Shooting art

[lerabu]

Hi all!

I will be shooting for archival purposes some paintings and prints.

I was wondering if anyone had some advice for the settings for the camera? I will have additional light sources and of course the sun, which is probably the best source of light

I currently have the equipment in the signature. Would it be better to use a prime lens (I am planning on buying the 50mm 1.8 AF D lens).

What should be my camera settings? Should I use fill flash?

From what little I know from photography a setting of ISO 200 at f8-f11 should be good? I will be shooting from a tripod with a shutter release.

Any advice is more than welcome! Thanks!

[ravncat]

Fill lighting is difficult as it can make specular highlights on the artwork or reflect back - on camera flash is a bad idea... you want a very well lit room, be careful of casting shadows on the work, F 5.6-8 should be fine. (Wide open and you'll vignette, which for photography is not a problem but for replication work, would be.)

Keeping the camera's sensor/lens parallel to the artwork is also important, if the work is small enough, I recommend a copy stand.