How can I photograph a 30×40 inch painting for high-resolution prints with a Canon Rebel T5?
Asked 11/7/2023
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I need to digitize a 30×40 inch painting so it can be used for print reproduction. I have a Canon Rebel T5 (5184×3456 px sensor). The requested delivery specs I was given are confusing: 6500×6500 up to 16000×16000 pixels, 300 ppi (150 ppi minimum), RGB, JPG or PNG, and under 150 MB.
Since the painting is 3:4 aspect ratio, those square pixel dimensions do not seem to match the artwork. A single shot from my camera also seems too small for the higher-resolution requirement.
If I photograph the painting in multiple sections and stitch them, what is the best approach? Should the camera stay fixed while the painting is moved, or should I move the camera and keep the painting fixed? Also, what software/workflow is best for stitching and avoiding distortion and color problems?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
2y ago
2 Answers
21
As often, the requirements you've been given are internally inconsistent.
- 150 pixels per inch for a 30″×40″ photo would be 4500×6000 pixels, smaller than their stated dimensions.
- 300 PPI would be 9000×12000 pixels, smaller than their largest dimension.
- You can't take a square picture (6500×6500 or 16000×16000 i.e. 1:1 aspect ratio) of a 3:4 aspect ratio painting. Well, you can but you'll have dead space on the sides which is a waste of everybody's time.
- Nobody who has a clue what they're talking about would ever specify PNG for photographic works.
As your Rebel T5 has a 5184×3456 pixel sensor, you can get a photo at a bit over 150 PPI by taking two shots side-by-side, making a 5184×6912 pixel image, larger than the 4500×6000 requirement. You'd probably want to mount either the camera or the painting on a rack so you can get precise alignment and make stitching the two images together easier (and you'd need the right lens to do that).
But really, you should be going back to whoever gave you these requirements and telling them to clarify.
Originally by user11371. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11371
2y ago
0
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The specs you were given are partly inconsistent: a 30×40 inch painting is 3:4, not square, so 6500×6500 or 16000×16000 px doesn’t match the artwork unless they expect empty borders. Also, 300 ppi for 30×40 inches would be 9000×12000 px; 150 ppi would be 4500×6000 px.
Your Rebel T5 can likely meet the 150 ppi minimum by stitching multiple shots. Two overlapping images side-by-side would already exceed 4500×6000 px. For higher quality, shoot more sections and stitch them.
Keep the painting fixed and photograph it in overlapping sections. Use a stitching tool made for this, such as Hugin, rather than assembling it manually in a general editor. It can stitch flat artwork effectively.
The harder part is not resolution but accurate reproduction: even lighting, no glare, minimal distortion, correct white balance, and good color fidelity. If the prints matter commercially or artistically, a pro art repro service is often the safest option, because poor capture and color correction can make expensive prints disappointing.
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