How to Reproduce Vintage Pin-Up Art

In reproducing any type of vintage graphic art, from posters and flyers to to advertising and magazine art, there are basically two options available. One can invest in a camera or scanning equipment, printer and paper to produce quality reproductions, or enlist the services of a professional reprographic print shop. Both options will be discussed in the following article.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine that your vintage art is not covered by copyright. Most truly vintage art produced in the U.S. before 1923 is in the public domain. For a comprehensive listing of copyright guidelines, refer to the link on Copyright Information in the Resources section below.

2. Gain access to a large-format scanner by either purchasing the equipment or using a graphics reproduction shop, which can be found by looking under "Reprographics" in the Yellow Pages. A large-format scanner is the best way to capture a high-resolution, faithful digital image of the vintage artwork. (If you are considering purchasing a scanner, refer to the "Comparison of Scanners" link in the Resources section below for more information.)

3. Scan the artwork at a resolution of 600ppi (pixels per inch) or above. (Increasing the resolution of the image captures more detail, however, the file size increases as does the time it takes to run a print.) 600ppi is usually sufficient. Inspect the image visually on-screen. If possible, have the image inspected by a professional who can color-balance and enhance the image using computer software. A reprographic shop usually has the personnel and computer software to do this.

4. Run a test print of the digital image of your scanned artwork. If you intend to use your own printing equipment, you will need to invest in a large-format printer, ink cartridges and paper stock. There are many desktop large-format printers available today. (Refer to the link in the Resources section below for a comparison of printers.) Purchase a type of paper recommended by the printer's manufacturer.

5. Print a short test run of your image on the paper stock you intend to use. Check to see that the ink is compatible with the paper and that your image is reproducing faithfully. It is sometimes necessary to make adjustments to the print setup or to the color balance of the image. (A professional graphic artist can help with the adjustments if the print does not meet your standards.) If it then passes inspection, you are ready to mass-print your reproductions!

Resources

• Comparison of Scanners
• Comparison of Printers
• Copyright and Public Domain Information