Overview
The quality of your artwork images directly affects how collectors and visitors perceive your work. This guide covers best practices for photographing and preparing images for your ArtSites portfolio.
Photographing Physical Artwork
- Lighting: Use even, diffused lighting. Avoid harsh shadows or reflections. Natural daylight from a window works well, or use two lights at 45-degree angles.
- Background: Use a clean, neutral background. A matte white or grey wall works best.
- Angle: Shoot straight-on, perpendicular to the artwork surface. Avoid angled shots that create perspective distortion.
- Stability: Use a tripod to avoid camera shake, especially in lower light.
Preparing Digital Images
- Resolution: Upload at least 2000px on the longest side. ArtSites generates smaller versions automatically, but starting with high resolution ensures the best viewing experience.
- Colour accuracy: Calibrate your monitor if possible. Any colour profile is fine: we convert every image for the web when you upload it, so you do not need to change anything about how your camera or editing app saves colour.
- File format: JPEG at quality 85-95% is ideal for most artwork. Use PNG only if you need transparency.
- Cropping: Crop tightly to the artwork. Remove distracting frames, mats, or wall space unless they're intentional.
File Size Considerations
- Maximum file size: 50 MB per image
- Typical high-quality artwork image: 2-8 MB
- If your files are very large, resize to 4000px on the longest side before uploading: this is more than enough for any screen
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Blurry or out-of-focus images
- Visible glare or reflections on glossy surfaces
- Inconsistent white balance across different artworks
- Over-saturated or over-processed colours
- Including fingers, easels, or other objects in the frame
Tips
- Photograph a batch of artwork in one session with consistent lighting for a uniform look
- Take test shots and review on your computer before photographing your entire collection
- For reflective work (glass, metal, varnished paintings), use a polarizing filter to reduce glare
- Keep your original high-resolution files as backups even after uploading