Title: Photographing Quilts
Post by: Stitch on December 16, 2007, 12:42:47 PM
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Hellooooo.....
Does anyone know of a reference that describes how to photograph quilts?
Thanks SEW much,
Stitch
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: Polska on December 16, 2007, 12:49:53 PM
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No ref. But at my quilt guild someone taught us. Buy June Tailor Colorfast sew-in inkjet fabric sheets. Make sure its the one that says:
Design an image on your computer
print onto fabric sheet
rinse, press to set ink and sew
machine or hand washable.
This one is like fabric and you can treat it like any other one.
I used the wrong one and got the iron on. It still worked, but the other is so much better.
Linda (Polska)
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: Stitch on December 16, 2007, 12:54:08 PM
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Um...I meant how to take a proper photograph of a finished project....?
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: gimpy cat on December 16, 2007, 12:52:00 PM
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Stitch are you wanting to photograph them yourself? Under what conditions and with what kind of camera, film, digital, point & shoot or SLR? What do you want to do with the photos you take? All helps in working out how to do what you want.
I dont know any references, might be some out there, maybe you could find some advice looking up 'still life' photography
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: finisher on December 16, 2007, 05:28:44 PM
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Photographing quilts is a challenge for me..because I don't have anywhere to hang large quilts to get the whole thing in the pic. I have learned though, that if you have some lighting come in from a side it helps to show the quilting better. Sometimes it doesn't show up as well with straight on lighting. There must be info on this somewhere? I hope you find a good resource.
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: gimpy cat on December 16, 2007, 05:30:21 PM
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early morning and late afternoon, early evening is your best time, take them outside if you can, you will gain the most saturation of colour at these times adn it wont be washed out/faded looking from overly bright exposure. Let us know what kind of camera you have, I know with big quilts you can lay them out them climb a ladder to take pics ;-) just dont fall!!
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: golo on December 16, 2007, 06:53:07 PM
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http://www.factsfacts.com/quilts/Photographing_Quilts/Photographing_Quilts.htmCheck out this site...
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: finisher on December 17, 2007, 06:30:35 AM
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Thanks G ..I knew somebody would come up with a good link!
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: Calico_Chris on December 17, 2007, 01:54:59 PM
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I've only photographed two quilts but both turned out great. I hung them outside on my clothesline.
I know many people don't have them anymore, I use mine all the time. I never tumble dry bedding. I have a retractable one that hooks and unhooks to the tetherball pole we put in when the kids were little
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: quiltermarynel on December 17, 2007, 07:01:44 PM
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In my guild, when we have show and tell, we also shoot the quilts. It really helps with large quilts to have friends holding them. We used to meet in an upper room with a balcony, so we could shoot outside and hang them over the railing. I have had really poor results with my clothesline because we almost always have a breeze.
With smaller quilts (anything up to a regular twin) I have a special set up. I convinced the DH to screw a row of binder clips along the upper edge of our entertainment center (He nearly had a cow when I asked him to.) I can therefore hang blocks or quilts easily myself and shoot them straight on, so there is little distortion. There is some because the fancy new TV sticks out a little bit. I only shoot in the daytime with the curtains open, so I get side lighting to emphasize the quilting.
We shoot all the quilts in our quilt show each year. With many it does not matter, but with the more elaborate quilting, sun angle makes a big difference on getting the depth of shadow we want.
It really helps to have a digital camera and a photo program so that you can adjust color and exposure. I use Microsoft's Digital Image, which I like a lot.
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: Merry Bee on December 18, 2007, 02:47:41 PM
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Thanks, Marynel. It is good to know about the software program. I am just getting interested in digital photography and think that would be a nice item.
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Title: Re: Photographing Quilts
Post by: quiltermarynel on December 20, 2007, 09:16:07 PM
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I have used Adobe's PhotoShop Elements for years, but my old version is not compatible with Vista. There are other good programs out there, but I am very pleased with MDI, particularly since it allows me to create and burn slides shows on CD's or DVD's with very little work.
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