Prints from water color
Jim & Liz
Can someone explain how I might make prints from existing water color
paintings. I have an artist in the family with a host of paintings...
If there are several options, where can I get technical detail and
estimated cost to me? I would like to do the prints myself in my spare
time if possible. Thanks!
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mailto:jegal...@worldnet.att.net
Paul Johnson
In article <68pje2$n...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>, Jim & Liz
<jegal...@worldnet.att.net> writes
>Can someone explain how I might make prints from existing water color
>paintings. I have an artist in the family with a host of paintings...
>
>If there are several options, where can I get technical detail and
>estimated cost to me? I would like to do the prints myself in my spare
>time if possible. Thanks!
Any good photo book should have at least an outline of the technique.
The results will be roughly proportional to the amount of money you
spend and effort you put in.
First, equipment. You need to buy, borrow or jury-rig a copy stand.
This is basically a firm stand for the camera, pointing down onto a base
where the work will be placed. For reasonable results, get hold of a
second-hand manual single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera with a 50mm lens.
The OM1 or OM2 would be good choices here.
Light the work at 45 degrees from the left and right, aiming for the
most even possible illumination. If you can afford it, get a colour
temperature meter (around $500 new, less second hand, maybe you can rent
one) and a set of correction filters. Failing that, I think you can get
a colour comparison strip with calibrated colour densities, which you
include in the shot. The aim is to make the final print match exactly
the colours of the original. If you are not all that bothered about
exact colour reproduction then use ordinary light bulbs and a tungsten
correction filter on the camera.
Use duplication film. This is slow film with fine grain and the most
faithful possible colour reproduction.
Get the prints done by a professional hand printing shop, and give them
the colour comparison strip so they can see what to aim for. This costs
$15-20 per print for 8x12. If you want to develop the prints yourself
then you need an enlarger, print developing drum, a bunch of chemicals,
and preferably a spare room dedicated to the job. You won't get much
change out of $1000 if you want to do it really well. If all you want
is a precise reproduction of the original then I'd say get it done
professionaly.
Paul.
--------------------------------+---------------------------------
Paul Johnson | You are lost in a maze of twisty
Email: Pa...@treetop.demon.co.uk | little standards, all different.
paul.j...@gecm.com |
Jim & Liz
Thanks Paul.
You gave me some ideas to start from.
There are 6 siblings who would love to claim the original water colors,
as many as fifty paintings, which were painted by their mother. Mother
has sold a few and won awards for others, landscapes, buildings,
portaits, etc. I'd like to possibly produce a book with prints from her
originals with a return email in the book. If there is sufficient
interest, maybe limited edition prints with the most accurate
reproduction process would be in order. At the very least, Mom's life's
work will be compiled for her children to share as a complete set on the
coffee table.
New thoughts?
Best regards,
Jim
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mailto:jegal...@worldnet.att.net