How to Photograph Pastel Art
Pigment powder and gum binder combine to make pastel crayons. Pastels create a light, faint design that makes for a pleasant image. Since the colors are so faint, photographing the pastel image can be a little tough. Some cameras won't capture the delicate shades of color on the paper or canvas. Photographing a pastel image is by no means impossible, though. With the right camera and knowledge, you can accurately capture all the hues and details of an intricate pastel image.
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Instructions
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Consider the light you want to cast onto the image. Pastels may leave a waxy reflective layer on your artwork, which may result in a glare from the light. This is why flash photography may not be a good idea when you capture your artwork on film. Use soft, glowing lights that do not directly shine on the waxy surface of the pastels.
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Examine the image in the digital lens. Determine whether the lighting allows you to see all of the detail clearly though the lens before you capture the image. Move forward and back to see whether the distance between you and the artwork improves the view. You want to see a clear, well-defined picture without any glare.
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Take the photo and compare the image right next to the actual piece of work. Unfortunately, you may not be able to get an exact replica of the original work, but you can try to get a close match in any case. It may take several tries to get the image just right.
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Tips & Warnings
You can improve the resolution of digital images using computer programs, which comes in handy if your image is not as clear and defined as you would like it to be.
Take a picture of the artwork from several angles. It may be tempting to take a straightforward picture of your artwork, but if you take images from several perspectives, you may expose details and tones of your artwork you cannot see from a straight-on perspective.
An analog camera can do work for your image, but film images can fade and distort over time. Factors such as light and humidity can drastically alter the colors in your image after only one year. Digital images can stay in their original condition for many years after you take the photos.
