sketches of mine that I scanned in.