Expert: DJ Murphy - 9/19/2006

Question
Hello,
I'm a beginning artist and have a monotype print that I want to enter into a local exhibition. The entry form asks for a slide or .jpeg. I have access to a digital camera, but i don't know the rules for slide/.jpeg presentation. Should the artwork be unframed when I shoot it? Should I use any kind of special lighting. Should the photo be cropped all around to show only the artwork and just have a white backdrop all around? I've never done this before so don't really know much about it. Any guidance will be appreciated

Answer
Hello,

Since you have a digital camera, I would suggest taking the photo outside in the daylight so that you don't have flash bounce back from the photo.  Also I would shoot it with frame....and without frame and submit both.  I assume you have a computer with photoshop or another photo editing system.  When you "save as" in the file tab, save it as a .jpeg and then transfer the images to a cd for submission [unless the recipient will take them thru an email attachement.]  Make sure that you adjust the image size in photo editing as the image will probably be too large to send as an attachment.

Good luck,
dj murphy